Consider the following statements in respect of BIMSTEC:

Current Affairs ·Previously asked in UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025

View the full solved paper: GS Paper I

Question

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?

  1. A. I and II
  2. B. II and III
  3. C. I and IV
  4. D. I only (Correct answer)

Correct Answer

Option D — I only

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is I only.

Key Points

  • BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) has 7 member States — Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, and Bhutan — Statement I correct.
  • BIMSTEC was established by the Bangkok Declaration in June 1997, not the Dhaka Declaration 1999 — Statement II incorrect.
  • The founding members in 1997 were only Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand (Myanmar joined same year) — not Nepal and Bhutan — Statement III incorrect.
  • Only Statement I is correct.