SCO & BRICS — Set 6

Correct Answer: C. Shanghai

• **Shanghai** = This city in China serves as the global headquarters for the New Development Bank (NDB). • **2021** — The NDB moved into its permanent headquarters building in Shanghai in this year, after the location was decided during the bank's founding summit. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Beijing: This is the capital of China, but not the NDB headquarters; Moscow: This is the capital of Russia, a BRICS member, but not the NDB headquarters; New Delhi: This is the capital of India, a BRICS member, but not the NDB headquarters.

Correct Answer: D. Iran

• **Iran** = This country officially became the 9th full member of the SCO in 2023. • **July 2023** — Iran officially joined the SCO as a full member in this month and year during a virtual summit hosted by India. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Afghanistan: It is an observer state but not a full member; Belarus: It is an observer state but not a full member; Mongolia: It is an observer state but not a full member.

Correct Answer: A. New Delhi

• **New Delhi** = This city hosted the first BRICS summit to be held in India. • **March 2012** — The 4th BRICS Summit, hosted in New Delhi, took place in this month and year, focusing on global governance and sustainable development. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Mumbai: While an important Indian city, it did not host the first BRICS summit in India; Goa: It hosted a later BRICS summit (2016), but not the first; Bengaluru: While an important Indian city, it did not host the first BRICS summit in India.

Correct Answer: B. Chinese and Russian

• **Chinese and Russian** = These are the two official working languages of the SCO. • **Two languages** — The SCO conducts all its official work, documents, and summits in these two languages. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: English and Hindi: Neither English nor Hindi are official SCO languages; Russian and English: English is not an official SCO language; Chinese and English: English is not an official SCO language.

Correct Answer: C. Gujarat

• **Gujarat** = The New Development Bank (NDB) opened its first regional office in India in this state. • **GIFT City** — The NDB India Regional Office is located in GIFT City, Gujarat, and aims to fund infrastructure projects within the country. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Maharashtra: While a prominent state, it was not chosen for the first NDB regional office; Karnataka: While a prominent state, it was not chosen for the first NDB regional office; Tamil Nadu: While a prominent state, it was not chosen for the first NDB regional office.

Correct Answer: B. South Africa

• **South Africa** = This country hosted the 15th BRICS Summit in 2023 where the expansion of the bloc was announced. • **August 2023** — The 15th BRICS Summit was held in this month and year in Johannesburg, during which six new countries were invited to join. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Brazil: It is a founding BRICS member but did not host the 2023 summit; Russia: It is a founding BRICS member but did not host the 2023 summit; China: It is a founding BRICS member but did not host the 2023 summit.

Correct Answer: A. Varanasi

• **Varanasi** = This Indian city was designated as the first-ever SCO Cultural and Tourism Capital. • **2022-23** — Varanasi held the title of SCO Cultural and Tourism Capital for this period, promoting people-to-people contact among member states. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Samarkand: While an SCO member city and summit host, it was not chosen as the Cultural and Tourism Capital; Almaty: While an important city in an SCO member state, it was not chosen as the Cultural and Tourism Capital; Dushanbe: While an important city in an SCO member state, it was not chosen as the Cultural and Tourism Capital.

Correct Answer: B. The alphabetical order of names

• **Alphabetical order of names** = The presidency of the BRICS group rotates annually based on this specific order of its member countries. • **B-R-I-C-S** — This is the established alphabetical order (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) for the rotation of the BRICS presidency, ensuring equal leadership opportunities. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Population size: The rotation is not based on demographic factors; GDP growth: The rotation is not based on economic performance; UN ranking: The rotation is not based on international rankings.

Correct Answer: C. Saint Petersburg

• **Saint Petersburg** = The SCO Charter was signed in this city in 2002. • **June 2002** — The SCO Charter was signed during the Saint Petersburg Summit in Russia in this month and year, coming into full effect in 2003. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Beijing: While an important city in an SCO member state, it was not the signing location; Shanghai: While an important city in an SCO member state, it was not the signing location; Astana: While an important city in an SCO member state, it was not the signing location.

Correct Answer: D. 10

• **10 countries** = As of early 2024, the BRICS group officially consists of this many member countries after its expansion. • **January 2024** — This is the cutoff date for the current count of BRICS member states, following the inclusion of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: 5: This was the number of founding members before the expansion; 8: This number is incorrect; 9: This number is incorrect.