India-China Relations & LAC — Set 12
International Relations · भारत-चीन संबंध और LAC · Questions 111–120 of 160
India withdrew from RCEP negotiations in November 2019 primarily due to concerns about:
Correct Answer: B. Trade deficit with China and insufficient protection for Indian industries
India withdrew from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in November 2019 citing concerns about trade deficit (particularly with China), insufficient protections for Indian industries, and inadequate safeguards against dumping. China is a member of RCEP which came into force in January 2022. India's withdrawal is seen as a strategic decision related to China concerns.
The India-China relationship is best described as:
Correct Answer: C. Competitive-cooperative (rivals in security, partners on some global issues)
The India-China relationship is best characterized as 'competitive-cooperative' — they are strategic rivals on border, geo-political, and military fronts, yet cooperate on climate change, global governance reform, and in multilateral forums like BRICS, SCO, and G20. EAM Jaishankar has described it as 'the defining relationship of the 21st century.'
China's 'Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network' aims to connect:
Correct Answer: B. China (Tibet) to Nepal and potentially India
China's Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network aims to connect China (Tibet) to Nepal and potentially further to India. It includes road, rail, and air connectivity proposals. Nepal has signed an MOU with China on BRI, giving China access that concerns India strategically.
India's PLI (Production Linked Incentive) scheme for solar modules is partly aimed at:
Correct Answer: B. Reducing dependence on Chinese-manufactured solar equipment
India's PLI scheme for solar modules is partly aimed at reducing India's heavy dependence on Chinese-manufactured solar panels and components. China dominates global solar panel manufacturing. The scheme incentivizes domestic production, supporting India's climate goals while reducing strategic dependence on China.
The 2024 BRICS Summit in Kazan (Russia) was significant for India-China relations because:
Correct Answer: B. Modi and Xi met and agreed on Depsang-Demchok patrolling restoration
At the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia (October 2024), PM Modi and President Xi Jinping held a bilateral meeting after the announcement of the Depsang-Demchok patrolling agreement. This was the first significant Modi-Xi bilateral in years and marked a diplomatic thaw. The meeting set the stage for potentially normalizing India-China relations post-2020 standoff.
India's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Bipin Rawat, was appointed on:
Correct Answer: B. January 1, 2020
India's first Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat, was appointed on January 1, 2020 — just months before the Galwan crisis. The CDS provides integrated military advice and coordinates the three services. Given India's two-front threat from both Pakistan and China, the CDS role is crucial for coordinating multi-domain scenarios.
The INSTC (International North-South Transport Corridor) is India's connectivity alternative partly to counter:
Correct Answer: B. China's BRI dominance in Central Asia and Eurasia
The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) connecting India to Russia and Central Asia through Iran is India's alternative connectivity route partly to counter China's BRI dominance. INSTC provides India access to Central Asian markets and energy resources without dependence on China-built or Pakistan-routed corridors. It became more strategic after the 2020 India-China tensions.
India's Ladakh infrastructure drive post-2020 included completing which road?
Correct Answer: B. DSDBO Road (Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie)
The DSDBO (Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie) road, completed in 2019 just before the 2020 crisis, is India's most strategic recent infrastructure in Ladakh. It provides year-round access to India's northernmost posts including DBO airstrip near the Karakoram Pass. China's 2020 Galwan incursions were partly aimed at threatening this road.
India's defence budget as percentage of GDP in 2023-24 was approximately:
Correct Answer: B. 2%
India's defence budget in 2023-24 was approximately 2% of GDP (approximately INR 5.94 lakh crore). China spends approximately 2% of its much larger GDP, meaning China's absolute defence spending is about 4-5 times India's. This gap is a key strategic challenge for India, which has been increasing its defence budget with focus on border infrastructure and indigenization.
The term 'LAC' (Line of Actual Control) was first used in a letter by Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai to PM Nehru in:
Correct Answer: B. 1959
The term 'Line of Actual Control' was first used by Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai in a 1959 letter to PM Nehru, describing the line where the armed forces of each side were actually deployed. The concept was later formalized in the 1993 Agreement. India and China have different perceptions of where this line lies, making it a continuously contested boundary.