Explanation

• NATO stands form the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
• Founded: 4 April 1949 (Washington, USA)
• Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
• Total members: 32 (30 European & 2 North American countries)
• 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 22-April-2026

Explanation

• Date of Entry: December 11, 2001 (becoming the 143rd member).
• Negotiation Period: Took 14 years of talks before final approval

Additional information:

• WTO: World Trade Organization
• WTO headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• WTO established: 1 January 1995

Last updated by NA ON 16-09-2026

Explanation

• The Headquarters of SAARC is located in Kathmandu, Nepal.
• Full Form: South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
• Founded: 8 December 1985
• Founding place: Dhaka, Bangladesh

SAARC Member Countries:

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

Last updated by NA on 14-09-2026

Explanation

NPT: Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

Four countries are not parties to the NPT: 

1. India (never joined)
2. Israel (never joined)
3. Pakistan (never joined)
4. South Sudan (never joined)
5. North Korea joined in 1985 but announced its withdrawal in 2003

Additional information:

• Signed: 1 July 1968
• Effective: 5 March 1970
• Signing Locations: Moscow, London & Washington, D.C.
• Parties: 191 (UN count)

Last updated NS on 13-09-2026

Explanation

• The World Bank provides long-term loans and financial assistance for development projects in developing countries.
• It is headquartered in Washington, D.C., USA.
• It was established in 1944 at the Bretton Woods Conference.
• Its major institutions include the IBRD and IDA.

Last verified on 13-09-2026