TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ; CERTIFICATE ; ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ; TABLE OF CONTENTS ; LIST OF ABBREVIA TIONS ; INTRODUCTION ; Research Methodology: CHAPTER I SOUTH ASIA: AT A GLIMPSE ; 1.1: South Asia: An Introduction ; 1.2: Need for Economic Co-operation in South Asia: ; 1.3: Impediments to Co-operate among South Asian Countries: CHAPTER II REGIONALISM AND WORLD TRADE ORGANISAION ; 11.1: Meaning Of Multilateralism and Regionalism: 11.2: Old and New Regionalism: 11.3: Regional Trade Agreements under WTO: 1I.3.a. Article XXIV GAIT: 1I.3.b. Enabling Clause: 11.3.c. Article V of GATS : 11.4: Regionalism complements WTO ; CHAPTER III; ROLE OF SAARC IN BUILDING REGIONAL CO-OPERATION IN SOUTH ASIA ; 111.1: Origin of SAARC: 111.2: SAARC Members and Observers: 111.3: Structure of SAARC: 111.4: SAARC Summits: 111.5: Funding Mechanism - SAARC Development Fund (SDF); 111.6: Areas of Co-operation under SAARC: 111.7: SAARC Regional Centers, Apex and Recognized Bodies ; 111.8: SAARC in International Sphere: 111.9: Achievements and Shortcomings of SAARC: CHAPTER IV; SAPTA TO SAFTA AND BEYOND ; IV.1: SAARC Preferential Trade Arrangement (SAPTA): IV.2: SAARC Free Trade Area (SAFTA): Origin and Formation ; IV.3: Analysis of SAFTA Agreement: IV.4: Implementation of SAFTA; IV.S: Impediments in the working of SAFTA: IV.6: South Asian Economic Union: A Possibility? ; CHAPTER V; ROLE OF INDIA IN BUILDING REGIONAL COOPERATION IN SOUTH ASIA; V.1: REFORMS TAKEN PLACE IN INDIA: V.2: India and SAARC; V.3: India to take proactive Role in South Asia: CHAPTER VI; CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS ; BIBLIOGRAPHY .