SAARC
SAARC
SAARC stands for South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and is an intergovernmental
organization for the development of economic and regional integration. The organization has the support
of different countries known as member-states.
1. The Ministry of External Affairs said India will supply COVID-19 vaccines to SAARC Nations
under grant assistance.
2. Recently SAARC member countries turned down Pakistan’s proposal to host the grouping’s
pending summit meeting.
3. Indian Foreign Minister, S Jaishankar had recently noted that cross-border terrorism, obstructing
trade, blocking connectivity are three key challenges that SAARC must overcome”.
4. Nepal's Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali had recently urged the SAARC member nations to
explore all the viable options to convene the 19th summit of the eight-member regional body at
an early date, underlining the need for deeper engagement to collectively fight COVID-19 and
develop regional resilience to mitigate the impact of the pandemic.
5. India’s proposal to launch a COVID-19 Emergency Fund was given a positive reception by
SAARC nations. Within days, all the countries, except Pakistan, contributed to it voluntarily.
In Jan 2021, the Ministry of External Affairs, India announced that the indigenously manufactured
COVID-19 vaccines will be supplied to key SAARC member countries in a phased manner.
The below-table gives a quick overview of some of the important points concerning the South Asian
Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) for the IAS Exam preparation.
1. The idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was first initiated in May 1980. The Foreign
Secretaries of the then seven countries met for the first time in Colombo in April 1981. Five key
areas for regional cooperation were identified and with time other important areas were added
later.
2. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation was set up when its Charter was formally
adopted on 8 December 1985 by the Heads of State or Governments of India, Bangladesh,
Maldives, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.
Also, learn more about the Bay of Bengal Initiative on Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic
Cooperation BIMSTEC), a multilateral organization that is of relevance to India from a Geo-political
perspective.
Also read, the gist of RSTV's Big Picture Debate on SAARC vs. BIMSTEC in the linked article.
SAARC - Objectives
The main motto of the organization is to work towards a common goal of achieving social, cultural, and
economic growth for all the people within the South Asia region.
• Promote the welfare of the people of South Asia and improve their quality of life
• Accelerate economic growth, social progress, and cultural development in the region by
providing all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and realize their full potential
• Promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia
• Contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one another’s problems
• Promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, cultural, technical,
and scientific fields
• Strengthen cooperation with other developing countries
• Strengthen cooperation among themselves in international forums on matters of common
interest; and
• Cooperate with international and regional organizations with similar aims and purposes.
SAARC Principles
• Respect for the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, non-
interference in the internal affairs of other States and mutual benefit.
• Such cooperation shall not be a substitute for bilateral and multilateral cooperation but shall
complement them.
• Such cooperation shall not be inconsistent with bilateral and multilateral obligations.
SAARC - Structure
1. Council - It is the apex policy-making body. The council is represented by government heads of
the respective member countries.
2. Council of Ministers - The Council of Ministers comprises the foreign ministers and they meet
generally two times annually.
1. Policy formulation
2. Reviewing the progress of regional cooperation
3. Identifying newer areas of cooperation, and
4. Setting up additional mechanisms as required
Standing Committee
It comprises the foreign secretariat of the member countries. The major functions of the standing
committee are stated below:
Programming Committee
It comprises senior officials of the member governments. The major functions of this committee are as
follows:
Technical Committee
It consists of representatives of the member nations. The major functions of the committee are as
follows:
Secretariat
It is headed by the Secretary-general appointed by the Council of Ministers. The main functions of the
Secretariat are as follows:
Regional Centres established in Member Countries are the supporting pillars to the secretariat for
promoting regional cooperation. These Regional Centres are managed by respective Governing entities
comprising representatives from Member States, SAARC Secretary-General, and the Ministry of
Foreign/External Affairs of the host government.
1. Biotechnology
2. Information and Communications Technology
3. Intellectual Property Rights
4. Energy
5. Tourism
Significance of SAARC
1. SAARC is the world’s most densely populated region and one of the most fertile areas.
It comprises 3% of the world's area, 21% of the world's population and 3.8% (US$2.9 trillion) of
the global economy.
2. SAARC countries synergize their actions as they have common traditions, dress, food and
culture, and political aspects.
3. The SAARC nations have problems and solutions to the problems in common such as poverty,
illiteracy, malnutrition, natural disasters, internal conflicts, industrial and technological
backwardness, low GDP, and poor socio-economic conditions. These nations uplift their living
standards by creating common areas of development.
1. SAARC is a game-changer for India’s Act East Policy. It links South Asian economies with
Southeast Asia which will further boost economic integration and prosperity to India mainly in
the Services Sector.
2. Primacy to the country’s immediate neighbours.
3. Nations of SAARC help in the creation of mutual trust and peace within the region thus
promoting stability.
4. SAARC can engage Nepal, Bhutan, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka in economic cooperation and
development processes to counter China (OBOR initiative).
5. SAARC offers a platform for India to showcase its leadership in the region by taking up extra
responsibilities.
Achievements of SAARC
1. A Free Trade Area is established by the member countries to increase their internal trade and
lessen the trade gap of some states considerably. SAARC is comparatively a new organization in
the global arena.
2. SAARC Free Trade Agreement - SAFTA was signed to reduce customs duties of all traded
goods to zero by the year 2016. The agreement was confined to goods, but excluding all services
like information technology.
3. South Asia Preferential Trading Agreement - SAPTA for promoting trade amongst the member
countries came into effect in 1995.
4. SAARC Agreement on Trade in Services - SATIS is following the GATS-plus 'positive list'
approach for trade in services liberalization.
5. SAARC University - Establish a SAARC university in India, a food bank, and also an energy
reserve in Pakistan.
SAARC - Specialized Bodies
The specialized bodies are created by the member states and their structure is different from the regional
centers. The management is taken care of by the representatives of the member states the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the host government.
1. Relation between India and Pakistan escalated tensions and conflicts severely hampers the
prospects of SAARC.
2. The frequency of SAARC meetings is low. More engagements between member nations are
required instead of biennial meetings SAARC nations should meet annually.
3. The energy and resources are diverted due to the Broad area of cooperation.
4. The implementation of the SAARC Free Trade Agreement has not been satisfactory.
1. In a region increasingly targeted by Chinese investment and loans, SAARC could be a common
platform to demand more sustainable alternatives for development, or oppose trade tariffs
together, or demand better terms for South Asian labour around the world.
2. SAARC, as an organisation, reflects the South Asian identity of the countries, historically and
contemporarily. This is a naturally made geographical identity. Equally, there is a cultural,
linguistic, religious and culinary affinity that defines South Asia.
3. The member countries should explore the potential of SAARC in maintaining peace and stability
in the region.
4. SAARC should be allowed to progress naturally and the people of South Asia, who make up a
quarter of the world’s population should be offered more people-to-people contact.