India-China Relations & LAC — Set 7

Correct Answer: B. Electrical machinery and electronics

Electrical machinery, equipment, and electronics constitute the largest category of Indian imports from China. This includes smartphones, solar panels, and electronic components. India's dependence on Chinese electronics has been a national security concern, prompting the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme to boost domestic manufacturing.

Correct Answer: C. 300+

India banned 300+ Chinese applications across multiple phases starting June 2020. The first phase banned 59 apps (including TikTok, WeChat), and subsequent phases banned PUBG Mobile, AliExpress, and others. The bans were issued under Section 69A of the IT Act 2000 on grounds of national security and privacy.

Correct Answer: B. Countries sharing a land border with India (targeting China and Pakistan)

India amended its FDI policy in April 2020 to require government approval for investments from countries sharing a land border with India, primarily targeting China and Pakistan. This was specifically to prevent opportunistic acquisitions of Indian companies amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The rule significantly slowed Chinese investment in Indian startups.

Correct Answer: B. 2020 Ladakh standoff (Kailash Range operation)

The Special Frontier Force (SFF), also known as Establishment 22, primarily comprising Tibetan refugees, reportedly played a role in the 2020 Ladakh standoff by helping capture heights overlooking the south bank of Pangong Tso. It was formed in 1962 after the Sino-Indian War. SFF operates under the Cabinet Secretariat with close coordination with RAW.

Correct Answer: C. 2006

The Nathu La trade route in Sikkim was reopened in 2006 after 44 years of closure (shut after the 1962 war). It was historically part of the ancient Silk Road trade between India and Tibet. The Nathu La reopening was seen as a confidence-building measure, though trade volumes remained limited.

Correct Answer: A. Johnson Line of 1865

India's claim to Aksai Chin is based primarily on the Johnson Line of 1865, which placed Aksai Chin within the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. China's claim is based on the McDonald Line of 1899. This difference in reference lines is the fundamental basis of the Aksai Chin territorial dispute.

Correct Answer: B. Aksai Chin

The G219 National Highway connects Xinjiang to Tibet through Aksai Chin. It was secretly built by China in the 1950s and India's discovery of this road was a major trigger for the 1962 war. The road remains strategically vital for China as one of the key links between Xinjiang and Tibet.

Correct Answer: B. National Security Advisor (NSA)

The China Study Group (CSG) is a high-level inter-ministerial body chaired by the NSA (currently Ajit Doval). It coordinates India's policy response to Chinese activities, especially along the LAC. The CSG became particularly active during and after the 2020 Ladakh standoff.

Correct Answer: B. 1:5

In 2023, India's GDP was approximately USD 3.7 trillion while China's was approximately USD 17.7 trillion — a ratio of roughly 1:5. Despite the gap, India has been the fastest-growing major economy. The economic gap has significant implications for the relative military and geopolitical power balance.

Correct Answer: B. Simla Convention 1913-14

The McMahon Line was drawn during the Simla Convention of 1913-14, a tripartite conference between British India, Tibet, and China. British Indian and Tibetan representatives signed the agreement, but China refused to ratify it. Henry McMahon, the British Indian Foreign Secretary, drew the line that now forms India's claimed boundary in the east.