With reference to the 'Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)', consider the following statements:1.It was established very recently in response to incidents of piracy and accidents of oil spills.2.It is an alliance meant for maritime security only.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. A

   1 only

   Statement 1 is false. IOR-ARC (now IORA) was established in 1997 in Mauritius; it was not created ‘very recently’ as a piracy-and-oil-spill body. This option is not the key.

2. B

   2 only

   Statement 2 is false. The Association is a regional economic-cooperation grouping, not an alliance meant for maritime security only. This option is therefore wrong.

3. C

   Both 1 and 2

   Both statements fail for the reasons above. This option is not the key.

4. D

   Neither 1 nor 2

   Neither statement is correct: the body is older than the ‘very recently’ claim and its mandate is broader than maritime security. This option is the official key.

Summary. Official key is (d) Neither 1 nor 2. The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IOR-ARC/IORA) dates to 1997 and covers trade, investment, fisheries, disaster risk and other cooperation, not piracy alone. It was not invented as an oil-spill club. Maritime security is only one later theme. Both statements therefore fall.