With reference to 'Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)', consider the following statements : 1. It was established very recently in response to incidents of piracy and accidents of oil spills. 2. It is an alliance meant for maritime security only. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2 ✓ UPSC's answer
Why the answer is (d)
• IOR-ARC, now the Indian Ocean Rim Association, was founded in 1997 in Mauritius by 14 countries (23 today) — not recently, so statement 1 is wrong.
• Statement 2 is wrong: its agenda covers trade and investment facilitation, fisheries, disaster management, academic and tourism cooperation and the blue economy, with maritime safety as one of six priorities — not security alone.
• Hence neither 1 nor 2, option (d).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 only
- Statement 1 is wrong: IORA dates from 1997.
- (b) 2 only
- Statement 2 is wrong: it is a broad economic cooperation body.
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- Both statements are wrong.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2015, held on 23 August 2015. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.