SAARC & ASEAN — Set 6

Correct Answer: B. Afghanistan

• **Afghanistan** = This country became the eighth member of SAARC in 2007. • **14th summit** — Afghanistan joined SAARC during this summit, held in New Delhi. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Myanmar]: Myanmar is a Southeast Asian nation and not a SAARC member; [Mauritius]: Mauritius is an African island nation and not a SAARC member; [Iran]: Iran is a Middle Eastern nation and not a SAARC member.

Correct Answer: A. Association of South East Asian Nations

• **Association of South East Asian Nations** = This is the full form of ASEAN. • **600 million** — ASEAN represents over this many people across the region. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Alliance of South East Asian Nations]: 'Alliance' is incorrect; the correct term is 'Association'; [Association of Southern East Asian Nations]: 'Southern East' is incorrect; the correct term is 'South East'; [Assembly of South East Asian Nations]: 'Assembly' is incorrect; the correct term is 'Association'.

Correct Answer: C. Bangkok

• **Bangkok** = ASEAN was founded in this city in 1967 with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration. • **ASEAN Declaration** — This is another name for the Bangkok Declaration, signed by the foreign ministers. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Jakarta]: Jakarta is home to the ASEAN Secretariat, not its founding city; [Kuala Lumpur]: Kuala Lumpur is a capital of an ASEAN member but not the founding city; [Singapore]: Singapore is a founding member but not the city where ASEAN was founded.

Correct Answer: B. SAFTA

• **SAFTA** = The South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) agreement aims to create a free trade area among SAARC nations. • **2006** — The SAFTA agreement came into force in this year. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [SAPTA]: SAPTA (South Asian Preferential Trade Arrangement) was an earlier, less comprehensive agreement; [ASEAN FTA]: This relates to a free trade area for ASEAN, not SAARC; [RCEP]: RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) is a broader free trade agreement, not specific to SAARC.

Correct Answer: C. India

• **India** = India is not a member of ASEAN, though it is a strategic partner. • **Southeast Asia** — ASEAN is strictly for countries located in this region. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Vietnam]: Vietnam is a full member of ASEAN; [Cambodia]: Cambodia is a full member of ASEAN; [Laos]: Laos is a full member of ASEAN.

Correct Answer: C. Nepal

• **Nepal** = Nepal has held the SAARC chairmanship since the last summit. • **2014** — Nepal assumed the SAARC chairmanship after the last summit held in this year. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [India]: While an important member, India is not the current chair; [Pakistan]: Pakistan is not the current chair; [Sri Lanka]: Sri Lanka is not the current chair.

Correct Answer: B. Paddy (Rice)

• **Paddy (Rice)** = Ten stalks of paddy are depicted on the ASEAN flag. • **Ten** — This number of paddy stalks on the flag represents the solidarity of the ten ASEAN member nations. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Wheat]: Wheat is not depicted on the ASEAN flag; [Maize]: Maize is not depicted on the ASEAN flag; [Sugarcane]: Sugarcane is not depicted on the ASEAN flag.

Correct Answer: C. Dhaka

• **Dhaka** = The first SAARC summit was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh. • **1985** — The first SAARC summit was hosted in this year. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Kathmandu]: Kathmandu is where the SAARC Secretariat is located, not the site of the first summit; [Colombo]: Colombo has hosted SAARC summits but not the first one; [New Delhi]: New Delhi has hosted SAARC summits but not the first one.

Correct Answer: A. The ASEAN Way

• **The ASEAN Way** = This term refers to ASEAN's unique diplomatic style based on consensus and non-interference. • **Consensus** — This is one of the key principles, along with non-interference, that defines 'The ASEAN Way'. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [The Asian Path]: This is not the recognized term for ASEAN's diplomatic principle; [The Jakarta Rule]: While Jakarta is the headquarters, 'The Jakarta Rule' is not the term for the principle; [The Bangkok Norm]: While ASEAN was founded in Bangkok, 'The Bangkok Norm' is not the term for the principle.

Correct Answer: B. SAARC

• **SAARC** = India is a founding and full member of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation). • **Largest member** — India holds this status within the SAARC group. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [ASEAN]: India is a dialogue partner but not a full member of ASEAN; [European Union]: India is not a member of the European Union, which is a European political and economic union; [NATO]: India is not a member of NATO, which is a North American and European military alliance.