ASEAN
The Southeast Asian bloc founded at Bangkok in 1967, now eleven members, with which India has a trade agreement.
What the paper can ask
- Founded 8 August 1967 in Bangkok by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
- Timor-Leste was admitted on 26 October 2025 as the 11th member. (as of 23 Oct 2026)
- Secretariat in Jakarta; Charter in force 15 December 2008; motto 'One Vision, One Identity, One Community'.
- India's trade in goods agreement with ASEAN took effect in 2010 and services and investment in 2015.
Why exams ask
Setters ask which country is NOT a member, the founding year and city, and the Secretariat.
The full story
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was founded on 8 August 1967 by the Bangkok Declaration of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia joined later, and Timor-Leste was admitted in October 2025. Its Secretariat is in Jakarta and its Charter came into force in 2008. India has a goods, services and investment agreement with ASEAN.