India applies for full membership of SCO

``India Friday formally applied for full membership in the energy-rich Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a security grouping dominated by China, and said it is "ready to assume day to day responsibilities within the context of the bloc.'' ... The SCO has amongst its members three largest energy producers in the world - Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. India hopes that with an SCO membership it will gain more access to major gas and oil exploration projects in central Asia.''