SAARC

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union of nations in South Asia. The union consists of 8 member states-- Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Maldives. 
The foundation of SAARC was laid in 1985 in Dhaka. SAARC is headquartered at Kathmandu, Nepal. SAARC intended to promote the development of regional and economic integration. 

The important agreements with which SAARC came up are as following-

• It has launched the South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) in 2006. The objective of SAFTA is to reduce custom duties on all traded goods to zero by the year 2016.
• The framework agreement for energy cooperation in south Asian region. This agreement would focus on electricity supply in the region.
• The organization has also came up with Visa exemption scheme for a specific categories of dignitaries. 
• There are also regional railways development scheme, motor vehicle scheme etc. going on in the organization.
• There is also a plan of launching SAARC regional satellite. 

Composition

SAARC comprises the following member states:

1. Afghanistan ( 8th Member )
2. Bangladesh
3. Bhutan
4. India
5. Maldives
6. Nepal
7. Pakistan
8. Sri Lanka

SAARC was founded by seven states in 1985. 

In 2005, Afghanistan  joined as 8th member of  SAARC  at the 13th Summit. 

This organization was formed in Dhaka on December 8, 1985, and its secretariat is based in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The idea of SAARC was proposed by the then Bangladesh ruler Zia Ul Rehman, 1979. 

Observer

There are currently nine Observers to SAARC, namely: (i) Australia; (ii) China; (iii) the European Union; (iv) Iran; (v) Japan; (vi) the Republic of Korea; (vii) Mauritius; (viii) Myanmar; and (ix) the United States of America.

The Objectives of the SAARC

• To promote the welfare of the people of South Asia and to improve their quality of life.
• To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region and to provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to realize their full potentials.
• To promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia.
• To contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one another’s problems..
• To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, cultural, technical and scientific fields.
• To strengthen cooperation with other developing countries.
• To strengthen cooperation among themselves in international forums on matters of common interests; and
• To cooperate with international and regional organizations with similar aims and purposes.

SAARC Disaster Management Centre 

The SAARC Disaster Management Centre was established in the premise of Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management in 2016. The Centre provides training and capacity building services. IT also facilitates information exchanges between the SAARC members for their effective disaster risk management. The SAARC Members include Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Maldives, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.

SAARC and its Importance

• SAARC comprises 3% of the world's area, 21% of the world's population and 3.8% (US$2.9 trillion) of the global economy.
• Creating synergies: It is the world’s most densely populated region and one of the most fertile areas. SAARC countries have common tradition, dress, food and culture and political aspects thereby synergizing their actions.
• Common solutions: All the SAARC countries have common problems and issues like poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition, natural disasters, internal conflicts, industrial and technological backwardness, low GDP and poor socio-economic condition and uplift their living standards thereby creating common areas of development and progress having common solutions.

MCQ 

1. Which is the smallest SAARC country ? - Maldives. 
2. When India Joined SAARC ?- 1985 ( Founding Member)
3. Where is the Headquarters of SAARC?- Kathmandu, Nepal
4. Who designed SAARC logo ? - Shailendra Kumar Maharjan, Nepal 
5. What do pigeon symbolizes in SAARC logo? 7 member countries . 
6. Who hoisted 2021 SAARC ? Nepal
7. What is the motto of SAARC? Deeper Integration for peace and prosperity 
8. Which SAARC member country has highest population ? -India
9. Who is the incumbent president of SAARC ? -H.E Esala Ruwan Weerakoon, Srilanka. 
10.  Full form of SAFTA -South Asia Free Trade Agreement 

Reference: 

1. https://iasexamportal.com/current-affairs/relevance-of-SAARC
2. https://www.drishtiias.com/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/south-asian-association-for-regional-cooperation-saarc
3. https://currentaffairs.gktoday.in/tags/saarc