UPSC Prelims 2025 · Question 52 of 100

UPSC Prelims 2025 question on Bimstec Membership

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. I and II
  2. II and III
  3. I and IV
  4. I only
Show answer

Answer: D. I only

Verdict

Only Statement I is correct → Option (d).

Statement by statement

Statement I – CORRECT: The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional organization comprising seven Member States: Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Nepal, and Bhutan. Hence Statement I is correct.

Statement II – INCORRECT: BIMSTEC came into existence with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration on 06 June 1997 (not Dhaka Declaration, 1999). Hence Statement II is not correct.

Statement III – INCORRECT: The founding member States were Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand — not Nepal. Myanmar joined on 22 December 1997, and Bhutan and Nepal joined in February 2004. Hence Statement III is not correct.

Statement IV – INCORRECT: In BIMSTEC's reorganised 2021 structure, Nepal leads the 'People-to-People Contact' sector, with Tourism as a sub-sector under Nepal's leadership. India leads the 'Security' sector. Hence Statement IV is not correct.

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