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?
- (a) I and II
- (b) II and III
- (c) I and IV
- (d) I only ✓ UPSC's answer
Why the answer is (d)
• BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) has seven members — Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand — so statement I is correct.
• Statement II is wrong: it was created by the Bangkok Declaration of 6 June 1997 (as BIST-EC), not a Dhaka Declaration of 1999.
• Statement III is wrong: the founding members were Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand; Myanmar joined later in 1997, and Nepal and Bhutan only in 2004.
• Statement IV is wrong: India leads the security sector (counter-terrorism, disaster management, energy); tourism falls under the people-to-people contact sector led by Nepal.
• Hence I only, option (d). The permanent secretariat is in Dhaka and the BIMSTEC Charter came into force in 2024.
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) I and II
- Statement II is wrong: BIMSTEC arose from the Bangkok Declaration of 1997.
- (b) II and III
- Statements II and III are both wrong (wrong declaration; Nepal was not a founder).
- (c) I and IV
- Statement IV is wrong: India leads security, not tourism.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2025, held on 25 May 2025. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.