Question

Write a short note on SAARC.

Answer 1

Hint: The full form of SAARC is the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation is a regional intergovernmental organization. This organization is a geopolitical union of states in South Asia.

Complete Answer: The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation was founded on 8 december, 1985 in Dhaka. The secretariat of SAARC is based in Kathmandu, Nepal. SAARC is the organization which promotes development of regional and economic integration. This organization launched the South Asian Free Trade in the year 2006. The SAARC is the organization which maintains permanent diplomatic relations at the United Nations as an observer. SAARC has developed links with multilateral entities. There are 8 member countries of SAARC. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan are the member countries of SAARC. SAARC comprises 3 percent of the total area of the world and 21 percent of the world’s population as of 2019. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation was founded by seven states in 1985. Australia, China, European Union, Iran, Japan, Mauritius, Myanmar, South Korea and the United States are given the observer states status. Many countries have expressed their interest to become a member of SAARC. Myanmar has shown its interest in upgrading its status from an observer state to a full member state of the SAARC. China is also one of the countries which has requested to join SAARC.

Note: The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Disaster Management Centre has been set up at Gujarat Institute of Disaster management campus which is situated in Gandhinagar, Gujrat, India.