Explanation

• Japan is NOT a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

 Current Membership (10 member states)

1. China – Founding member (2001)

2. Russia – Founding member (2001)

3. Kazakhstan – Founding member (2001)

4. Kyrgyzstan – Founding member (2001)

5. Tajikistan – Founding member (2001)

6. Uzbekistan – Founding member (2001)

7. India – Joined in 2017

8. Pakistan – Joined in 2017

9. Iran – Joined in 2023

10. Belarus – Joined in 2024

Last updated 06 Nov 2026 by NA

Explanation

SAARC Secretary-General 

• - Term: Three years.
• - Appointment: Appointed by the Council of Ministers.
• - Nomination: Member states nominate candidates in alphabetical order.

Additional information

• -Full Form: South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
• - Founded: 8 December 1985
• - Founding Place: Dhaka, Bangladesh
• - Headquarters: Kathmandu, Nepal
• - Main Purpose: To promote regional cooperation and development among South Asian countries.

1. Australia,
2. China,
3. the European Union,
4. Iran,
5. Japan,
6. Mauritius,
7. Myanmar,
8. South Korea
9. and the United States

*******

There is a total of eight members of SAARC;

1. Afghanistan,
2. Bangladesh,
3. Bhutan,
4. India,
5. Nepal,
6. the Maldives,
7. Pakistan
8. and Sri Lanka

Explanation

• Total members: 32 (30 European & 2 North American countries)
• NATO stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
• Founded: 4 April 1949 (Washington, USA)
• Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
• Latest Member: Finland
• Type: Military Alliance
• Official Languages: English & French
• Founding members: 12
• Pakistan: Not a NATO member
  
• Member Muslim country: Turkiye 
• Last Member: On 7 March 2024, Sweden became the 32nd member.

List of NATO member countries

1.       Albania

2.       Belgium

3.       Bulgaria

4.       Canada

5.       Croatia

6.       Czechia

7.       Denmark

8.       Estonia

9.       France

10.   Germany

11.   Greece

12.   Hungary

13.   Iceland

14.   Italy

15.   Latvia

16.   Lithuania

17.   Luxembourg

18.   Montenegro

19.   Netherlands

20.   North Macedonia

21.   Norway

22.   Poland

23.   Portugal

24.   Romania

25.   Slovakia

26.   Slovenia

27.   Spain

28.   Turkiye

29.   United Kingdom

30.   United States

31.   Finland 2023

32.  Sweden 2024

Last updated by NA on 04-11-2026

Explanation

• The headquarters of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is located in Washington, D.C., United States.
• Purpose: Global financial stability & loan support
• Founded: 27 December 1945
• Members: 190 countries
• Official language: English

Last verified on 24-06-2026

Explanation

1. The United Nations has designated 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists.

2. It has also designated 2026 as the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development.
3. The third observance is the International Year of the Woman Farmer.

Last verified on 30-10-2026