Question

Which of the following was not a member-country of ASEAN at the time of its formation in 1967 ?

• A. Indonesia
• B. Bharat
• C. Singapore
• D. Malaysia

Hint:

To remember the five founding members of ASEAN, you can use the mnemonic "I'm PST" (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand). Knowing the founding members of major international organizations is crucial for competitive exams.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question requires knowledge of the founding members of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations).
ASEAN is a regional intergovernmental organization comprising ten countries in Southeast Asia.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
ASEAN was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration).
The five founding members were:
1. Indonesia
2. Malaysia
3. Philippines
4. Singapore
5. Thailand
The term 'Bharat' is the official Hindi name for India. India is geographically located in South Asia, not Southeast Asia, and was not a founding member of ASEAN. India is currently a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN.
Therefore, among the given options, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia were founding members, while Bharat (India) was not.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Bharat (India) was not a founding member of ASEAN in 1967.
Thus, option (B) is the correct answer.