Short Questions
1. What is a maritime neighbour?
Answer: A maritime neighbour is a country connected by sea or ocean without sharing a land border.
2. Which mountain range separates India and China?
Answer: The Himalayas separate India and China.
3. What is the total length of India’s land boundary?
Answer: India’s land boundary stretches over 15,100 km.
4. Which two rivers create shared river systems between India and Bangladesh?
Answer: The Ganga and the Brahmaputra create shared river systems.
5. What is special about the India–Nepal border?
Answer: The India–Nepal border is an open border allowing free movement without visas.
6. Why is Bhutan called the ‘Land of the Thunder Dragon’?
Answer: Bhutan is called the ‘Land of the Thunder Dragon’ because the dragon symbolises the thunderous voice of Buddha’s teachings.
7. What is SAARC?
Answer: SAARC is the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation formed in 1985 to promote regional development.
8. Which strait separates India and Sri Lanka?
Answer: The Palk Strait separates India and Sri Lanka.
9. Why is the Maldives vulnerable to climate change?
Answer: The Maldives is vulnerable because rising sea levels can submerge its low-lying islands.
10. What is Borobudur Stupa?
Answer: Borobudur Stupa is the world’s largest Buddhist monument located in Indonesia.
Long Questions
1. Describe the relationship between India and China.
Answer: India and China share a long border separated by the Himalayas and have cultural ties through Buddhism. Trade relations are strong, though the balance is in China’s favour. Despite border tensions, both countries try to resolve issues through dialogue and cooperation.
2. Explain the importance of India–Bangladesh relations.
Answer: India and Bangladesh share historical, cultural and linguistic ties, especially through Bangla language. They cooperate in trade, river water sharing and environmental protection like the Sundarbans. Their partnership is one of the strongest in South Asia.
3. How does geography influence India–Nepal relations?
Answer: Nepal shares a long open border with India, allowing free movement of people and goods. Cultural and religious ties, such as shared festivals and pilgrimage sites, strengthen the bond. Trade and daily interactions make their relationship unique and interdependent.
4. Discuss India’s relationship with Sri Lanka.
Answer: India and Sri Lanka share cultural links through Buddhism and Hindu traditions. Though the Sri Lankan civil war created challenges, cooperation continues in trade and regional development. Their close maritime distance strengthens people-to-people ties.
5. Explain the historical connection between India and Southeast Asian countries.
Answer: Indian traders and monks travelled to Southeast Asia spreading Buddhism, Hinduism and cultural ideas. Kingdom names like Ayutthayā show Indian influence. Today, projects like the India–Myanmar–Thailand Highway strengthen these ancient connections.
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