Leaders of which organization were invited during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in-ceremony in 2014?

Correct option is B

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony in 2014, the leaders of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries were invited. This initiative was part of Modi's "Neighborhood First" policy, aimed at strengthening ties with India's immediate neighbors in South Asia. Leaders from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, along with the President of the SAARC observer country Mauritius, were present at the ceremony. The invitation to SAARC leaders was seen as a diplomatic outreach to foster regional cooperation and enhance India's role in South Asian affairs.
Information Booster:
1. SAARC was established in 1985 and comprises eight member states: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Its objective is to promote regional cooperation and development.
2. The inclusion of SAARC leaders at Modi's ceremony was viewed as a significant gesture for regional diplomacy, reflecting India's intent to foster better relations with its South Asian neighbors.
3. Modi's Neighborhood First policy prioritizes engagement with South Asian countries to improve regional integration, economic cooperation, and security partnerships.
4. This diplomatic gesture also underscored efforts to improve ties with Pakistan, though relations have fluctuated since then due to ongoing political and security tensions.
5. The SAARC region is home to approximately 1.8 billion people, making it a critical area for regional cooperation, particularly in economic and security matters.
6. While SAARC aims to promote regional development, its effectiveness has often been hindered by political disputes, particularly between India and Pakistan.
Additional Information:
· (a) ASEAN: Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which focuses on promoting political and economic cooperation in Southeast Asia. Leaders of ASEAN were not invited to the 2014 ceremony.
· (c) BIMSTEC: The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation is an organization of South Asian and Southeast Asian countries. BIMSTEC leaders were invited to Modi’s second swearing-in ceremony in 2019, not in 2014.
· (d) SCO: Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a Eurasian political, economic, and security organization. It was not involved in Modi’s 2014 swearing-in ceremony.