Top 50 Questions and Answers about SAARC

General Knowledge about SAARC

1. Q: What does SAARC stand for?
   A: South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.
2. Q: When was SAARC established?
   A: December 8, 1985.
3. Q: Where was the first SAARC summit held?
   A: Dhaka, Bangladesh.
4. Q: How many member countries are there in SAARC?
   A: Eight.
5. Q: Name the founding members of SAARC.
   A: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
6. Q: When did Afghanistan join SAARC?
   A: 2007.
7. Q: Where is the SAARC Secretariat located?
   A: Kathmandu, Nepal.
8. Q: Who was the first Secretary-General of SAARC?
   A: Abul Ahsan (Bangladesh).
9. Q: What is the main objective of SAARC?
   A: To promote the welfare of the people of South Asia and improve their quality of life through economic and regional cooperation.
10. Q: What is the SAARC Charter Day celebrated?
    A: December 8 every year.

SAARC Members and Geography

11. Q: Which SAARC country has the largest population?
    A: India.
12. Q: Which SAARC country has the smallest area?
    A: Maldives.
13. Q: Which is the only landlocked SAARC country other than Bhutan and Nepal?
    A: Afghanistan.
14. Q: Name the SAARC country with the highest GDP.
    A: India.
15. Q: Which SAARC country is an island nation in the Indian Ocean?
    A: Maldives and Sri Lanka.

SAARC Summits

16. Q: How often are SAARC summits held?
    A: Usually every 1–2 years.
17. Q: Which country hosted the 18th SAARC Summit?
    A: Nepal (in 2014).
18. Q: Why was the 19th SAARC Summit scheduled in Pakistan in 2016 canceled?
    A: Due to the boycott by India and some other countries after the Uri attack.
19. Q: Which city hosted the second SAARC Summit?
    A: Bangalore, India (1986).
20. Q: What was a major theme of the 18th SAARC Summit?
    A: Deeper regional integration for peace and prosperity.

SAARC Institutions and Agreements

21. Q: What is SAFTA?
    A: South Asian Free Trade Area.
22. Q: When was SAFTA agreement signed?
    A: 2004.
23. Q: What is the purpose of SAFTA?
    A: To promote and enhance mutual trade and economic cooperation among SAARC countries.
24. Q: Name a specialized body of SAARC.
    A: SAARC Development Fund (SDF).
25. Q: Where is the SAARC Agriculture Centre located?
    A: Dhaka, Bangladesh.
26. Q: Which SAARC body focuses on meteorology and weather forecasting?
    A: SAARC Meteorological Research Centre (SMRC), Dhaka.
27. Q: What is the SAARC Development Fund used for?
    A: Funding regional integration projects in social, economic, and infrastructure sectors.
28. Q: Where is the SAARC Disaster Management Centre located?
    A: Gandhinagar, India.
29. Q: Where is the SAARC Cultural Centre?
    A: Colombo, Sri Lanka.
30. Q: Which SAARC country initiated the South Asian University?
    A: India (located in New Delhi).

Economy and Cooperation

31. Q: Which SAARC countries share borders with China?
    A: Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Pakistan.
32. Q: What is one major economic challenge among SAARC nations?
    A: Trade barriers and political tension.
33. Q: Which SAARC country relies heavily on tourism?
    A: Maldives.
34. Q: What is a major export of Bangladesh among SAARC nations?
    A: Readymade garments.
35. Q: What is the main crop cultivated in most SAARC countries?
    A: Rice.

SAARC and Global Affairs

36. Q: Is SAARC a military alliance?
    A: No, it is an economic and regional cooperation organization.
37. Q: What type of observer status does China have in SAARC?
    A: Observer status.
38. Q: How many observer countries are there in SAARC?
    A: Nine.
39. Q: Name two observer countries of SAARC.
    A: USA and China.
40. Q: Can observer countries attend SAARC summits?
    A: Yes, but they do not have voting rights.

Miscellaneous

41. Q: What is the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme?
    A: A scheme that allows designated individuals from member states to travel without a visa.
42. Q: When was the SAARC Youth Charter adopted?
    A: 2016.
43. Q: What is the SAARC Satellite project?
    A: A communication satellite project initiated by India for regional cooperation.
44. Q: Which language is used for official SAARC communication?
    A: English.
45. Q: What is the SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA)?
    A: An agreement to promote trade by reducing tariffs.
46. Q: Which SAARC country has never hosted a summit?
    A: Afghanistan (as of now).
47. Q: What is a challenge to SAARC’s effectiveness?
    A: Political conflicts, especially between India and Pakistan.
48. Q: What sector does the SAARC Tuberculosis Centre focus on?
    A: Public health and tuberculosis control.
49. Q: What is the emblem of SAARC?
    A: A banyan tree with seven pairs of hands (originally), now eight.
50. Q: How can SAARC improve regional cooperation?
    A: By resolving political differences, enhancing trade, and promoting people-to-people contact.