The 'SAARC' Secretariat is located in which South Asian capital city?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Solution: The correct answer is Kathmandu.
Explanation:
☛ The Secretariat of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is located in Kathmandu, Nepal.
☛ The SAARC Secretariat was established in Kathmandu on 16 January 1987 and inaugurated by King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah of Nepal.
☛ SAARC was officially founded on 8 December 1985 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, with the signing of the SAARC Charter.
☛ The association aims to promote regional integration, economic growth, and cultural development among South Asian nations.
Extra Exam-Relevant Facts:
☛ Founding Members: SAARC was founded by seven countries—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
☛ Eighth Member: Afghanistan joined as the 8th member state at the 14th SAARC Summit held in New Delhi in April 2007.
☛ First Secretary-General: Abul Ahsan of Bangladesh served as the first Secretary-General of SAARC.
☛ SAARC Charter Day: Observed annually across member states on 8 December.
☛ New Delhi: Hosted the first-ever SAARC Summit held in India (2nd SAARC Summit) in November 1986.
Important One-Liners for Upcoming Exams:
☛ Where was the first SAARC Summit held in 1985? → Dhaka, Bangladesh
☛ Which country was the last to join SAARC in 2007? → Afghanistan
☛ Who was the first Indian to become the Secretary-General of SAARC? → Kishore Kant Bhargava
☛ What is the tenure of the Secretary-General of SAARC? → 3 years
☛ When was the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) agreement signed? → 6 January 2004 (at the 12th Summit in Islamabad)