Answer:

1. Nepal
2. Bhutan
3. Sri Lanka
4. Pakistan
5. India
6. Maldives

Answer:
Statement (c) is technically correct in context of the textbook timeline (signed in 2004 in Islamabad). However, older editions sometimes framed questions differently. In the context of the NCERT options, all statements are generally true as per the text, but often students misread the timeline. Note: If this is an MCQ, all given statements (a, b, c, d) are actually factual according to the NCERT textbook. However, some variations of this question state "South Asia has a uniform political system" which would be the wrong statement.

Commonalities:

• Military Rule: Both countries have experienced long periods of military dictatorship (e.g., Ayub Khan/Zia-ul-Haq in Pakistan; Ziaur Rahman/H.M. Ershad in Bangladesh).
• Pro-Democracy Movements: In both nations, the public strongly supported democratic movements, forcing military rulers to eventually hold elections.
• Islamic Identity: Religion plays a significant role in the politics and social fabric of both countries.

Differences:

• Origin: Pakistan was created on the basis of religion (Two-Nation Theory), whereas Bangladesh was created on the basis of linguistic and cultural identity (Bengali nationalism) after breaking away from Pakistan.
• Role of Clergy and Landlords: The military, clergy, and landowning aristocracy hold a much stronger, institutional grip on Pakistan's politics compared to Bangladesh.
• Current Status: Bangladesh has maintained a relatively more stable democratic process in recent decades compared to Pakistan's frequent military interventions.

Answer:

1. Triangular Conflict: Historically, Nepal faced a prolonged struggle involving the monarch, democratic political parties, and Maoist insurgents.
2. Drafting the Constitution: Transitioning from a monarchy to a republic required drafting a new constitution that satisfied diverse ethnic and political groups, which led to years of deadlock.
3. Political Instability: Frequent changes in government, shifting alliances among political parties, and economic difficulties make democratic consolidation challenging.

Principal Players:

1. Sinhalese Majority: The dominant community in Sri Lanka, whose political leaders favored Sinhala-first policies, marginalizing Tamils.
2. Sri Lankan Tamils: The minority community (represented aggressively by the LTTE) who demanded a separate independent state called "Tamil Eelam" due to systemic discrimination.
3. Indian Government: Played a mediating role due to the large Tamil population in India, eventually sending the IPKF (Indian Peace Keeping Force) in 1987.

Prospects of Resolution:

The armed conflict ended in 2009 with the military defeat of the LTTE. While violence has stopped, true resolution requires the Sri Lankan government to ensure equal political rights, economic opportunities, and dignity for the Tamil minority. Reconciliation and power-sharing are essential for long-term peace.

Answer: Despite ongoing tensions, India and Pakistan have undertaken several confidence-building measures (CBMs):

• Bus Routes: Opening of bus services between Lahore and Delhi, and Srinagar and Muzaffarabad.
• Trade: Cross-border trade across the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir was initiated (though currently suspended).
• Visa Regimes: Relaxation in visa rules to encourage people-to-people contact.
• Kartarpur Corridor: In 2019, the Kartarpur Corridor was opened to allow Indian Sikh pilgrims visa-free access to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan.

Areas of Cooperation:

1. Economic Relations: India is one of Bangladesh's largest trading partners, and both cooperate closely under SAFTA.
2. Disaster Management & Environment: Both nations cooperate on disaster mitigation and environmental issues in the Bay of Bengal region.

Areas of Disagreement:

1. Water Sharing: Disputes over the sharing of water from rivers like the Teesta and the Ganga.
2. Illegal Immigration: India frequently raises concerns about the illegal influx of migrants from Bangladesh and border security issues.

Answer:

External powers heavily influence South Asian politics due to the region's strategic location and economic potential.

• The USA and China are the most prominent players.
• Example (USA): Since the Cold War, the US has maintained close ties with both India and Pakistan. The US uses its economic and military aid as leverage. During India-Pak crises (like the Kargil War), the US actively mediated to prevent nuclear escalation. Currently, the large South Asian diaspora in the US and the deep economic ties ensure continuous American involvement in regional policies.

Role of SAARC:

• Established in 1985, SAARC acts as a common platform for South Asian countries to discuss regional issues.
• It initiated SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Area) to promote free trade across borders, aiming to boost the economic growth of the entire region.

Limitations:

• Political Disputes: Deep-rooted bilateral conflicts, especially between India and Pakistan, frequently derail SAARC summits and initiatives.
• Lack of Trust: Smaller member states fear that SAFTA is a way for India to dominate their markets economically.
• Low Intra-regional Trade: Due to political hurdles and poor connectivity, internal trade among SAARC nations remains extremely low compared to groups like the EU or ASEAN.

Answer:

This impression is a mix of reality and geopolitical paranoia.

• Why neighbors think so: India's sheer size, central location, and massive economic/military power make it the natural hegemon of the region. India has historically intervened in neighboring crises (e.g., IPKF in Sri Lanka, 1971 war in Bangladesh, blockade in Nepal), which small nations perceive as "Big Brother" bullying.
• India's Perspective: India argues that instability in neighboring countries directly threatens India's own internal security (e.g., cross-border terrorism, refugee influx). Therefore, India often has no choice but to get involved. Furthermore, India provides massive economic aid, disaster relief, and infrastructure support to these nations, acting as a regional stabilizer rather than an oppressor.

Answer: B) 1996
Explanation: The Farakka treaty regarding the sharing of Ganga waters was signed in 1996.
Difficulty: Medium

Answer: C) Sri Lanka
Explanation: Sri Lanka adopted open-market economic policies long before its neighbors.
Difficulty: Easy

Answer: B) Indira Gandhi and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Explanation: Signed in 1972 after the Bangladesh liberation war.
Difficulty: Easy

Answer: The primary objective of the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) is to reduce custom duties and trade tariffs among SAARC member countries to promote economic integration and mutual trade in the region.
Difficulty: Easy

Answer:

1. Social dominance of the military, clergy, and landowning aristocracy.
2. Continuous conflict with India, which the military uses as an excuse to hold onto power.

Difficulty: Medium

Answer: The Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) was sent by the Indian government to Sri Lanka in 1987 to help implement a peace accord and disarm the LTTE. It was withdrawn in 1989 after failing to achieve its objective.
Difficulty: Medium

Answer:

• Geographical: The region is bounded by the Himalayas in the north, the Indian Ocean in the south, the Arabian Sea in the west, and the Bay of Bengal in the east.
• Political: It is a region of immense diversity. While India and Sri Lanka have maintained democracies since independence, countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh have seen both democratic and military regimes. Nepal has transitioned from a monarchy to a republic, and Bhutan is a constitutional monarchy.

Difficulty: Medium

Step 1: The Conflict. The conflict was between the Sinhalese majority, who dominated the government, and the Tamil minority, who faced discrimination. This led to the rise of the LTTE, demanding a separate Tamil state.

Step 2: Economic Impact. Despite the devastating civil war, Sri Lanka maintained a high GDP growth rate, successfully controlled population growth, and was the first in the region to liberalize its economy.

Difficulty: Medium

Answer:

1. Kashmir Issue: The territorial dispute over Jammu & Kashmir.
2. Cross-Border Terrorism: India accuses Pakistan of funding and training militant groups to carry out attacks in India.
3. Water Disputes: Issues regarding the sharing of river waters, though managed by the Indus Water Treaty, still cause friction.
4. Siachen Glacier & Sir Creek: Disputed boundaries in the Siachen Glacier and the Sir Creek region in the Rann of Kutch.

Difficulty: Easy

Answer:

• Independence (1971): Bangladesh emerged as an independent nation after the 1971 war, breaking away from Pakistan with India's help.
• Initial Democratic Phase: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman drafted a constitution declaring faith in secularism, democracy, and socialism. However, in 1975, he amended it to a presidential system and abolished all parties except his own (Awami League).
• Military Rule: Following Mujibur Rahman's assassination, military rulers like Ziaur Rahman and later H.M. Ershad took control, stalling the democratic process.
• Return to Democracy: Massive pro-democracy protests led by students and the public forced Ershad to step down in 1990.
• Current Status: Since 1991, representative democracy based on multi-party elections has been working in Bangladesh, albeit with intense political rivalries.

Difficulty: High

Answer:

• Role of SAARC: It acts as a primary forum for South Asian leaders to meet, discuss regional issues, and promote economic and cultural ties. The signing of SAFTA was a landmark step toward free trade.
• Reasons for limited success compared to the EU:
  1. Bilateral Disputes: Unlike Europe after WW2, South Asia is crippled by deep bilateral hostilities, mainly the India-Pakistan conflict.
  2. Asymmetry: India is geographically and economically overwhelmingly larger than the other members, creating a fear of Indian dominance among smaller states.
  3. Lack of Infrastructure: Poor connectivity and strict border controls make intra-regional trade difficult.
  4. Political Instability: Internal turmoil in member countries shifts focus away from regional cooperation.

Difficulty: High

Answers:

1. South Asian Free Trade Area.
2. The SAFTA agreement came into effect in 2006.
3. They fear that due to India's massive industrial base and economy, free trade will allow Indian goods to flood their markets, destroying local industries and leading to political dominance.

Difficulty: Medium

Answers:

1. The cartoon represents India's centrality and relative stability in a region fraught with internal conflicts, military coups, and ethnic violence.
2. Pakistan (military vs democracy) and Nepal/Sri Lanka (internal conflict).

Difficulty: Medium

Answer: D) Assertion (A) is false but Reason (R) is true.
Explanation: South Asia does NOT have a uniform political system. It is a mix of democracies, military regimes, and monarchical transitions.

Answer: D) Assertion (A) is false but Reason (R) is true.
Explanation: The intervention was not successful. The IPKF got bogged down in fighting the LTTE and had to pull out in 1989 without achieving its goal.