India & Neighbours (Nepal, BD, SL) — Set 8
International Relations · भारत और पड़ोसी देश · Questions 71–80 of 140
The Maldivian government's 'India Out' campaign particularly targeted the presence of Indian:
Correct Answer: B. Military personnel and surveillance aircraft
The 'India Out' campaign targeted Indian military personnel stationed in Maldives to operate two helicopters and a Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft gifted by India. Critics argued this represented India's excessive military footprint in the island nation. After Muizzu became President in 2023, he requested their withdrawal, and India agreed to replace them with civilian technical personnel while keeping the aircraft.
Which Indian initiative specifically targets South Asian neighbours for development assistance and connectivity?
Correct Answer: C. Neighbourhood First Policy
India's 'Neighbourhood First' Policy specifically prioritises engagement with immediate neighbours — Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Pakistan — through development assistance, connectivity projects, and diplomatic engagement. SAGAR, announced in 2015, is specifically an Indian Ocean maritime policy, while Act East focuses on ASEAN countries. Neighbourhood First is the overarching framework for all immediate neighbours.
Nepal's constitution of 2015 declared Nepal to be:
Correct Answer: B. Federal Democratic Republic
Nepal's constitution of 2015 declared Nepal to be a Federal Democratic Republic, formally completing the transition from a unitary state and constitutional monarchy to a secular federal republic. Nepal is divided into 7 provinces under the federal structure. The constitution was adopted on September 20, 2015, following the devastating earthquake of April 2015 and was a landmark achievement after years of political negotiations among various parties.
The Friendship Highway connecting Kathmandu to Tibet (China) passes through which town on the Nepal-China border?
Correct Answer: C. Rasuwagadhi
Following the 2015 earthquake that damaged the Tatopani (Zhangmu) crossing, Rasuwagadhi (Rasuwa) has become the main operational border crossing between Nepal and China's Tibet. The Friendship Highway (or Arniko Highway on the Nepal side) connecting Kathmandu to Lhasa passes through this crossing. China has been investing in upgrading the highway and trans-Himalayan connectivity with Nepal as part of the BRI.
Sri Lanka's president who was ousted during the 2022 economic crisis was:
Correct Answer: C. Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka's President, was ousted during the 2022 economic crisis when protesters stormed his official residence in Colombo. He initially appointed Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister and then fled to Maldives and Singapore before formally resigning on July 14, 2022. Wickremesinghe was subsequently elected President by parliament and oversaw Sri Lanka's IMF bailout negotiations and economic stabilisation.
India and Bangladesh established diplomatic relations in which year?
Correct Answer: C. 1972
India and Bangladesh established formal diplomatic relations in 1972, following Bangladesh's independence and India's formal recognition of Bangladesh on December 6, 1971. India was among the first countries to establish an embassy in Dhaka after Bangladesh's liberation. The two countries signed the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Peace on March 19, 1972, which provided the framework for post-liberation bilateral relations.
The Niti Aayog's estimate suggests what percentage of Bhutan's GDP comes from hydropower exports, mainly to India?
Correct Answer: C. 20-25%
Hydropower exports to India account for approximately 20-25% of Bhutan's GDP, making it the cornerstone of the Bhutanese economy. Bhutan generates substantial revenue from exporting electricity from its numerous run-of-the-river hydropower projects to India. This economic dependence on India through hydropower trade is also a reflection of the unique and deep strategic partnership between the two Himalayan neighbours.
India deployed IPKF in Sri Lanka following which agreement. The IPKF withdrew without fully achieving its objectives in which year?
Correct Answer: C. 1990
The IPKF was withdrawn from Sri Lanka in 1990 at the request of President Ranasinghe Premadasa, who succeeded J.R. Jayewardene. Premadasa, who had opposed the 1987 accord from the beginning, first sought the IPKF's withdrawal and then made peace overtures to the LTTE independently. The IPKF suffered approximately 1,200 casualties and left without disarming the LTTE, which remained a powerful insurgent force until its military defeat in 2009.
The Teesta River originates in which Indian state before flowing into Bangladesh?
Correct Answer: B. West Bengal (Darjeeling Hills/Sikkim)
The Teesta River originates in the Himalayan mountains of Sikkim and flows through West Bengal (including Darjeeling district) before entering Bangladesh and joining the Brahmaputra-Jamuna river system. It is a major river for agriculture and is particularly important during the dry season when water flows reduce significantly. The political sensitivity of Teesta water sharing is partly due to West Bengal's farmers also depending on the river's flow.
In the context of India's neighbourhood, which country became the 8th member of SAARC in 2007?
Correct Answer: C. Afghanistan
Afghanistan was admitted as the eighth member of SAARC at the 14th SAARC Summit in New Delhi in April 2007. Prior to Afghanistan's inclusion, SAARC had seven founding members: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. China, US, EU, Japan, South Korea, Iran, Australia, and Myanmar have observer status in SAARC.