South Asia Post-Cold War Era Test - 2

The correct answer is option 1 i.e Nepal

• The Treaty of Sugauli concluded between British India and the Kingdom of Nepal in the year 1816.
• The treaty represented a Nepali surrender to the British and contained the cession of Nepal's western territory to the British East India Company.
• The Gurkhas gave up their claim over the Terai region and ceded the areas of Kumaon and Garhwal to the British.
• The British now secured the area around Shimla and their north-western borders touched the Himalayas.
• The Gurkhas had to withdraw from Sikkim and they also agreed to keep a British Resident at Kathmandu.
• It was also agreed that the kingdom of Nepal would not employ any other foreigner in its services other than the English.
• The British had also obtained the sites of hill stations like Simla, Mussoorie, Nainital, Ranikhet and developed them as tourist and health resorts.
• After this victory in the Gurkha War Hastings was honoured with English peerage and he became Marquis of Hastings.

The correct answer is Both 1 and 2.

Key Points

• 'String of Pearls’ refers to a geopolitical theory to the network of Chinese intentions in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)
• The string of pearls policy of china includes the following-
  • Strait of Malacca
  • Myanmar - Kyaukpyu port.
  • Bangladesh - Chittagong port
  • Sri Lanka - Hambantota port
  • Pakistan - Gwadar port

Additional Information

• One Belt One Road:
  • IT was announced in 2013 by China's President Xi Jinping.
  • It is an advanced form of String of Pearl's policy.
  • The OBOR has been referred to as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) since 2016 due to the Chinese government’s consideration of the word ‘one’ is prone to misinterpretation.

Important Points

 

The correct answer is China is the only country with Observer status in SAARC.

Key Points

• SAARC stands for South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.
• It is a regional intergovernmental organization.
• It was founded on 8 December 1985 in Dhaka.
• It aims to promote the development of economic and regional integration.
• It is headquartered in Kathmandu, Nepal.
• The South Asian Free Trade Area was launched on 1st January 2006 to create a free trade zone between its members.
• Esala Ruwan Weerakoon is the current Secretary-General. He assumed office on 1st March 2020.
• The 18^th summit of SAARC was held in Kathmandu, Nepal from 26 November to 27 November 2014. The theme of the summit was Deeper Integration for Peace and Prosperity, focused on enhancing connectivity between the member states for easier transit-transport across the region.
• Given below is the list of all members of SAARC:
  • Afghanistan
  • Bangladesh
  • Bhutan
  • India
  • Maldives
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
• Afghanistan became the newest member of SAARC at the 13th annual summit in 2007.
• SAARC comprises 3% of the world's area, 21% of the world's population, and 3.8% (US$2.9 trillion) of the global economy.
• China, European Union, Iran, Japan. South Korea, Mauritius, Myanmar, the United States Of America, and Australia are 9 Observers countries to SAARC. Hence, option 2 is Not correct.

The correct answer is Siachen Glacier.

• Siachen Glacier is called the highest battlefield in the world.

Key Points

• The Siachen Glacier:
  • It is the highest battleground on Earth.
  • India and Pakistan have fought wars since 1984.
  • India has to maintain a military presence in the region at a height of over 6,000 m (20,000 ft) for defending its sovereignty.

Additional Information

• Operation Meghdoot:
  • It was the operation of the Indian Armed Forces.
  • It was to seize control of the Siachen Glacier in Kashmir. 

Petrapole is the border checkpoint between India and Bangladesh, near Bongaon in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. Petrapole border is the only land port in south Bengal and is also the largest land customs station in Asia.

The correct answer is SAARC comprises 9 member states and 8 observer states.

Key Points

• South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
  • It stands for South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.
  • It is an intergovernmental organization for the development of economic and regional integration. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
  • The Headquarters and Secretariat of the Association are in Kathmandu, Nepal. Hence, Statement 3 is correct.
  • The organization has the support of different countries known as member-state.
  • SAARC was founded by seven states in 1985. Hence, Statement 2 is correct.
  • In 2005, Afghanistan requested its accession to SAARC and formally applied for membership in the same year.
  • This organization was formed in Dhaka on December 8, 1985, and its secretariat is based in Kathmandu, Nepal.
  • SAARC Potential future members – Turkey and Russia have also applied for SAARC membership.
  • SAARC comprises 8 member states and 9 observer states. Hence, Statement 4 is not correct.

Additional Information

SAARC Member States	SAARC Observer States
Afghanistan Bangladesh Bhutan India Maldives Nepal Pakistan Sri Lanka	Australia China European union Iran Japan Mauritius United States Myanmar Republic of Korea

the correct answer is Option 3.

Key Points

• The source and destination station of Samjhauta Express is from Old Delhi India to Lahore Pakistan.
• Samjhauta express connects India and Pakistan through railways.
• The train was started in 1976 and it provides service till date.
• It runs every Wednesday and Sunday.

The correct answer is Dhaka.

• The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional organization, which comprises seven member states in South Asia and Southeast Asia.

Important Points

• 'BIMSTEC' is a sub-regional organisation came into being on June 6, 1997, on account of the Bangkok Declaration. It is headquartered in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• It comprises of seven member countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand.
• In order to promote and stimulate trade and investment, the BIMSTEC Free Trade Area Framework Agreement (BFTAFA) has been signed by all member nations.
• Initially, the economic bloc was formed with four Member States with the acronym ‘BIST-EC’ (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand Economic Cooperation).

The correct answer is Myanmar.

Key Points

• The first summit of SAARC was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 7–8 December 1985.
• It was attended by Bangladesh, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan Nepal, and India.

 Important Points

• The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established with the signing of the SAARC Charter in Dhaka on 8 December 1985.
• The SAARC Secretariat was established in Kathmandu on 16 January 1987.
• SAARC comprises of eight-member States:
  • Afghanistan
  • Bangladesh
  • Bhutan
  • India
  • Maldives
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Sri Lanka

 Additional Information

• You can remember the names of SAARC Countries using the mnemonic
• "MBBS PAIN" for Maldives, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Nepal.

The correct answer is Option 3.

Key Points

• The South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN), an inter-governmental wildlife law enforcement agency, held its first-ever meeting in India.
• SAWEN was launched in Bhutan in 2011. In 2016 the Union Cabinet gave permission to adopt the statute of SAWEN.
• Its member countries are India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, Pakistan & Maldives.