UPSC Prelims 2015 · Question 64 of 98

UPSC Prelims 2015 question on Mekong Ganga Cooperation

In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not a participant/participants?

1. Bangladesh
2. Cambodia
3. China
4. Myanmar
5. Thailand

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. 1 only
  2. 2, 3 and 4
  3. 1 and 3
  4. 1, 2 and 5
Show answer

Answer: C. 1 and 3

Verdict

The answer is 1 and 3, that is Bangladesh and China. Neither is a participant in Mekong-Ganga Cooperation.

Analysis

The Mekong Ganga Cooperation forum comprises six countries: Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. It was launched at Vientiane in 2000 for cooperation in tourism, education, human resource development, culture, communication and transport, with Thailand as the original promoter. Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand are therefore members and are correctly excluded from the answer, while Bangladesh and China are not members despite China being an upper riparian of the Mekong and Bangladesh a lower riparian of the Ganga.

Source

Business Line commentary on regional groupings.

How to crack it

The question asks who is not a participant, so read the stem twice before evaluating, because negation questions are lost on misreading more often than on knowledge. Then use the political logic of the grouping: MGC is an India led civilisational and connectivity initiative in mainland South-East Asia, and China's absence from an India led Mekong forum is structurally predictable. Membership lists follow strategic purpose, so ask what the grouping is for before recalling who is in it.

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