Consider the following statements regarding the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC): 1. It has equal representation of countries from South Asia and Southeast Asia. 2. China is an observer member of BIMSTEC. 3. BIMSTEC differ from South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in terms of its geopolitical composition that it excludes Pakistan and includes Southeast Asian nations. How many of the statements given above are correct? |ForumIAS

Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC):
1.It has equal representation of countries from South Asia and Southeast Asia.
2.China is an observer member of BIMSTEC.
3.BIMSTEC differ from South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in terms of its geopolitical composition that it excludes Pakistan and includes Southeast Asian nations.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

[A] Only one

[B] Only two

[C] All three

[D] None

Answer: A

Notes:

Explanation –

Statements 1 and 2 are incorrect. BIMSTEC has 5 members from South Asia (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka) and 2 from Southeast Asia (Myanmar, Thailand). China is not a member or an observer of BIMSTEC.

Statement 3 is correct. BIMSTEC excludes Pakistan (which is part of SAARC) and includes Southeast Asian nations (Myanmar and Thailand).

Source: AIR

Post-Mains Strategy Session by Mr. Ayush Sinha | ForumIAS