SAARC

Question 1

Full form of SAARC

Answer 1

South Asian Association for regional cooperation

Question 2

When was SAARC formed

Answer 2

1985

Question 3

Where was SAARC formed

Answer 3

Dhaka

Question 4

Founding members of SAARC

Answer 4

 India
Pakistan
Nepal
Bhutan
Bangladesh
Sri Lanka
Maldives

Question 5

Who was the last country to join SAARC

Answer 5

Afghanistan in 2007

Question 6

Who was the first one to put forward the idea of SAARC

Answer 6

President Zia Ur Rahman of Bangladesh

Question 7

What is SAARC

Answer 7

It is the first systematic organisational output of efforts at regional level among member states of South Asia

Question 8

Objectives ofSAARC

Answer 8

Objectives of SAARC
• Promote welfare of the people
• Promote mutual trust and understanding
• Accelerate economic growth
• Collaborate with regional and international organisations with similar objectives
• Collaborate in socio-economic, cultural and scientific fields
But, it also showed commitment to non-interference in internal affairs and respect for the sovereignty, equality and territorial integrity of member states. It emphasised that decision must be taken on the basis of consensus leaving aside bilateral or contentious issues.

Question 9

SAARC I have identified some areas of cooperation. What are they

Answer 9

The 11 stated areas of cooperation are agriculture and forestry, health and population, meteorology, rural development; telecommuni-5 cations; transport; science and technology; postal services; sports, arts, and culture; women in development; and drug trafficking and abuse.
Other concerns, such as tourism and terrorism, however, have also been targeted. The charter stipulates that decisions are unanimous and that “bilateral and contentious issues” are to be avoided.

Question 10

First summit ofSAARC

Answer 10

Dhaka 1985

Question 11

SAARC important years

Answer 11

Year for Girl Child 1990
Year for House 1991
Year for Environment 1992
Year for Handicapped 1993
Year for Poverty Removal 1995
Year for Literacy 1996
Year of Participatory Governance 1997
Year of Biodiversity 1999
Year of Contribution of Youth to Environment 2002-3
SAARC Awareness Year for TB and HIV/AIDS 2004
South Asia Tourism Year2006
Green South Asia Year2007
Year of Cultural Heritage2016-17

Question 12

Where and when was SAFTA signed

Answer 12

12 Summit held in Islamabad in 2004 .
Members of SAARC signed a historic agreement on free trade by agreeing to create a South Asian free trade area by 2006.

It plans to establish a system of common market currency and free flow of goods and services between the member states

Question 13

When did SAFTA come into effect?

Answer 13

January 1,, 2006

Question 14

Terms of SAFTA

Answer 14

As per the agreement terms, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have to scale down their customs duties to the level of 0-5 percent by 2013. On the other hand, the four “least developed” members in the SAARC group-
-Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal
and Bhutan are expected to follow suit by 2018.
India, being the larger economy among the seven members, has to provide certain concessions to the four least developed countries (LDCs). This would include a compensation mechanism for the revenue loss that they may incur owing to the cut in their import duties.