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?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (d) I only
Only Statement I is correct: BIMSTEC has had seven members since Nepal and Bhutan joined in 2004. It began with the Bangkok Declaration of 1997, not a Dhaka Declaration; Nepal joined only in 2004, so it is not a founder; and the tourism sub-sector is led by Nepal, not India.
- ✓ I BIMSTEC's own history lists seven Member States: Myanmar joined in December 1997 and Bhutan and Nepal in February 2004, so the count was seven in January 2025 too.
- ✗ II BIMSTEC's own history places its founding on 6 June 1997, with the Bangkok Declaration, not on a Dhaka Declaration of 1999.
- ✗ III The organisation began as BIST-EC with Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand; Nepal joined only in 2004, so it is not a founding member.
- ✗ IV BIMSTEC's website records Nepal as the Lead Country for the tourism sub-sector, so India does not lead it.
Remember · BIMSTEC: founded by the Bangkok Declaration (6 June 1997) as BIST-EC with four states; seven members since 2004; Nepal leads tourism.
Sources
- History, BIMSTEC Secretariat (bimstec.org) ↗ · reference work “was established on 06 June 1997 with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration. Initially known as BIST-EC (Bangladesh-India-Sri Lanka-Thailand Economic Cooperation) … comprises seven Member States with the admission of Myanmar on 22 December 1997, and Bhutan and Nepal in February 2004”
- Tourism sub-sector, BIMSTEC Secretariat (bimstec.org) ↗ · reference work “The Second Meeting of the BIMSTEC Working Group on Tourism was held on 17–18 January 2024 in Kathmandu, hosted by Nepal as the Lead Country.”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2025, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·