Regional and Global Groupings — Practice Questions
UPSC Prelims-pattern practice questions on groupings involving India — G20, SCO, BRICS, IONS and secretariats — with full explanations and a Mains question.
Questions
These are original UPSC-pattern practice questions. Attempt each one before revealing the answer.
With reference to the Group of Twenty (G20), consider the following statements:
- It began in 1999 as a forum of finance ministers and central bank governors.
- It has a permanent secretariat in Geneva.
- The African Union became its permanent member at the New Delhi summit in 2023.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Solution
Statement 1 is correct — the G20 began in 1999 after the Asian financial crisis and was upgraded to leaders’ summits in 2008. Statement 2 is wrong — the G20 has no permanent secretariat; the rotating presidency is supported by a troika. Statement 3 is correct — the African Union was admitted in September 2023 under India’s presidency.
Answer: B
Which one of the following countries is not a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation?
Solution
Turkmenistan follows a policy of permanent neutrality and is not an SCO member. Kazakhstan is a founding member (2001); Pakistan joined along with India in 2017; Iran joined in 2023.
Answer: D
The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), a forum of navies of the Indian Ocean littoral states, was launched in 2008 at the initiative of which country?
Solution
IONS was conceived and launched by the Indian Navy in 2008. Mauritius hosts the secretariat of a different body — the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). Australia and South Africa are participants, not founders.
Answer: A
Consider the following pairs:
| Grouping | Location of secretariat |
|---|---|
| 1. SAARC | Kathmandu |
| 2. BIMSTEC | Dhaka |
| 3. IORA | Mauritius |
| 4. ASEAN | Bangkok |
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Solution
Pairs 1, 2 and 3 are correct. ASEAN was founded by the Bangkok Declaration of 1967, but its secretariat is in Jakarta — the classic trap. Three pairs are correct.
Answer: C
How many of the following countries joined BRICS as full members in January 2024?
- Egypt
- Argentina
- United Arab Emirates
- Indonesia
Solution
Egypt and the UAE joined in January 2024, along with Ethiopia and Iran. Argentina was invited but declined. Indonesia joined a year later, in January 2025. Two of the four.
Answer: B
“BIMSTEC has emerged as India’s preferred platform for regional cooperation in place of SAARC.” Examine the reasons and the limitations.
Solution
Introduction: SAARC (1985) has been largely dormant since the 2016 Islamabad summit was called off. BIMSTEC (1997), linking five South Asian and two South-East Asian states around the Bay of Bengal, has gained momentum.
Body:
- Reasons: no India–Pakistan deadlock; bridges Neighbourhood First and Act East; Bay of Bengal connectivity and maritime security; Charter adopted in 2022 giving it legal personality; sector-wise leadership by members.
- Limitations: small secretariat and budget; a free trade agreement under negotiation since 2004 is still not concluded; political instability in Myanmar; overlapping memberships with ASEAN and SAARC; slow project delivery.
- Way forward: conclude the FTA, fund the secretariat, push coastal shipping and power-grid interconnection, and link with BBIN and Mekong–Ganga projects.
Conclusion: BIMSTEC is not a replacement for SAARC so much as a workable alternative. Its value depends on turning summit declarations into connectivity on the ground.