Q. 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, 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

52. BIMSTEC के संदर्भ में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :
I. यह जनवरी 2025 तक सात सदस्य देशों से मिलकर बना एक क्षेत्रीय संगठन है।
II. यह ढाका घोषणा, 1999 पर हस्ताक्षर होने के साथ अस्तित्व में आया।
III. बांग्लादेश, भारत, श्रीलंका, थाइलैंड और नेपाल BIMSTEC के संस्थापक सदस्य देश हैं ।
IV. BIMSTEC में, 'पर्यटन' उप-क्षेत्र का नेतृत्व भारत कर रहा है।

उपर्युक्त कथनों में से कौन-सा/कौन-से सही है/हैं?
(a) I और II
(b) II और III
(c) I और IV
(d) केवल I

Answer: D

Explanation:

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional organization established on 06 June 1997 with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration.

Statement I - It is correct. It is a regional organization consisting of seven member States till January 2025. BIMSTEC has 7 member countries:

• Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Nepal, and Bhutan.

Statement II is incorrect: It was established in 1997 through the Bangkok Declaration, not the Dhaka Declaration of 1999.

Statement III is incorrect: The founding members were Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Nepal and Bhutan joined later in 2004.

Statement IV is incorrect: India does not lead the tourism sub-sector under BIMSTEC cooperation.

Source:
https://bimstec.org/pages/sectors-of-cooperation