Society & Welfare
International Organisations and Events
Regional Groupings: SAARC, BRICS and SCO
SAARC, BRICS and SCO for CGPSC: founding, members, summits and institutions as of 2026 (BRICS New Delhi, SCO Bishkek), plus BIMSTEC, G20 and ASEAN.
Prerequisites
- The United Nations System — the universal body these regional groups sit beside
- External Sector — BRICS’s New Development Bank and the China-led AIIB are covered in IMF and World Bank; not repeated here
The Hook: Two Summits, One Fortnight
Connect
On 1 September 2026, India sat at the SCO table in Bishkek with China, Russia and Pakistan. Eleven days later, on 12–13 September 2026, India hosted the 18th BRICS summit at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Meanwhile SAARC, the grouping of India’s own neighbours, has not held a summit since 2014.
Why do some groupings thrive while the one closest to home is frozen? And what does India gain from sitting in clubs that include its rivals?
Why it matters: Prelims asks founding years, members, secretariats and summit hosts. Mains GS-V asks you to assess SAARC’s relevance, India’s stake in BRICS and the SCO, and India’s “multi-alignment”.
SAARC (दक्षेस: दक्षिण एशियाई क्षेत्रीय सहयोग संगठन)
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation |
| Idea | Proposed by Bangladesh President Ziaur Rahman (1980) |
| Founded | 8 December 1985, Dhaka (1st summit; Charter signed) |
| Founding members (7) | Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka |
| 8th member | Afghanistan, at the 14th summit, New Delhi, 2007 |
| Secretariat | Kathmandu (set up 1987) |
| Observers (9) | Australia, China, EU, Iran, Japan, Mauritius, Myanmar, South Korea, USA |
| Decision rule | Unanimity; bilateral and contentious issues are excluded (Charter Art X) |
| Trade | SAPTA (signed 1993, in force 1995) → SAFTA (signed at the 12th summit, Islamabad, 2004; in force 1 January 2006) |
| Institutions | South Asian University (New Delhi); SAARC Development Fund (Thimphu); SAARC Food Bank |
| Last summit | 18th, Kathmandu, November 2014 |
| Stalled | The 19th summit (Islamabad, 2016) was called off after India and others withdrew following the Uri attack (September 2016). No summit has been held since (as of 2026) |
India’s initiatives: the South Asia Satellite (GSAT-9, launched May 2017) offered to SAARC members (Pakistan opted out), and the SAARC COVID-19 Emergency Fund (March 2020), proposed by India at a leaders’ video conference.
Why SAARC stalled (Mains)
- India–Pakistan hostility: consensus rule lets one member block everything; cross-border terrorism made summitry impossible for India.
- Asymmetry: India is larger than all others combined in size and economy, which breeds “big brother” fears.
- Low intra-regional trade: South Asia is among the world’s least integrated regions; SAFTA has long sensitive lists and non-tariff barriers.
- Exclusion of bilateral issues keeps the core disputes off the table.
- Afghanistan after August 2021: members do not recognise the Taliban government, which complicates participation.
India’s shift: focus on BIMSTEC (without Pakistan) and the Neighbourhood First and Act East policies, plus sub-regional links like BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal).
BRICS (ब्रिक्स)
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Term | “BRIC” coined by Jim O’Neill of Goldman Sachs in 2001 |
| First summit | Yekaterinburg, Russia, 16 June 2009 (BRIC) |
| South Africa | Invited in 2010; first attended at the Sanya (China) summit, 2011, making BRICS |
| 2024 expansion | Invited at the 15th summit, Johannesburg (2023); Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the UAE joined on 1 January 2024. Argentina declined. Saudi Arabia was invited but has not formally confirmed membership |
| 2025 | Indonesia joined in January 2025 |
| Members (as of 2026) | 10 full members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE, Indonesia. Some official and media lists count 11, adding Saudi Arabia |
| Partner countries | Category created at the 16th summit, Kazan (October 2024); about ten partners by 2025, including Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Nigeria and Vietnam |
| Secretariat | None; the chair rotates yearly in the order B-R-I-C-S |
| Institutions | New Development Bank (Shanghai) and Contingent Reserve Arrangement (USD 100 billion), both agreed at Fortaleza, 2014. Details: IMF and World Bank |
| Recent summits | 16th Kazan (Russia, 2024) · 17th Rio de Janeiro (Brazil, July 2025) · 18th New Delhi (India, 12–13 September 2026, Bharat Mandapam) |
India's BRICS chairships
India has chaired BRICS in 2012 (New Delhi), 2016 (Goa), 2021 (virtual) and 2026 (New Delhi). The 2026 summit was India’s first as chair of the expanded BRICS, under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.
India’s stake: a platform for Global South demands (IMF quota reform, UNSC reform), development finance through the NDB, and a channel to China and Russia. India’s reservations: BRICS should not become an anti-Western bloc; India has opposed a common BRICS currency and prefers trade in national currencies; China’s weight in the expanded group.
SCO (शंघाई सहयोग संगठन)
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Origin | “Shanghai Five” (1996): China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan |
| Founded | 15 June 2001, Shanghai, with Uzbekistan added |
| Charter | Signed 2002 (St Petersburg) |
| India and Pakistan | Observers from 2005; full members together on 9 June 2017 (Astana summit) |
| Iran | Full member July 2023 (virtual summit chaired by India) |
| Belarus | Full member July 2024 (Astana summit) |
| Members (as of 2026) | 10: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus |
| Observers | Afghanistan and Mongolia; many dialogue partners |
| Permanent bodies | Secretariat, Beijing · Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), Tashkent |
| Official languages | Russian and Chinese |
| Focus | The “three evils”: terrorism, separatism and extremism; also trade, connectivity, energy |
| Recent summits | 2023: India’s chairship, virtual summit, theme “Towards a SECURE SCO” · 2025: Tianjin, China (25th) · 2026: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (26th, 31 August – 1 September 2026), marking the SCO’s 25th anniversary |
India’s stake: access to Central Asia (energy, connectivity via Chabahar and the INSTC), counter-terrorism cooperation through RATS, and a seat at a Eurasian table alongside Russia. Friction: India refuses to endorse China’s Belt and Road Initiative, because the CPEC runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and has pushed for strong language against cross-border terrorism.
Other Groupings in Brief
| Grouping | Founded | Members (as of 2026) | India hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIMSTEC | 6 June 1997, Bangkok Declaration | 7: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand | Secretariat Dhaka; Charter in force 2024; 6th summit Bangkok (April 2025). India’s preferred alternative to SAARC |
| ASEAN | 8 August 1967, Bangkok | 11 (Timor-Leste admitted October 2025) | Secretariat Jakarta; India is a Comprehensive Strategic Partner; Act East policy |
| G20 | 1999 (finance ministers); leaders’ summits since 2008 | 19 countries + EU + African Union | India’s presidency 2023, New Delhi summit, where the AU became a permanent member; the United States holds the 2026 presidency |
| Quad | 2007; revived 2017 | India, USA, Japan, Australia | Indo-Pacific cooperation; not a military alliance |
| IBSA | 2003, Brasilia Declaration | India, Brazil, South Africa | Three large democracies of the Global South |
Analysis for Mains: Multi-alignment
India sits in BRICS and the SCO (with China and Russia) and in the Quad (with the US, Japan, Australia). Officials describe this as “multi-alignment” or strategic autonomy:
- Hedging: no dependence on any single power bloc.
- Issue-based coalitions: BRICS for global financial reform, SCO for Central Asia and counter-terrorism, Quad for maritime security, BIMSTEC for the neighbourhood.
- Risks: credibility gaps when blocs pull in opposite directions; China’s dominance inside BRICS and the SCO; Pakistan’s presence in the SCO.
- Opportunity: India as a bridge between the West and the Global South, as at the G20 in 2023.
Memory Tricks
SAARC founders: 'BBIMNPS'
“Big Brother India Meets Neighbours Peacefully Sometimes”: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka. Afghanistan came in 2007 at Delhi.
BRICS growth in three steps
2009 BRIC (4) → 2011 + South Africa (5) → 2024 + Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE ("EE-IU") → 2025 + Indonesia. Saudi Arabia: invited, unconfirmed.
SCO: '5 → 6 → 8 → 9 → 10'
Shanghai Five 1996 → SCO with Uzbekistan 2001 → India + Pakistan 2017 → Iran 2023 → Belarus 2024. Two permanent bodies: “Brain in Beijing, Terrorism desk in Tashkent.”
Don’t Confuse
| This | vs | That |
|---|---|---|
| SCO Secretariat: Beijing | vs | SCO RATS: Tashkent; the SCO was founded in Shanghai |
| SAARC Secretariat: Kathmandu | vs | BIMSTEC Secretariat: Dhaka; ASEAN: Jakarta |
| NDB (BRICS bank): Shanghai | vs | AIIB (China-led, not BRICS): Beijing |
| SAPTA (1993/1995): preferential | vs | SAFTA (2004/2006): free trade area |
| BRICS 2023 Johannesburg: invitations | vs | BRICS 2024 Kazan: first expanded summit; partner category created |
Common Mistakes
MCQ traps
- “Afghanistan was a founding member of SAARC.” False. It joined in 2007.
- “Myanmar is a member of SAARC.” False. It is an observer in SAARC and a member of BIMSTEC and ASEAN.
- “The SCO Secretariat is in Shanghai.” False. Beijing; RATS is in Tashkent.
- “India joined the SCO before Pakistan.” False. Both became full members on the same day in 2017.
- “Argentina joined BRICS in 2024.” False. It declined the invitation.
- “Saudi Arabia is unambiguously a BRICS member.” Its status remains unconfirmed (as of 2026); prefer options that avoid it.
Practice
All questions below are original practice questions written in CGPSC style. They are not previous-year questions.
Level 1: Foundation
- SAARC was founded at ______ on 8 December 1985.
- The SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure is located in ______.
- The 18th BRICS summit was held in ______ in September 2026.
Answers
- Dhaka.
- Tashkent (Uzbekistan).
- New Delhi (Bharat Mandapam, 12–13 September 2026).
Level 2: Prelims MCQs
Q1. Consider the following statements about the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (as of 2026):
- India and Pakistan became full members of the SCO in the same year.
- Iran became a full member during India’s chairship of the SCO.
- The SCO Secretariat is located in Shanghai.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 1 and 2 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer and explanation
(b) 1 and 2 only. India and Pakistan both joined as full members in June 2017 at Astana. Iran joined in July 2023 at the virtual summit chaired by India. The SCO was founded in Shanghai, but its Secretariat is in Beijing.
Q2. Which one of the following countries joined BRICS as a full member on 1 January 2024?
- (a) Argentina
- (b) Indonesia
- (c) Nigeria
- (d) Ethiopia
Answer and explanation
(d) Ethiopia, along with Egypt, Iran and the UAE. Argentina declined its invitation, Indonesia joined in January 2025, and Nigeria became a partner country, not a member.
Q3. Match List I (Organisation) with List II (Secretariat):
| List I | List II |
|---|---|
| A. SAARC | 1. Jakarta |
| B. BIMSTEC | 2. Kathmandu |
| C. ASEAN | 3. Beijing |
| D. SCO | 4. Dhaka |
- (a) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
- (b) A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3
- (c) A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
- (d) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
Answer and explanation
(a) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3. SAARC: Kathmandu; BIMSTEC: Dhaka; ASEAN: Jakarta; SCO: Beijing.
Q4. Which one of the following countries is a member of BIMSTEC but not of SAARC?
- (a) Bhutan
- (b) Thailand
- (c) Maldives
- (d) Afghanistan
Answer and explanation
(b) Thailand. BIMSTEC has Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Of these, Myanmar and Thailand are not in SAARC. Bhutan is in both; the Maldives and Afghanistan are in SAARC only.
Level 3: Mains Answer Writing
Q1. (150–200 words) “SAARC has become a forum without a summit.” Examine the reasons and suggest whether BIMSTEC is a viable alternative for India.
Model answer outline
- Intro: SAARC (Dhaka, 1985; 8 members) has not met at summit level since Kathmandu 2014; the 2016 Islamabad summit was called off after the Uri attack.
- Reasons: India–Pakistan hostility with a unanimity rule; exclusion of bilateral issues; India’s size asymmetry; weak SAFTA and low intra-regional trade; the Afghanistan question after 2021.
- BIMSTEC as alternative: excludes Pakistan; links South and South-East Asia (Act East); Charter in force 2024; secretariat in Dhaka; sectoral cooperation (connectivity, energy, counter-terrorism).
- Limits of BIMSTEC: slow institution-building; Myanmar’s instability; Bangladesh–Myanmar tensions; not a substitute for western-neighbour links (Pakistan, Afghanistan).
- Conclusion: A practical “BIMSTEC plus SAARC in suspension” approach serves India now, but long-term South Asian integration still needs a functioning SAARC.
Q2. (150–200 words) Assess the significance of BRICS and the SCO for India’s strategic autonomy.
Model answer outline
- Intro: India sits with China and Russia in BRICS and the SCO, and with the US in the Quad: “multi-alignment”.
- BRICS: Global South voice; NDB finance; reform of IMF and UNSC; India hosted the 18th summit (New Delhi, September 2026) as chair of an expanded group.
- SCO: Central Asian access, energy and connectivity; RATS for counter-terrorism; a forum to engage Russia.
- Challenges: China’s dominance; risk of an anti-Western tilt after expansion; Pakistan in the SCO; India’s opposition to the BRI and to a common BRICS currency.
- Conclusion: Both groupings widen India’s options; India uses them to shape agendas from within rather than to choose sides.
Quick Revision Table
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| SAARC founded | 8 Dec 1985, Dhaka; 7 founders; Afghanistan 8th (2007) |
| SAARC secretariat / last summit | Kathmandu / 18th, Kathmandu, Nov 2014 |
| SAFTA | Signed 2004 (Islamabad); in force 1 Jan 2006 |
| BRIC term / first summit | Jim O’Neill 2001 / Yekaterinburg 2009 |
| BRICS members (as of 2026) | 10 confirmed + Saudi Arabia unconfirmed |
| BRICS joins | SA 2010–11; Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE 1 Jan 2024; Indonesia Jan 2025 |
| BRICS 2026 | 18th summit, New Delhi, 12–13 Sep 2026 |
| SCO founded | 15 Jun 2001, Shanghai (Shanghai Five 1996) |
| SCO bodies | Secretariat Beijing; RATS Tashkent |
| SCO joins | India + Pakistan 2017; Iran 2023; Belarus 2024 |
| SCO 2026 | 26th summit, Bishkek, 31 Aug – 1 Sep 2026; 25th anniversary |
| BIMSTEC | 1997 Bangkok; 7 members; Dhaka; Charter in force 2024 |
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
- SAARC is frozen at summit level since 2014; India now leans on BIMSTEC.
- BRICS expanded in 2024 and 2025; count 10 confirmed members and note Saudi Arabia’s unconfirmed status.
- India chaired the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi in September 2026.
- SCO: 10 members; Secretariat Beijing, RATS Tashkent; 2026 summit at Bishkek.
- For Mains, frame India’s role as multi-alignment and strategic autonomy.
What’s Next
- Sports Events and Organisations — the last topic of this chapter
- IMF and World Bank — the NDB and AIIB in detail
- World Trade Organization — the trade rules behind SAFTA and regional trade agreements
- The United Nations System — UNSC reform, a BRICS priority
Advertisement