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Statement 1
List the member states of BIMSTEC as of January 2025 and state the total number of member states.
Origin: Web / Current Affairs
Fairness: CA heavy
Web-answerable
"member States viz. Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand,"
Why this source?
- The passage explicitly lists the countries described as 'BIMSTEC member States'.
- All seven named countries in the quote correspond to BIMSTEC membership names needed to answer the statement.
Contemporary World Politics, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: International Organisations > Major contributors to the UN regular budget for 2019 > p. 53
Strength: 4/5
“• No.: 1; Member State: USA; %: 22.0 • No.: 2; Member State: China; %: 12.0 • No.: 3; Member State: Japan; %: 8.5 • No.: 4; Member State: Germany; %: 6.0 • No.: 5; Member State: UK; %: 4.5 • No.: 6; Member State: France; %: 4.4 • No.: 7; Member State: Italy; %: 3.3 • No.: 8; Member State: Brazil; %: 2.9 • No.: 9; Member State: Canada; %: 2.7 • No.: 10; Member State: Russia; %: 2.4 • No.: 11; Member State: Republic of Korea; %: 2.2 • No.: 12; Member State: Australia; %: 2.2 • No.: 13; Member State: Spain; %: 2.1 • No.: 14; Member State: Turkey; %: 1.3 • No.: 15; Member State: Netherlands; %: 1.3 • No.: 16; Member State: Mexico; %: 1.2 • No.: 17; Member State: Saudi Arabia; %: 1.1 • No.: 18; Member State: Switzerland; %: 1.1 • No.: 19; Member State: Argentina; %: 0.9 • No.: 20; Member State: Sweden; %: 0.9 • No.: 21; Member State: India; %: 0.8 • Source: www.un.org”
Why relevant
This snippet shows how textbooks present authoritative lists of member states (ordered entries with country names and percentages) for an international organisation.
How to extend
A student could use the same approach—consult the official BIMSTEC site or authoritative sources—and expect to find a similarly formatted list of member states to compile and count.
Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 18: International Economic Institutions > 18.26 Indian Economy > p. 536
Strength: 5/5
“• Headquarters of WTO is in Geneva, Switzerland. • WTO is headed by a Director General whose term is 4 years and is renewable. • Current Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (since March 2021). • Membership of WTO \alpha • WTO presently has 164 member states (including India as a founding member). • The members of WTO represent 98 per cent of the World Trade (as per 2019 Annual Report of WTO). • The latest member to join WTO was Afghanistan (in 2016). • EU is also a member of WTO. India has conducted two mini-ministerials till now (in 2018 and 2019).”
Why relevant
This snippet demonstrates the practice of stating an organisation's total membership (e.g., 'WTO presently has 164 member states') in a textbook.
How to extend
A student should look for an explicit membership total for BIMSTEC in official/authoritative sources (or in summary lines of reference texts) to determine the total number as of January 2025.
Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 24: DISTRIBUTION OF LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE POWERS > REFERENCES > p. 382
Strength: 4/5
“• 1. The creation of Chhatisgarh, Uttaranchal (now Uttarakhand) and Jharkhand States by carving out their territories from the territories of the Madhya Pradesh, the Uttar Pradesh and the Bihar States respectively in 2000 has raised the number of States from 25 to 28. Telengana became the 29th State in 2014. The number has now come down to 28 as the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir has been reorganised into Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.• 2”
Why relevant
This snippet illustrates that the number of states/members in political entities can change over time and that textbooks note such changes (with dates and explanations).
How to extend
A student should therefore treat membership as time-sensitive and verify the BIMSTEC membership specifically 'as of January 2025' by checking sources dated at or after that time.
Statement 2
Was BIMSTEC formed by the Dhaka Declaration in 1999?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs
Fairness: CA heavy
Web-answerable
"BIMSTEC day was observed on 06 June 2022, marking the completion of 25 years of establishment (Silver Jubilee) of BIMSTEC in Bangkok in 1997."
Why this source?
- Explicitly gives BIMSTEC's year and place of establishment, which contradicts the claim that it was formed in Dhaka in 1999.
- States BIMSTEC's Silver Jubilee marking 25 years since establishment in Bangkok in 1997, implying formation in 1997, not 1999.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > General Election and Return of the NDA > p. 800
Strength: 5/5
“Narendra Modi was administered the oath of office as prime minister by President Ram Nath Kovind on May 30, 2019 in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. Guests from abroad included leaders of the BIMSTEC, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Mauritius. Even though the BJP had the required numbers to form the government on its own, it decided to accommodate its allies in the council of ministers. One surprise was the induction of S. Jaishankar, former foreign secretary, as foreign minister, but then he was well known for his diplomatic skills and had played a crucial role in foreign policy even under the Manmohan Singh government.”
Why relevant
Shows BIMSTEC existed by 2019 and that leaders of BIMSTEC attend Indian state events, indicating BIMSTEC is an established regional grouping.
How to extend
A student could use this to infer BIMSTEC was formed before 2019 and then check historical records (e.g., 1997–2000 regional summits) to locate its founding declaration date/location.
Contemporary World Politics, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Contemporary South Asia > TIMELINE OF SOUTH ASIA SINCE 1947 > p. 32
Strength: 4/5
“1947: India and Pakistan emerge as independent nations after the end of British rule 1948: Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) gains independence; Indo-Pak conflict over Kashmir 1954-55: Pakistan joins the Cold War military blocs, SEATO and CENTO 1960: India and Pakistan sign the Indus Waters Treaty 1962: Border conflict between India and China 1965: Indo-Pak War; UN India-Pakistan Observation Mission 1966: India and Pakistan sign the Tashkent Agreement; Six-point proposal of Sheikh Mujib-ur Rahman for greater autonomy to East Pakistan 1971 March: Proclamation of Independence by leaders of Bangladesh August : Indo-Soviet Treaty of Friendship signed for 20 years December : Indo-Pak War, Liberation of Bangladesh 1972 July: India and Pakistan sign the Simla Agreement 1974 May: India conducts nuclear test 1976: Pakistan and Bangladesh establish diplomatic ties 1985 December: South Asian leaders sign the SAARC Charter at the first summit in Dhaka 1987: Indo-Sri Lanka Accord; Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) operation in Sri Lanka (1987-90) 1988: India sends troops to the Maldives to foil a coup attempt by mercenaries India and Pakistan sign the agreement not to attack nuclear installations and facilities of each other 1988-91: Democracy restoration in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal 1996 December: India and Bangladesh sign the Farakka Treaty for sharing of the Ganga Waters 1998 May: India and Pakistan conduct nuclear tests December: India and Sri Lanka sign the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) 1999 February: Indian PM Vajpayee undertakes bus journey to Lahore to sign a Peace Declaration June-July: Kargil conflict between India and Pakistan 2001 July: Vajpayee - Musharraf Agra Summit unsuccessful 2004 January: SAFTA signed at the 12th SAARC Summit in Islamabad 2007: Afghanistan joins SAARC 2014 November: The 18th SAARC Summit in Kathmandu, Nepal In that sense the South Asian experience of democracy has expanded the global imagination of democracy.”
Why relevant
Provides a timeline of South Asian multilateral events (SAARC charter 1985; later regional agreements and accessions), establishing a pattern that regional organisations and agreements are often dated and tied to specific summits/declarations.
How to extend
A student could apply this pattern to expect BIMSTEC's founding to be tied to a summit/declaration in a particular year (like 1999) and then search summit records for a 'Dhaka Declaration' that might have created such a body.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > The Lahore Summit > p. 755
Strength: 3/5
“At a summit at Lahore in February 1999, Prime Minister Vajpayee of India and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan signed the Lahore Declaration, espousing a commitment to dialogue, expansion of trade relations and mutual friendship, undertaking to refrain from intervention and interference in each other's internal affairs, and expressing a commitment to take immediate steps for reducing the risk of accidental or unauthorised use of nuclear weapons and discuss concepts and doctrines with a view to elaborating measures for confidence building in the nuclear and conventional fields, aimed at prevention of conflict, reaffirming their condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and their determination to combat this menace and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
Why relevant
Gives an example ('Lahore Declaration' of 1999) of naming a bilateral/regional declaration after the host city, suggesting that a 'Dhaka Declaration' as a founding instrument would follow a common naming practice.
How to extend
A student could use this naming pattern to judge plausibility that a founding instrument could be called the 'Dhaka Declaration' and then look for a 1999 Dhaka summit declaration referring to BIMSTEC.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > Fig. 16.6 Enclaves along India–Bangladesh International Border (W. Bengal Sector) (After: Times of India, New Delhi, 1 August, 2015) > p. 45
Strength: 2/5
“hours. From 2011, Bangla got full access. In September, 2011, the Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Sigh visited Dhaka and the leaders agreed to implement the pact. As per the protocol, enclave residents were allowed to accept nationality of either of the two countries and stay on 'as-is-where-is' basis. The agreed protocol also addressed the outstanding issues including undemarcated land boundary in the three sectors, enclaves, and adverse possessions. In November 2014, all the Indian political parties okayed the draft bill. In May 2015, the political parties approved the deal in Parliament. In June 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ratified the agreement during a visit to Dhaka.”
Why relevant
Describes high‑level visits to Dhaka and use of declarations/protocols to form or implement cross‑border agreements, illustrating that Dhaka has hosted diplomatic instruments that create inter‑state arrangements.
How to extend
A student might combine this with knowledge of regional diplomacy to consider Dhaka a plausible venue for a 1999 declaration founding a regional grouping and then seek the specific document.
Statement 3
Which countries were the founding member states of BIMSTEC?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs
Fairness: CA heavy
Web-answerable
"member States viz. Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand"
Why this source?
- Directly lists the BIMSTEC member states by name.
- These named countries correspond to the group of states referred to throughout the document as BIMSTEC members.
"BIMSTEC day was observed on 06 June 2022, marking the completion of 25 years of establishment (Silver Jubilee) of BIMSTEC in Bangkok in 1997."
Why this source?
- States the establishment of BIMSTEC in Bangkok in 1997, providing context for which members would be founding.
- Supports that the member list in the other passage pertains to the original BIMSTEC grouping created in 1997.
Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 18: International Economic Institutions > GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) > p. 535
Strength: 4/5
“• GATT was signed in 1947 with 23 founding members to establish a free and fair international trade regime among member countries for goods. • The basic objectives of GATT were: • To promote non-discriminating trade ۰• To eliminate tariff and non-tariff trade barriers• To remove trade disputes through consultations By 1993, there were 123 countries as members of GATT. The members of GATT used to control 90 per cent of the world trade. • However, the GATT lacked: ø”
Why relevant
GATT snippet shows the concept of an organisation being 'signed' with a specific number of founding members (23) — model of how regional/multilateral bodies have an explicit list of founders.
How to extend
A student could look for the original founding document or announcement of BIMSTEC to find the explicit list of founding states, or compare the set of countries around the Bay of Bengal that could plausibly be signatories.
Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 18: International Economic Institutions > Important Facts > p. 512
Strength: 3/5
“• It is an autonomous organisation affiliated to UNO.
• It was established on 27 December 1945 with 30 member nations.
• India is a founding member of IMF (i.e. joined IMF on 27 December 1945).
• Currently, IMF has 190 members. The 190<sup>th</sup> member country is Andorra (joined in October 2020).
• Headquarters of IMF: Washington DC (United States)
• Current managing director of IMF is the Bulgarian economist Kristalina Georgieva (since October 1, 2019 for a 5-year term)”
Why relevant
IMF example states India is a founding member of a major international organisation, illustrating that Indian involvement is common in postwar/institutional foundations.
How to extend
Since BIMSTEC is a regional grouping in South/Southeast Asia, a student might reasonably check whether India is among its founders by combining this pattern with a regional map.
Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 18: International Economic Institutions > ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK > p. 530
Strength: 4/5
“• Asian Development Bank (ADB) was established in 1966 as a Multilateral Development Bank initially with 31 member countries (including India). • ADB presently has 68 member countries (latest being Niue added in 2019). • There are member countries even from outside Asia such as the United States. • Headquarters - Mandaluyong, Philippines. • Like World Bank, it has a weighted voting system, votes being distributed in proportion to members' capital subscription.”
Why relevant
Asian Development Bank was 'initially' established with a specific number of member countries (including India), showing that Asian multilateral institutions typically list initial/founding members and often include regional major states.
How to extend
Use the pattern that Asian regional banks/organisations list founding states to search for BIMSTEC's founding members among neighbouring Bay of Bengal countries (e.g., countries bordering the Bay of Bengal).
History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 15: The World after World War II > Council of Europe > p. 256
Strength: 3/5
“One of the momentous decisions taken in the post-World War II era was to integrate the states of western Europe. In May 1949, ten countries met in London and signed to form a Council of Europe. The Council of Europe with headquarters at Strasbourg was established with a committee of foreign ministers of member countries and a Consultative Assembly, drawn from the parliaments of foreign countries.”
Why relevant
Council of Europe example (ten countries met and signed to form it) demonstrates a common founding process: a small set of neighbouring or like-minded states meeting and signing a founding instrument.
How to extend
Apply this rule to BIMSTEC: identify the small group of geographically proximate Bay of Bengal states that would have met to sign a founding agreement and verify against primary founding documents.
Contemporary World Politics, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 2: Contemporary Centres of Power > TIMELINE OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION > p. 18
Strength: 3/5
“1951 April: Six west European countries, France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg sign the Treaty of Paris establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). 1957 March 25: These six countries sign the Treaties of Rome establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). 1973 January: Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom join the European Economic Community (EEC). 1979 June: First direct elections to the European Parliament 1981 January: Greece joins the EEC. 1985 June: The Schengen Agreement abolishes border controls among the EEC members. 1986 January: Spain and Portugal join the EEC.”
Why relevant
Timeline of European integration lists the six specific founding countries for ECSC/EEC — an example of how regional integration origins are tied to a core set of neighbouring states.
How to extend
A student could use a world/regional map to list Bay of Bengal littoral and adjacent states, then check which of those appear in BIMSTEC's founding list.
Statement 4
Which BIMSTEC member country is the lead country for the "tourism" subsector in BIMSTEC sectoral cooperation?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs
Fairness: CA heavy
Web-answerable
"India is the lead country for tourism, transport and communications, counter-terrorism, and environment and disaster management"
Why this source?
- Explicitly names the lead country for tourism within BIMSTEC sectoral groups.
- Comes from an official Ministry of External Affairs document describing sectoral assignments.
"India is the lead country in Transport and Communications, Bangladesh in Trade and Investment, Myanmar in Energy, India in Tourism, Sri Lanka in Technology and Thailand in Fisheries."
Why this source?
- Lists lead countries for multiple BIMSTEC cooperation areas and explicitly states India as lead for Tourism.
- Provides a clear mapping of sectors to lead countries, directly answering the question.
"India is the lead country in important areas such as Transportation & Communication, Tourism, Environment and Disaster Management"
Why this source?
- Again identifies India as lead for Tourism among other important BIMSTEC sectors.
- Reinforces the assignment from another official MEA publication.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 11: Industries > TOURISM > p. 90
Strength: 4/5
“Tourism is recognised as a powerful engine for economic growth and employment generating in the country. The contribution of tourism to the country's GDP and total jobs was 5.92% and 9.24% respectively”
Why relevant
Shows tourism is a major economic sector in India (GDP and employment shares), indicating India places high priority on tourism.
How to extend
A student could compare this domestic priority with BIMSTEC sectoral assignments to see which members with strong tourism sectors might be designated lead.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 11: Industries > TOURISM > p. 91
Strength: 4/5
“With the great potential available and the development initiatives taken by the government, inbound tourism has shown a substantial growth in the last two decades. In terms of visitors, at present, India is the 10th among Asia-Pacific countries. India's share in international tourist arrival was 5.6 million in 2010, constituting only 0.50% of the world tourists. The World Travel and Tourism Council has identified India as one of the foremost growth centres in the world in the coming decades. Domestic tourism is estimated to be much higher than that of international tourism which has been rising rapidly.”
Why relevant
Notes India's rising position in regional inbound tourism and its large domestic tourism market, implying India is a central tourism actor in the region.
How to extend
Use basic external data (tourist arrivals by country, regional maps) to assess which BIMSTEC member has comparable regional tourism prominence and so could be lead.
Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 14: Service Sector > TOURISM SECTOR > p. 429
Strength: 4/5
“• Top 05 States/UTs attracting maximum number of foreign tourists in 2019 (in ۰ decreasing order) are: Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and West Bengal.• Based on the share of GVA and in terms of the employment share, Andaman and Nicobar o Islands and Puducherry top the list, respectively.• Two major tourism schemes implemented by the government in the recent past are ø elucidated in the table below: • Name of the Scheme: Swadesh Darshan Scheme; Year of Implementation: 2014 - 15; Purpose: To develop theme-based circuits for tourism in India. As of January 2021, 13 circuits have been identified. • Name of the Scheme: PRASAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive); Year of Implementation: 2014 - 15; Purpose: Development and beautification of the pilgrimage destinations.”
Why relevant
Lists Indian states/UTs that attract most foreign tourists and describes national tourism schemes, showing institutional capacity and initiatives by India in tourism development.
How to extend
Compare institutional capacity and active tourism programmes among BIMSTEC members (via official BIMSTEC documents or member profiles) to evaluate likely leads.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 11: Industries > 6. Adventure Tourism > p. 96
Strength: 3/5
“Most of the foreign tourists who visited India were from West European countries (30%), South Asia (26%), North America (20%), South East Asia (6%), East Asia (5%), West Asia (4%), Africa (4%), Australia (3%), and East-European countries (2%). The world Travel and Tourism, council calculated the contribution of tourism as 9.2% of India's GDP in 2018. It supports 42.673 million jobs i.e 8.1% of total employability. There has been an increase of 16.5% from 2011.”
Why relevant
Provides data on origin regions of foreign tourists to India and tourism's contribution to India's economy, underscoring India's regional tourism linkages.
How to extend
A student could map tourist-source flows and regional connectivity to infer which BIMSTEC country has strategic tourism linkages warranting sectoral leadership.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > General Election and Return of the NDA > p. 800
Strength: 3/5
“Narendra Modi was administered the oath of office as prime minister by President Ram Nath Kovind on May 30, 2019 in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. Guests from abroad included leaders of the BIMSTEC, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Mauritius. Even though the BJP had the required numbers to form the government on its own, it decided to accommodate its allies in the council of ministers. One surprise was the induction of S. Jaishankar, former foreign secretary, as foreign minister, but then he was well known for his diplomatic skills and had played a crucial role in foreign policy even under the Manmohan Singh government.”
Why relevant
Mentions BIMSTEC leaders attending an Indian PM's oath ceremony, indicating India's diplomatic engagement with BIMSTEC.
How to extend
Combine this diplomatic centrality with India's tourism prominence to hypothesize India may be assigned leadership roles within BIMSTEC, then verify against BIMSTEC records.
Concept hooks from this question
👉 Counting membership and membership totals
💡 The insight
Accurately reporting the members and total membership of a regional or global body requires attention to exact membership counts and updates over time.
High-yield for UPSC: questions frequently ask for current membership numbers or recent accessions/withdrawals. Mastering this helps with current affairs, international organisation comparison, and elimination-based MCQs. It connects to topics on regional organisations, India’s foreign policy, and global governance.
📚 Reading List :
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 18: International Economic Institutions > 18.26 Indian Economy > p. 536
- Contemporary World Politics, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: International Organisations > Major contributors to the UN regular budget for 2019 > p. 53
🔗 Anchor: "List the member states of BIMSTEC as of January 2025 and state the total number ..."
👉 Key identifiers of international bodies (headquarters and leadership)
💡 The insight
Knowing an organisation’s headquarters and chief executive helps identify and differentiate international and regional bodies when listing their members or functions.
Useful for prelims and mains: questions often couple membership questions with HQ, leadership, or mandate. This concept links to governance, diplomacy, and institutional roles in international relations and aids quick recall under exam conditions.
📚 Reading List :
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 18: International Economic Institutions > 18.26 Indian Economy > p. 536
🔗 Anchor: "List the member states of BIMSTEC as of January 2025 and state the total number ..."
👉 SAARC founding — Dhaka summit (1985)
💡 The insight
SAARC's charter was signed at the first summit held in Dhaka in 1985, making Dhaka a key venue in regional organisational history.
High-yield for UPSC because questions often ask about origins, charters and host cities of regional organisations; connects to India's neighbourhood diplomacy and helps distinguish different multilateral frameworks in South Asia.
📚 Reading List :
- Contemporary World Politics, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Contemporary South Asia > TIMELINE OF SOUTH ASIA SINCE 1947 > p. 32
🔗 Anchor: "Was BIMSTEC formed by the Dhaka Declaration in 1999?"
👉 BIMSTEC as a separate regional grouping
💡 The insight
BIMSTEC is referenced as a regional grouping distinct from other South Asian organisations.
Important to master to avoid conflating BIMSTEC with SAARC; useful for questions on Bay of Bengal cooperation, India's regional engagements, and comparative institutional roles in South Asia.
📚 Reading List :
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > General Election and Return of the NDA > p. 800
🔗 Anchor: "Was BIMSTEC formed by the Dhaka Declaration in 1999?"
👉 Major 1999 diplomatic instruments (e.g., Lahore Declaration)
💡 The insight
The Lahore Declaration of February 1999 is a notable diplomatic document from 1999 and helps situate other claims about declarations in that year.
Helps aspirants place 1999 events in timeline-based questions (India-Pakistan diplomacy, Kargil year); knowing named declarations and their parties prevents misattribution of formation acts for organisations.
📚 Reading List :
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > The Lahore Summit > p. 755
- Contemporary World Politics, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Contemporary South Asia > TIMELINE OF SOUTH ASIA SINCE 1947 > p. 32
🔗 Anchor: "Was BIMSTEC formed by the Dhaka Declaration in 1999?"
👉 Founding members of international organisations
💡 The insight
Identifying which countries initially created an organisation is the core skill needed to list founding member states of regional groups like BIMSTEC.
UPSC frequently asks about origins and founding membership of international bodies; mastering this helps answer direct factual questions and situates foreign policy and regional cooperation topics. It links to diplomatic history, treaty-making, and comparative questions on institutional evolution.
📚 Reading List :
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 18: International Economic Institutions > GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) > p. 535
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 18: International Economic Institutions > Important Facts > p. 512
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 18: International Economic Institutions > ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK > p. 530
🔗 Anchor: "Which countries were the founding member states of BIMSTEC?"
👉 Regional multilateral institutions and their formation
💡 The insight
Regional bodies are typically created by a defined set of neighbouring states through treaties or agreements, so recognizing formation patterns helps determine founding members of groups such as BIMSTEC.
High-yield for international relations and modern history: questions often cover regional integration (e.g., Council of Europe, ECSC, ASEAN, BIMSTEC), founding states, and early objectives. Mastery enables quick elimination in MCQs and supports map- and origin-based short answers.
📚 Reading List :
- History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 15: The World after World War II > Council of Europe > p. 256
- Contemporary World Politics, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 2: Contemporary Centres of Power > TIMELINE OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION > p. 18
🔗 Anchor: "Which countries were the founding member states of BIMSTEC?"
No mentor insights available for this question.