How many member countries did the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation SCO have after India and Pakistan joined as full members?

Introduction / Context:
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a regional grouping that focuses on security, economic and cultural cooperation. Its membership expanded when India and Pakistan joined as full members. Many current affairs questions ask about the total number of members after this expansion.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- We know that India and Pakistan became full members of the SCO in a notable expansion. - The options give four possible total membership numbers. - We must recall how many original members there were and how the addition of two countries changed the count.

Concept / Approach:
Before India and Pakistan joined, the SCO had six member states, mainly from Central Asia along with China and Russia. When India and Pakistan were admitted as full members, the total membership rose to eight. Therefore, the correct answer is eight members.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the founding members of SCO included China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and later Uzbekistan, giving a total of six. Step 2: Remember that India and Pakistan were granted full membership in a later summit, marking a major expansion. Step 3: Add these two new members to the original six to get six plus two equals eight. Step 4: Compare this computed total with the options provided. Step 5: Select eight as the correct total membership after the expansion.

Verification / Alternative check:
Official SCO documents and contemporary news reports from the summit where India and Pakistan joined describe the organisation as now having eight member states. This figure is repeated in many general knowledge books under headings about international organisations, confirming that eight is the widely accepted and examined number.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Five is too low because even before expansion there were already six full members. Seven is incorrect, as two new members were added to six, not one. Six would correspond to the pre expansion membership, not the expanded organisation with India and Pakistan included.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students may remember only that new members were added and guess a nearby number, such as seven. Others may mix up observer states and dialogue partners with full membership, leading to confusion. A good approach is to memorise a short list of SCO members and count them, instead of relying on approximate recollection.

Final Answer:
After India and Pakistan joined as full members, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation had 8 member countries.