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International relationsInternational organisations1997

BIMSTEC

Seven Bay of Bengal states, including India.

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Secretariat in Dhaka.

Practise this in the app: flashcards, quiz and a timed answer
Prelims

Quick recall

When was BIMSTEC founded?
1997.
How many members?
Seven.
Where is the secretariat?
Dhaka.
When was its charter adopted?
2022, at the Colombo summit.
Name the members.
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand.
Which two Indian policies does it connect?
Neighbourhood First and Act East.

Asked before in UPSC

Recurring theme: BIMSTEC versus SAARC and India's Bay of Bengal outreach

Mains
  1. 2022 · GS2 · 10 marks

    Do you think that BIMSTEC is a parallel organisation like the SAARC? What are the similarities and dissimilarities between the two? How are Indian foreign policy objectives realized by forming this new organisation?

    Directly tests BIMSTEC's membership, sectoral structure and its place in India's Neighbourhood First and Act East policies.

Prelims
  1. 2026 · Prelims

    Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists: List I (BIMSTEC Centre/Establishment): A. BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory, B. BIMSTEC Energy Centre, C. BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate, D. BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility. List II (Location): 1. NOIDA, 2. Bengaluru, 3. Colombo, 4. Thimphu. Code: (a) A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4 (b) A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4 (c) A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3 (d) A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3

    Tests the location of BIMSTEC's specialised centres across member states.

  2. 2025 · Prelims

    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?

    Tests BIMSTEC basics: seven members, the 1997 Bangkok Declaration and its founding members.

The basics

Why it matters

BIMSTEC links South and Southeast Asia around the Bay of Bengal. India sees it as a bridge between its Neighbourhood First and Act East policies.

7
Member states of BIMSTEC
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

How it evolved

Key milestones.

BIMSTEC
  1. 1997Founded by the Bangkok Declaration
  2. 2004Bhutan and Nepal join (as full members)
  3. 2014Secretariat in Dhaka
  4. 2022Charter adopted at Colombo summit

You now know

  • Founded in 1997 by the Bangkok Declaration.
  • Seven members around the Bay of Bengal.
  • Secretariat in Dhaka.
  • Charter adopted in 2022.

Go deeper

In one line: BIMSTEC is India's preferred regional forum as SAARC stalls.

Why it matters for UPSC

Regional groupings are standard IR topics.

The core idea

It links Act East Policy and Neighbourhood First through the Bay of Bengal.

Where to go next

In one line: BIMSTEC has promise but slow implementation.

Issues

Free trade agreement pending, instability in Myanmar. See Act East Policy and Neighbourhood First.

Where to go next

Act East Policy

India's engagement with Southeast and East Asia

In one line: Act East (2014) upgraded Look East (1991) to deepen ties with Southeast and East Asia.

Focus

Connectivity, trade and security.

Projects

India-Myanmar-Thailand Highway and Kaladan project.

Where to go next

Act East Policy: every story that connects to it (2)

Neighbourhood First

Priority to South Asian neighbours

In one line: Neighbourhood First gives priority to India's immediate neighbours.

Tools

Connectivity, development aid, crisis support.

Examples

Aid to Sri Lanka in 2022.

Where to go next

Prelims-style quiz

  1. The BIMSTEC secretariat is in:

    1. Colombo
    2. Dhaka
    3. Bangkok
    4. Kathmandu
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) Dhaka. Dhaka.

  2. Which is NOT a BIMSTEC member?

    1. Bhutan
    2. Pakistan
    3. Myanmar
    4. Thailand
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) Pakistan. Pakistan.

  3. Consider the following:
    1. BIMSTEC was founded in 1997.
    2. Its charter was adopted in 2022.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2. Both correct.

  4. BIMSTEC is often seen as an alternative to:

    1. SCO
    2. SAARC
    3. ASEAN
    4. BRICS
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) SAARC. SAARC, which has stalled.

Syllabus

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