CAPF AC 2022 Q125: Current Affairs – International Organisations & Groupings
- (a) Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka
- (b) Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar
- (c) Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka and Maldives
- (d) Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Indonesia
Answer: (b) Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar
Explanation
Members of BIMSTEC
How to think: BIMSTEC is the Bay of Bengal grouping.
It joins five countries of South Asia with two of South-East Asia.
| Region | Members |
|---|---|
| South Asia (5) | Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka |
| South-East Asia (2) | Myanmar, Thailand |
Not members: Maldives, Pakistan and Afghanistan (they are in SAARC) and Indonesia.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation |
| Founded | 1997, Bangkok Declaration |
| Secretariat | Dhaka |
| Charter | Adopted at the 5th summit, Colombo, March 2022 |
Answer: (b).
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. It leaves out Thailand and Myanmar.
- (b) CORRECT. These seven countries are the members of BIMSTEC.
- (c) Incorrect. The Maldives is not a member, and Thailand and Myanmar are missing.
- (d) Incorrect. Indonesia is not a member, and Thailand is missing.
Key point
BIMSTEC (1997): Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand; secretariat Dhaka; charter adopted at Colombo in 2022. Began as BIST-EC with four countries. SAARC has 8 members including Pakistan, Afghanistan and Maldives.
Remember
BIMSTEC: five from South Asia + Myanmar and Thailand.
Common mistakes
- Adding the Maldives, a SAARC member that is not on the Bay of Bengal.
- Leaving out Thailand, where the grouping was actually founded.
- Mixing up BIMSTEC with SAARC or with ASEAN.
Exam tip
Educated guess: the name says Bay of Bengal. Thailand and Myanmar touch it; the Maldives and Indonesia's capital do not. Only (b) has both Thailand and Myanmar.
Sources
- BIMSTEC Secretariat — About BIMSTEC and the BIMSTEC Charter (2022)
- Ministry of External Affairs — Brief on BIMSTEC