UPSC Prelims 2026Question 72International Relations

Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists: — List I (BIMSTEC Centre/Establishment) — List II (Location); A. — BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory — 1. — NOIDA; B. — BIMSTEC Energy Centre — 2. — Bengaluru; C. — BIMSTEC Centre
for Weather and Climate — 3. — Colombo; D. — BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility — 4. — Thimpu Code:

Options

(a)3 — 2 — 1 — 4
(b)3 — 1 — 2 — 4
(c)4 — 2 — 1 — 3
(d)4 — 1 — 2 — 3

Correct answer: c

Decision rule

BIMSTEC centres sit where the relevant national institute already sits - power research in Bengaluru, weather modelling in Noida - not at the Secretariat.

Explanation

Correct Answer

(c) A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3

Explanation of the Correct Answer

The correct matching is:

BIMSTEC Centre / Establishment	Location
A. BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory	4. Thimphu
B. BIMSTEC Energy Centre	2. Bengaluru
C. BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate	1. NOIDA
D. BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility	3. Colombo

Therefore, the correct code is:

A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3

Hence, the correct answer is (c).

The BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory is to be established in Thimphu, Bhutan; the BIMSTEC Energy Centre is housed at the Central Power Research Institute in Bengaluru; the BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate is located at NCMRWF, Noida; and the BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility is to be established in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (BIMSTEC)

Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Option	Matching Given	Verdict	Reason
(a)	A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4	Incorrect	B and C are correct, but A should be Thimphu, not Colombo; D should be Colombo, not Thimphu.
(b)	A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4	Incorrect	All four are incorrectly matched.
(c)	A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3	Correct	All four BIMSTEC centres are correctly matched with their locations.
(d)	A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3	Incorrect	A and D are correct, but B should be Bengaluru, not Noida; C should be Noida, not Bengaluru.

Relevant Supplementary Information

Table: BIMSTEC Centres / Establishments and Their Locations

Centre / Establishment	Location	Country	Associated Area
BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory	Thimphu	Bhutan	Culture and creative industries
BIMSTEC Energy Centre	Bengaluru	India	Energy cooperation and grid interconnection
BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate	Noida	India	Weather forecasting and climate cooperation
BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility	Colombo	Sri Lanka	Science, technology and innovation cooperation

Table: BIMSTEC Member Countries

Region	Member Countries
South Asia	India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka
Southeast Asia	Myanmar, Thailand

Region	Member Countries
South Asia	India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka
Southeast Asia	Myanmar, Thailand

Key Takeaways from the Tables

Thimphu is linked with BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory.
Bengaluru is linked with BIMSTEC Energy Centre.
Noida is linked with BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate.
Colombo is linked with BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility.
India hosts two important BIMSTEC centres: Energy Centre in Bengaluru and Weather and Climate Centre in Noida.

Thimphu = Cultural Industries Observatory
Bengaluru = Energy Centre
Noida = Weather and Climate Centre
Colombo = Technology Transfer Facility
Dhaka = BIMSTEC Secretariat
India hosts two major BIMSTEC centres: Energy Centre and Weather and Climate Centre.

Context and Current Relevance

BIMSTEC connects South Asia and Southeast Asia through cooperation in areas such as energy, climate, technology, connectivity and security.
These centres show BIMSTEC’s shift from a discussion-based platform toward institutional and sector-specific cooperation.
For India, BIMSTEC is important for its Neighbourhood First, Act East, and Bay of Bengal regional cooperation strategies.

BIMSTEC links South Asia and Southeast Asia around the Bay of Bengal.
Its centres show a shift from summit-level diplomacy to sector-specific institutional cooperation.
For India, BIMSTEC supports both Neighbourhood First and Act East policy objectives.

Table: Important BIMSTEC Centres / Establishments and Their Locations

BIMSTEC Centre / Establishment	Location	Country	Associated Sector / Purpose
BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory	Thimphu	Bhutan	Cultural industries, creative economy and cultural cooperation
BIMSTEC Energy Centre	Bengaluru	India	Energy cooperation, power sector coordination and grid interconnection
BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate	Noida	India	Weather forecasting, climate services and disaster-related meteorological cooperation
BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility	Colombo	Sri Lanka	Technology transfer, innovation cooperation and capacity building
BIMSTEC Secretariat	Dhaka	Bangladesh	Permanent institutional coordination of BIMSTEC activities

The BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate is located at NCMRWF, Noida, while the BIMSTEC Energy Centre is housed at Central Power Research Institute, Bengaluru. (BIMSTEC) The Technology Transfer Facility was signed at the 5th BIMSTEC Summit in Colombo and is to be established in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (Press Information Bureau)

Table: BIMSTEC Centres Hosted by India

Centre	Indian Location	Importance
BIMSTEC Energy Centre	Bengaluru	Supports regional energy cooperation and grid interconnection.
BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate	Noida	Supports climate, weather and disaster-risk cooperation in the Bay of Bengal region.

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