CAPF AC 2023 Q9: Current Affairs – International Organisations & Groupings
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 1, 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1, 2, 3 and 4
- (d) 3 and 4 only
Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 3 only
Explanation
Objectives of SAARC
How to think: the objectives are listed in Article I of the SAARC Charter (1985).
They are all about welfare, self-reliance, trust and cooperation.
The Charter keeps bilateral and contentious issues out, so it has nothing on cross-border terrorism.
| Statement | In the Charter? |
|---|---|
| 1. Promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and improve their quality of life | Yes |
| 2. Promote and strengthen collective self-reliance | Yes |
| 3. Contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one another's problems | Yes |
| 4. Work towards ending cross-border terrorism | No |
About SAARC: founded at Dhaka on 8 December 1985; secretariat at Kathmandu.
Eight members: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Decisions are taken by unanimity.
Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 3 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Statement 3 on mutual trust is also an objective.
- (b) CORRECT. Statements 1, 2 and 3 are objectives in the SAARC Charter.
- (c) Incorrect. Ending cross-border terrorism is not a Charter objective.
- (d) Incorrect. It includes 4 and leaves out the first two objectives.
Key point
SAARC Charter, Article I: welfare and quality of life; economic growth, social progress and cultural development; collective self-reliance; mutual trust and understanding; cooperation with other developing countries and international bodies. Principles: unanimity; no bilateral or contentious issues.
Remember
SAARC: welfare, self-reliance, trust; no contentious issues.
Common mistakes
- Adding terrorism, which matters to India but is not in the list of objectives.
- Forgetting that SAARC avoids bilateral disputes by its own Charter.
- Mixing up SAARC (8 members) with BIMSTEC (7 members).
Exam tip
Educated guess: with Pakistan as a founding member and decisions by unanimity, an objective about cross-border terrorism could never have been agreed. Drop every option with 4.
Sources
- SAARC Secretariat — Charter of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (1985), Article I
- NCERT Class XII Political Science — Contemporary World Politics, Chapter: Contemporary South Asia