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South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

PYQs

8

Articles

1

Momentum

21

Phase IFoundation

Background

Overview

SAARC is a critical regional organization for India's foreign policy, neighborhood first policy, and regional stability. UPSC often asks about its relevance, challenges, and potential for cooperation in the context of India's international relations.

SAARC is a geopolitical union of nations in South Asia, established in 1985, aimed at promoting economic development and regional integration. Its objectives include accelerating economic growth, social progress, and cultural development in the region.

Phase IIStatic core

Facts & tables

Key facts

Establishment

Founded in 1985 to foster regional cooperation among South Asian nations.

Bangladesh's Role

Bangladesh is a founding member and historically a strong proponent of SAARC.

Current Priority

The current government prioritizes making SAARC more effective to enhance regional collaboration.

Objectives

Aims to promote economic diplomacy, global trade, and strategic partnerships within the region.

Reference table

Static syllabus anchors

TypeReference
Conceptual areaGeopolitics & International Conflicts

Reference table

Institutions & roles

BodyRole
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)Promotes regional cooperation
Phase IIIExam lens

Prelims angle

Overview

Prelims angle: Factual recall

Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis

Quick revision

  • Established 1985, 8 member states.
  • Aims: economic growth, social progress, cultural development.
  • Challenges: bilateral disputes, lack of consensus.
  • Bangladesh's historical and current commitment to SAARC.
  • Relevance for India's neighborhood policy.

High-confidence PYQs

2023Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: Statement-I :Israel has established diplomatic relations with some Arab States. Statement-II :The 'Arab Peace Initiative...

International RelationsOpen question
2022Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following: 1. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank 2. Missile Technology Control Regime 3. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation India is a member ...

International RelationsOpen question

Consider the following statements: 1. Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in north -western Kenya. 2. Some people who fled from South Sudan civil war l...

International RelationsOpen question

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 S...

International RelationsOpen question

With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements: 1. The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-mem...

International RelationsOpen question
2022Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

Consider the following: 1. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank 2. Missile Technology Control Regime 3. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation India is a member ...

International RelationsOpen question

Consider the following statements: 1. Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in north -western Kenya. 2. Some people who fled from South Sudan civil war l...

International RelationsOpen question

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 S...

International RelationsOpen question

With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements: 1. The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-mem...

International RelationsOpen question
2022Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

Consider the following: 1. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank 2. Missile Technology Control Regime 3. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation India is a member ...

International RelationsOpen question

Consider the following statements: 1. Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in north -western Kenya. 2. Some people who fled from South Sudan civil war l...

International RelationsOpen question

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 S...

International RelationsOpen question

With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements: 1. The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-mem...

International RelationsOpen question
2022Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions

Consider the following: 1. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank 2. Missile Technology Control Regime 3. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation India is a member ...

International RelationsOpen question

Consider the following statements: 1. Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in north -western Kenya. 2. Some people who fled from South Sudan civil war l...

International RelationsOpen question

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 S...

International RelationsOpen question

With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements: 1. The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-mem...

International RelationsOpen question
2016Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

Which of the following is not a member of ‘Gulf Cooperation Council’?

International RelationsOpen question
2015Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)’, Consider the following statements: 1. It was established very recently i...

International RelationsOpen question

In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not participant/ participants? 1. Bangladesh 2. Cambodia 3. Ch...

International RelationsOpen question
2015Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)’, Consider the following statements: 1. It was established very recently i...

International RelationsOpen question

In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not participant/ participants? 1. Bangladesh 2. Cambodia 3. Ch...

International RelationsOpen question

Topic timeline

Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Prelims 2015· Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)’, Consider the following statements: 1. It was established very recently i...

Open question

In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not participant/ participants? 1. Bangladesh 2. Cambodia 3. Ch...

Open question
Prelims 2015· Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)’, Consider the following statements: 1. It was established very recently i...

Open question

In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not participant/ participants? 1. Bangladesh 2. Cambodia 3. Ch...

Open question
Prelims 2016· Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

Which of the following is not a member of ‘Gulf Cooperation Council’?

Open question
Prelims 2022· Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following: 1. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank 2. Missile Technology Control Regime 3. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation India is a member ...

Open question

Consider the following statements: 1. Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in north -western Kenya. 2. Some people who fled from South Sudan civil war l...

Open question

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 S...

Open question

With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements: 1. The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-mem...

Open question
Prelims 2022· Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

Consider the following: 1. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank 2. Missile Technology Control Regime 3. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation India is a member ...

Open question

Consider the following statements: 1. Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in north -western Kenya. 2. Some people who fled from South Sudan civil war l...

Open question

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 S...

Open question

With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements: 1. The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-mem...

Open question
Prelims 2022· Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

Consider the following: 1. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank 2. Missile Technology Control Regime 3. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation India is a member ...

Open question

Consider the following statements: 1. Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in north -western Kenya. 2. Some people who fled from South Sudan civil war l...

Open question

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 S...

Open question

With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements: 1. The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-mem...

Open question
Prelims 2022· Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions

Consider the following: 1. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank 2. Missile Technology Control Regime 3. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation India is a member ...

Open question

Consider the following statements: 1. Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in north -western Kenya. 2. Some people who fled from South Sudan civil war l...

Open question

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 S...

Open question

With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements: 1. The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-mem...

Open question
Prelims 2023· Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: Statement-I :Israel has established diplomatic relations with some Arab States. Statement-II :The 'Arab Peace Initiative...

Open question

A vision for an inclusive Bangladesh

19 Aug 2026 · SAARC is a key regional body in South Asia, established to foster economic and social development, with Bangladesh actively advocating for its effectiveness and regional integration.

Read article

Related topics

Current topic

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

Practice writing on this topic

UPSC has asked 8 linked questions on South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in Mains. Write an answer to one — and get it evaluated.

See Mains PYQsEvaluate an answer

UPSC Prelims PYQs on South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

Practice official previous year questions asked by UPSC related to this concept.

Consider the following: 1. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank 2. Missile Technology Control Regime 3. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation India is a member ...

2022·International Relations
Solve

With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)’, Consider the following statements: 1. It was established very recently i...

2015·International Relations
Solve

Consider the following statements: 1. Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in north -western Kenya. 2. Some people who fled from South Sudan civil war l...

2022·International Relations
Solve

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 S...

2022·International Relations
Solve

Which of the following is not a member of ‘Gulf Cooperation Council’?

2016·International Relations
Solve

In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not participant/ participants? 1. Bangladesh 2. Cambodia 3. Ch...

2015·International Relations
Solve

Consider the following statements: Statement-I :Israel has established diplomatic relations with some Arab States. Statement-II :The 'Arab Peace Initiative...

2023·International Relations
Solve

With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements: 1. The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-mem...

2022·International Relations
Solve

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