Consider the following countries : 1. Armenia 2. Azerbaijan 3. Croatia 4. Romania 5. Uzbekistan Which of the above are members of the Organization of Turkic States ?

(a) 1, 2 and 4
(b) 1 and 3
(c) 2 and 5 ✓ UPSC's answer
(d) 3, 4 and 5

Why the answer is (c)

• The Organization of Turkic States (formerly the Turkic Council, renamed 2021) unites Turkic-speaking nations: Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan as members, with Turkmenistan and Hungary as observers.

• Of the listed countries, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are members — items 2 and 5.

• Armenia is not Turkic and is Azerbaijan's adversary; Croatia and Romania are non-Turkic European states.

• Hungary joined as an observer citing its claimed Turkic-Hunnic heritage.

• Hence 2 and 5, option (c).

Why the other options are wrong

(a) 1, 2 and 4: Armenia and Romania are not Turkic states.
(b) 1 and 3: Armenia and Croatia are not members.
(d) 3, 4 and 5: Croatia and Romania are not Turkic; only Uzbekistan among these is a member.

Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2022, held on 5 June 2022. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.