Short questions with answer's from the chapter of the contemporary South Asia

 Contemporary South Asia – Short Questions & Answers

1. Q: What does ‘South Asia’ generally refer to?

A: Countries located in the southern part of Asia including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.

2. Q: Which two countries in South Asia were created in 1947?

A: India and Pakistan.

3. Q: When was Bangladesh formed?

A: 1971.

4. Q: What was the main reason behind the formation of Bangladesh?

A: Linguistic and cultural discrimination by West Pakistan.

5. Q: What was the original name of Bangladesh before independence?

A: East Pakistan.

6. Q: Name the military operation launched by Pakistan in 1971 against East Pakistan.

A: Operation Searchlight.

7. Q: Who led India during the Bangladesh Liberation War?

A: Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

8. Q: What is the significance of the Simla Agreement?

A: It was a peace agreement between India and Pakistan after the 1971 war.

9. Q: When was the Simla Agreement signed?

A: 1972.

10. Q: Who was the founder of Bangladesh?

A: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

11. Q: What is SAARC?

A: South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.

12. Q: When was SAARC established?

A: 1985.

13. Q: Where is the headquarters of SAARC?

A: Kathmandu, Nepal.

14. Q: Name any two founding members of SAARC.

A: India and Sri Lanka.

15. Q: Which country was the last to join SAARC?

A: Afghanistan (in 2007).

16. Q: What is the primary objective of SAARC?

A: Regional cooperation and development.

17. Q: What is the major reason for the failure of SAARC?

A: Political differences, especially between India and Pakistan.

18. Q: What was the civil war in Sri Lanka about?

A: Ethnic conflict between Sinhalese and Tamils.

19. Q: Who were the LTTE?

A: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam – a Tamil militant organization.

20. Q: When did the civil war in Sri Lanka end?

A: 2009.

21. Q: What is the capital of Bhutan?

A: Thimphu.

22. Q: What kind of political system does Bhutan have?

A: Constitutional monarchy.

23. Q: Which South Asian country was never colonized?

A: Nepal.

24. Q: Which country is referred to as a 'Buffer State' between India and China?

A: Nepal.

25. Q: Which Indian operation helped Sri Lanka in its internal conflict in the 1980s?

A: Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF).

26. Q: When did India send IPKF to Sri Lanka?

A: 1987.

27. Q: Which agreement facilitated the IPKF intervention?

A: Indo-Sri Lanka Accord (1987).

28. Q: Who assassinated Rajiv Gandhi and why?

A: LTTE, due to India's involvement through IPKF.

29. Q: What type of government does the Maldives have?

A: Presidential republic.

30. Q: What operation did India launch to prevent a coup in Maldives in 1988?

A: Operation Cactus.

31. Q: Who ruled Pakistan immediately after independence?

A: Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

32. Q: When did Pakistan become a republic?

A: 1956.

33. Q: How many times has the military directly ruled Pakistan?

A: Three times.

34. Q: Who was the first military ruler of Pakistan?

A: General Ayub Khan.

35. Q: Who imposed martial law in Pakistan in 1999?

A: General Pervez Musharraf.

36. Q: Who led India during the Kargil War?

A: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

37. Q: When was the Kargil War fought?

A: 1999.

38. Q: Which country mediates often in Indo-Pak issues?

A: The United States.

39. Q: What is the Line of Control (LoC)?

A: De facto border between India and Pakistan in Kashmir.

40. Q: Name a key issue between India and Pakistan.

A: The Kashmir conflict.

41. Q: What is the key issue in India-Nepal relations?

A: Border disputes (e.g., Kalapani).

42. Q: Which river dispute affects India-Bangladesh relations?

A: Teesta River.

43. Q: What connects South Asian countries historically?

A: Shared cultural and colonial history.

44. Q: Who succeeded Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Bangladesh?

A: Ziaur Rahman.

45. Q: Who led the Tamil resistance in Sri Lanka?

A: Velupillai Prabhakaran.

46. Q: What is BIMSTEC?

A: Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.

47. Q: What is the difference between SAARC and BIMSTEC?

A: BIMSTEC includes Southeast Asian countries; SAARC is only South Asia.

48. Q: Which South Asian country is facing severe environmental challenges due to rising sea levels?

A: Maldives.

49. Q: What type of governance is found in Nepal after 2008?

A: Federal democratic republic.

50. Q: What is the major religion in Sri Lanka?

A: Buddhism.

51. Q: What is the major religion of Pakistan?

A: Islam.

52. Q: Who leads Bhutan constitutionally?

A: The King.

53. Q: Which two countries have border disputes with India?

A: Pakistan and China.

54. Q: What is the currency of Bangladesh?

A: Taka.

55. Q: What is the currency of Pakistan?

A: Pakistani Rupee.

56. Q: What is the capital of Bangladesh?

A: Dhaka.

57. Q: What was India's role in the creation of Bangladesh?

A: Military and diplomatic support.

58. Q: When was Pakistan divided into two?

A: 1971.

59. Q: Who was Zulfikar Ali Bhutto?

A: Former Prime Minister and President of Pakistan.

60. Q: What is Indo-Pak CBM?

A: Confidence Building Measures.

61. Q: When did India conduct its first nuclear test?

A: 1974.

62. Q: When did Pakistan conduct nuclear tests?

A: 1998.

63. Q: What is the capital of Nepal?

A: Kathmandu.

64. Q: What was the main demand of LTTE?

A: A separate Tamil state.

65. Q: What is the Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship?

A: A 1950 treaty for mutual cooperation.

66. Q: Which country is considered India's closest ally in South Asia?

A: Bhutan.

67. Q: Who is the current President of Sri Lanka? (As of 2024-25)

A: [May need update – verify current name].

68. Q: Who was the first female Prime Minister of South Asia?

A: Sirimavo Bandaranaike (Sri Lanka).

69. Q: What is the current political status of Afghanistan in SAARC?

A: Member since 2007 but often inactive due to internal instability.

70. Q: Which country has the highest GDP in South Asia?

A: India.

71. Q: Which South Asian country is landlocked?

A: Nepal and Bhutan.

72. Q: What caused Indo-Sri Lankan tensions in the 1980s?

A: Tamil issue and IPKF intervention.

73. Q: What is the literacy rate in Bhutan approximately?

A: Around 66–70%.

74. Q: What is "Gross National Happiness"?

A: Bhutan's development philosophy.

75. Q: What is the main issue in Indo-Maldives relations?

A: Geopolitical influence and security concerns.

76. Q: Name a major insurgent group in Pakistan.

A: Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

77. Q: What is the SAFTA agreement?

A: South Asian Free Trade Area.

78. Q: When was SAFTA signed?

A: 2004.

79. Q: What is the main language of Nepal?

A: Nepali.

80. Q: What is the main issue between India and Bangladesh over migration?

A: Illegal immigration.

81. Q: What is the significance of the 1971 Indo-Soviet Treaty?

A: Provided strategic support to India during the Bangladesh war.

82. Q: What role did the USA play during the 1971 war?

A: Supported Pakistan.

83. Q: What is the role of China in South Asia?

A: Strategic and economic engagement, especially with Pakistan.

84. Q: What does 'Balochistan' refer to?

A: A province in Pakistan facing separatist movements.

85. Q: Which South Asian country has a Buddhist majority?

A: Sri Lanka and Bhutan.

86. Q: What is a common factor of instability in South Asia?

A: Ethnic and religious tensions.

87. Q: Name a major hydroelectric project India shares with Bhutan.

A: Tala Hydroelectric Project.

88. Q: What is the Indian Ocean’s role in South Asia?

A: Strategic for trade and military presence.

89. Q: Who led the peace talks with Maoists in Nepal?

A: Girija Prasad Koirala.

90. Q: What is India’s Look East policy?

A: Strengthening ties with Southeast Asia via BIMSTEC.

91. Q: What is a common reason for SAARC’s failure?

A: Bilateral tensions.

92. Q: What is the significance of the Katchatheevu Island issue?

A: Dispute between India and Sri Lanka.

93. Q: What is the Gorkhaland issue?

A: Demand for a separate state in West Bengal.

94. Q: What are the two main political parties in Bangladesh?

A: Awami League and BNP.

95. Q: What is the ethnic composition of Pakistan?

A: Punjabis, Sindhis, Pashtuns, Balochs.

96. Q: What is the currency of Nepal?

A: Nepalese Rupee.

97. Q: What is the name of the bridge connecting India and Sri Lanka in mythology?

A: Ram Setu or Adam’s Bridge.

98. Q: Which country has the highest per capita income in South Asia?

A: Maldives.

99. Q: Which two countries share the Sundarbans forest?

A: India and Bangladesh.

100. Q: What does regionalism mean in the South Asian context?

A: Cooperation among geographically close nations for mutual benefit.