India & Neighbours (Nepal, BD, SL) — Set 11
International Relations · भारत और पड़ोसी देश · Questions 101–110 of 140
Which country is NOT a member of the BBIN sub-regional grouping?
Correct Answer: D. Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is not a member of BBIN (Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal). BBIN is a sub-regional grouping focused on connectivity among these four eastern South Asian countries through the Motor Vehicles Agreement. Sri Lanka is an island nation separated from the South Asian mainland and is not part of this continental connectivity framework, though it participates in SAARC and BIMSTEC.
India's SAARC summit has not been held since 2014 due to tensions with which member state?
Correct Answer: B. Pakistan
The SAARC Summit has not been held since the 18th Summit in Kathmandu in 2014, primarily due to India-Pakistan tensions. The 19th SAARC Summit was scheduled in Islamabad in 2016 but India boycotted it following the Uri terror attack, and other member states also declined to attend. SAARC's functioning has been effectively paralysed by the India-Pakistan bilateral tensions, leading India to focus more on BIMSTEC and sub-regional groupings like BBIN.
The Great Himalayan National Park relevant to India-Nepal ecological cooperation is located in which Indian state?
Correct Answer: B. Himachal Pradesh
The Great Himalayan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. While not a bilateral park shared with Nepal, it represents India's conservation of Himalayan ecosystems that Nepal and Bhutan also protect. India and Nepal cooperate on conservation of shared wildlife including tigers in the Terai Arc Landscape spanning both countries.
The 'Neighbourhood First' policy of India emphasises building closer ties. Which was the first foreign country that PM Modi visited after becoming PM in 2014?
Correct Answer: C. Bhutan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first foreign visit after assuming office in May 2014 was to Bhutan, signalling the importance India places on its Himalayan neighbours under the 'Neighbourhood First' policy. The visit reaffirmed the special ties between India and Bhutan, covered hydropower cooperation, and sent a strong message about India's commitment to its immediate neighbourhood. Modi subsequently visited Nepal in August 2014, his second foreign visit.
India and Nepal signed the Power Trade Agreement in 2014 allowing Nepal to sell electricity to Indian states. How does Nepal primarily benefit from this?
Correct Answer: B. Nepal earns significant foreign exchange from power exports
Nepal earns significant foreign exchange by selling hydropower to India under the Power Trade Agreement of 2014 and its subsequent amendments. Hydropower exports to India are Nepal's largest source of foreign exchange earnings after remittances. This has incentivised Nepal to develop more hydropower capacity and has deepened energy interdependence between the two countries.
Bangladesh's strategic interest in the Bay of Bengal is linked to its membership in which maritime forum?
Correct Answer: D. All of the above
The correct answer is 'All of the above'. Bangladesh participates in multiple maritime forums including BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation), the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS). All three address aspects of maritime security, blue economy, and regional cooperation in the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean. Bangladesh's long coastline and active maritime economy make these forums strategically important.
Nepal formally joined China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in which year?
Correct Answer: C. 2017
Nepal formally joined China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in May 2017, when President Xi Jinping attended the first BRI Forum in Beijing and Nepal's PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal signed the framework agreement. The BRI partnership envisions trans-Himalayan connectivity projects including roads and railways connecting Nepal to Tibet. However, implementation has been slow and expensive, and Nepal has been cautious about taking on high-interest Chinese loans.
The Vizag-Chennai Industrial Corridor and its connectivity relevance to Bangladesh relates to which port that could serve as India's gateway for Bangladesh transit?
Correct Answer: D. Both Kolkata and Haldia ports
Both Kolkata Port and Haldia Port (which is an extension of Kolkata Port) serve as India's primary gateways for Bangladesh transit trade and are the closest major ports to Bangladesh. Protocol routes on Indian waterways connecting to Kolkata/Haldia allow Bangladesh to transit goods. These ports also handle Bhutan's overseas trade, making them critical nodes in the regional connectivity architecture of eastern South Asia.
India and Sri Lanka share which body of water that is also the site of the Sethusamudram project (proposed)?
Correct Answer: B. Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar
India and Sri Lanka are separated by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar, with the shallow Palk Bay between Dhanushkodi (India) and Talaimannar (Sri Lanka). The Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project proposes dredging a channel through this area to allow ships to pass between the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal without circumnavigating Sri Lanka. The project remains controversial due to its potential environmental and religious (Ram Setu) implications.
India's deepening defence cooperation with Maldives includes which capability provided to Maldives National Defence Force?
Correct Answer: B. Coast guard vessels, radar systems, and maritime surveillance aircraft
India has provided Maldives National Defence Force with coast guard vessels, dornier maritime surveillance aircraft, helicopters, radar systems, and training for maritime domain awareness. These capabilities help Maldives patrol its vast Exclusive Economic Zone for drug trafficking, piracy, and illegal fishing. India's defence cooperation with Maldives is primarily maritime in nature, reflecting the island nation's security needs.