Question 36 from UPSC CSE 2025 - Internatio nal Relations

Question

Consider the following statements in respect of BIMSTEC:
1. It is a regional organization consisting of seven member states till January 2025.
2. It came into existence with the signing of the Dhaka Declaration, 1999.
3. Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Nepal are founding member states of BIMSTEC.
4. In BIMSTEC, the subsector of 'tourism' is being led by India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. I only

Strategy: Scrutinize statements for date/event mismatches and leadership roles. Statement 1 about seven members is correct for the specified timeline. Statement 2 erroneously mentions the Dhaka Declaration, while the correct founding event is the Bangkok Declaration (1997). Statement 3 gives a faulty list of founding members, omitting Myanmar and wrongly including Nepal, which joined later. Statement 4 incorrectly assigns the 'tourism' subsector leadership to India, whereas Nepal leads it. Only statement 1 stands correct.

Key Info: BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) is a regional organization bridging South Asia and Southeast Asia, comprising seven member states as of January 2025: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. It was established on 6 June 1997 with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration, not the Dhaka Declaration. The original founding members were Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand; Myanmar joined in December 1997, followed by Bhutan and Nepal in February 2004. The organization initially focused on six sectors—trade, technology, energy, transport, tourism, and fisheries—which expanded to 14 sectors until 2021. After rationalization in 2021, sectors were allotted to member states for leadership: Bangladesh (Trade, Investment and Development), Bhutan (Environment & Climate Change), India (Security, including Counter-terrorism, Disaster Management, and Energy), Myanmar (Agriculture and Food Security), Nepal (People-to-People Contact, including Culture and Tourism), Sri Lanka (Science, Technology & Innovation), and Thailand (Connectivity). Notably, Nepal leads the 'tourism' subsector, not India. The organization aims to promote regional cooperation among its littoral and adjacent countries around the Bay of Bengal for regional integration and growth.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: I and II

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: II and III

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: I and IV