Pakistan and India became members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on 2017, June 9th, so that date identifies their accession.

Duplicate of Q29. SCO focuses on security (SCO charter).

Duplicate of Q29; retained for completeness.

The SCO focuses on regional security, stability, and cooperation, per SCO charter and official statements.

Pakistan was granted observer status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) 1. This allowed Pakistan to participate in SCO activities and discussions. Pakistan later became a full member of the SCO in 2017.

Barack Obama served as the 44th President of the United States from 2009 to 2017.

Before the UK’s withdrawal in 2020, the European Union comprised 28 member states.[5](https://www.jworldtimes.com/old-site/css-exclusive/css-special/css-2017-solved-papers-current-affairs-mcqs/)

The Suez Canal, opened in 1869, links the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea, serving as a vital maritime route.[5](https://www.jworldtimes.com/old-site/css-exclusive/css-special/css-2017-solved-papers-current-affairs-mcqs/)

Russia possesses the largest proven natural gas reserves globally, with over 47 trillion cubic meters.[5](https://www.jworldtimes.com/old-site/css-exclusive/css-special/css-2017-solved-papers-current-affairs-mcqs/)

Chronic economic stagnation and systemic fiscal crises in the 1980s critically undermined the Soviet Union’s stability and cohesion.[5](https://www.jworldtimes.com/old-site/css-exclusive/css-special/css-2017-solved-papers-current-affairs-mcqs/)