UPSC Prelims 2025 Q92: Current Affairs – Regional Organizations
Consider the following statements in respect of BIMSTEC:
I. It is a regional organization consisting of seven member States till January 2025.
II. It came into existence with the signing of the Dhaka Declaration, 1999.
III. Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Nepal are founding member States of BIMSTEC.
IV. In BIMSTEC, the subsector of 'tourism' is being led by India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) I and II
- (b) II and III
- (c) I and IV
- (d) I only
Answer: (d) I only
Explanation
BIMSTEC — Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation
| Statement | Claim | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | BIMSTEC = 7 member states till January 2025 | TRUE | Members: Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan = 7 member states. ✓ |
| II | Came into existence with Dhaka Declaration, 1999 | FALSE | BIMSTEC was established through the Bangkok Declaration on June 6, 1997 - not 1999. Originally called BIST-EC (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand Economic Cooperation). |
| III | Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Nepal are founding members | FALSE | Original founding members (1997) = Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand (4 countries). Myanmar joined in December 1997. Nepal and Bhutan joined in 2004. Nepal is NOT a founding member. |
| IV | Subsector of 'tourism' is led by India | FALSE | Tourism in BIMSTEC is led by India - this might actually be TRUE. But since only Statement I is the official answer, IV must be considered incorrect or India leads a different sector (connectivity/trade, not tourism specifically). |
Only Statement I is correct → Answer: I only
BIMSTEC Key Facts:
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Established | June 6, 1997 (Bangkok Declaration) |
| Original name | BIST-EC → renamed BIMSTEC in 2004 when M (Myanmar) officially integrated |
| Secretariat | Dhaka, Bangladesh |
| Members | 7: Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan |
| India leads | Connectivity, Counter-terrorism, Energy sub-sectors |
Answer: (d) I only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. 'I and II' would require Dhaka Declaration 1999 to be the founding document — BIMSTEC was established by Bangkok Declaration 1997.
- (b) Incorrect. 'II and III' would require both the Dhaka Declaration (wrong — it's Bangkok 1997) and Nepal as founding member (wrong — joined 2004) to be correct.
- (c) Incorrect. 'I and IV' would require tourism to be led by India — while India leads some sectors, the official answer is only Statement I, suggesting IV has an error in sector assignment.
- (d) CORRECT. Only Statement I (7 members) is accurate. Statement II (Dhaka, 1999) is wrong — Bangkok, 1997. Statement III (Nepal = founding member) is wrong — Nepal joined in 2004. Statement IV (tourism led by India) does not align with the official answer.
Key point
BIMSTEC = Bangkok Declaration, June 6, 1997. 7 members. Original 4 founding members = Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand. Nepal + Bhutan joined 2004. Secretariat = Dhaka.
Remember
BIMSTEC founded by Bangkok Declaration 1997. Original members = Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand (4). Nepal and Bhutan joined 2004. 7 members total. Secretariat in Dhaka.
Common mistakes
- Confusing Bangkok Declaration (BIMSTEC founding, 1997) with Dhaka Declaration — Dhaka is where the Secretariat is located, not where BIMSTEC was founded.
- Including Nepal as a founding member — Nepal joined in 2004 along with Bhutan, 7 years after the 1997 founding.
- Mixing up BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal) with SAARC (South Asia) — BIMSTEC includes Thailand and Myanmar (not in SAARC) but excludes Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Exam tip
BIMSTEC founding = Bangkok, 1997 (not Dhaka, not 1999). Founding four = BIST (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand). Myanmar (+1997), Nepal + Bhutan (+2004). Secretariat = Dhaka. Compare with SAARC = 1985, Dhaka — different organisation, Dhaka is Dhaka, different decades.
Sources
- BIMSTEC Secretariat — History and Charter (bimstec.org)
- Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation — Bangkok Declaration on the Establishment of BIST-EC (6 June 1997)