1st BIMSTEC Home Ministers' Conference Held in New Delhi

The first BIMSTEC Home Ministers' Meeting of the Bay of Bengal Nations Group, 'BIMSTEC', is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on October 13, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

This conference facilitates joint action by the 7 member states against terrorism, transnational crime, drug trafficking, illegal money transfers, and cyber threats.

📚 School Textbook Link: 10th Standard · Civics · 10th Civics: Unit 4 (India's Foreign Policy) & Unit 5 (India's International Relations) · BIMSTEC Regional Grouping and India's Neighborhood Policy

🎯 TNPSC Exam Important Notes:

• Venue of the first BIMSTEC Home Ministers' Meeting: New Delhi (October 13, 2026).
• BIMSTEC Member States (7): India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan (South Asia) and Myanmar, Thailand (Southeast Asia).
• BIMSTEC established year: June 6, 1997 (Bangkok Declaration); Headquarters: Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• Current BIMSTEC Chairmanship: Bangladesh (from April 2025).
• Main objective of the conference: Counter-terrorism, anti-drug trafficking, combating transnational crime, and cybersecurity.
• BIMSTEC Charter: Adopted at the 2022 Colombo Summit and officially came into effect in May 2024.

📌 KEY FOR TNPSC:

• BIMSTEC connects India's 'Neighbourhood First' and 'Act East Policy' policies.
• The BIMSTEC grouping covers approximately 22% of the world's population and the Bay of Bengal maritime trade area.