South Asia: Conflict and Cooperation PYQS
Multiple Choice Questions: Contemporary South Asia
1. Which of the following sets of countries is usually included in the definition of ‘South Asia’ according to the chapter?
a) India, Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
b) Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
c) Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Myanmar, Maldives
d) India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Iran, Nepal, Bhutan
2. What major event in the post-Cold War era brought South Asia into the focus of global attention?
a) The signing of the SAFTA agreement
b) The pro-democracy movement in Nepal
c) India and Pakistan becoming nuclear powers
d) The formation of Bangladesh
3. According to the text, which two South Asian nations have successfully operated a democratic system since their independence?
a) Pakistan and Bangladesh
b) Nepal and Bhutan
c) India and Sri Lanka
d) Maldives and Pakistan
4. Who took over the administration of Pakistan after its first constitution was framed?
a) General Zia-ul-Haq
b) General Yahya Khan
c) Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
d) General Ayub Khan
5. The liberation of Bangladesh in 1971 was a result of a war between which two countries?
a) Bangladesh and Pakistan
b) India and Pakistan
c) India and Bangladesh
d) East Pakistan and West Pakistan
6. In what year did Nepal abolish its monarchy and become a democratic republic?
a) 1990
b) 2002
c) 2006
d) 2008
7. The ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka primarily involves which two communities?
a) Buddhists and Hindus
b) Sinhala and Tamil
c) Christians and Muslims
d) Sri Lankans and Indian Migrants
8. What is the full form of LTTE, the militant organization in Sri Lanka?
a) Liberation Tamils of an Independent Eelam
b) Lankan Tigers for Tamil Eelam
c) Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
d) Liberal Tamils for a True Eelam
9. The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 was signed between India and Pakistan with the help of which international body?
a) The United Nations
b) The World Bank
c) The SAARC
d) The United States
10. What was the primary reason for the people of East Pakistan to resent the domination of West Pakistan?
a) Economic policies and trade imbalance
b) Imposition of the Urdu language and unfair treatment of Bengali culture
c) Military rule and lack of elections
d) Border disputes and water sharing issues
11. Which country became a constitutional monarchy in 2008 and emerged as a multi-party democracy under the king’s leadership?
a) Nepal
b) Maldives
c) Bhutan
d) Sri Lanka
12. The survey on democracy in five major South Asian countries revealed that people prefer democracy over any other form of government, except in one country. Which country is the exception?
a) Bangladesh
b) Sri Lanka
c) Nepal
d) Pakistan
13. In 1988, India sent troops to the Maldives for what purpose?
a) To establish a military base
b) To support a pro-democracy movement
c) To foil a coup attempt by mercenaries
d) To provide post-tsunami reconstruction aid
14. What does the acronym SAFTA, signed by SAARC members in 2004, stand for?
a) South Asian Federation for Trade and Agriculture
b) South Asian Free Trade Area
c) South Asian Friendship and Trade Agreement
d) South Asia for Total Advancement
15. According to the text, what factor has made pro-military groups powerful in Pakistan?
a) The social dominance of the clergy
b) Lack of international support for democracy
c) Pakistan’s conflict with India
d) The weakness of its political parties
16. The Farakka Treaty, signed in 1996, deals with the sharing of river waters between which two countries?
a) India and Pakistan
b) India and Nepal
c) India and Bangladesh
d) Bangladesh and Myanmar
17. What major political change occurred in the Maldives in 1968?
a) It gained independence from the British
b) It was transformed from a Sultanate into a republic
c) It introduced a multi-party system
d) It joined the SAARC
18. Sheikh Mujib-ur Rahman, who led the popular struggle in East Pakistan, was the leader of which political party?
a) Bangladesh National Party
b) Pakistan People’s Party
c) Awami League
d) Muslim League
19. The Kargil conflict of 1999 was a military engagement between which two nations?
a) India and China
b) India and Pakistan
c) Pakistan and Afghanistan
d) India and Bangladesh
20. In Nepal’s journey to democracy, the largely non-violent movement of 2006 was led by whom?
a) The King and the army
b) The Seven Party Alliance (SPA), the Maoists, and social activists
c) The United Nations and international actors
d) The Indian government and its allies
21. What is the major point of contention in the relationship between India and Bangladesh, according to the text?
a) Border demarcation and trade policies
b) Sharing of river waters, illegal immigration, and support for insurgent groups
c) Maritime security and fishing rights
d) Cultural dominance and political interference
22. Which two non-regional powers are mentioned as key players in South Asian politics?
a) Russia and Japan
b) The European Union and Australia
c) China and the United States
d) The United Kingdom and France
23. What was the outcome of the 1971 war for Pakistan?
a) It gained control over Kashmir
b) The Bhutto government was overthrown
c) East Pakistan broke away to form Bangladesh
d) It signed the Tashkent Agreement
24. What reason do smaller countries in South Asia often have for being suspicious of India?
a) India’s economic policies
b) India’s cultural influence
c) India’s large size and power, and the fear of it being a regionally-dominant power
d) India’s alliance with Western countries
25. The Simla Agreement of 1972 was signed between which two leaders?
a) Lal Bahadur Shastri and Ayub Khan
b) Indira Gandhi and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
c) A.B. Vajpayee and Pervez Musharraf
d) Jawaharlal Nehru and Liaquat Ali Khan
26. In Sri Lanka, what did the Sinhala nationalists believe regarding the Tamils?
a) That Tamils should be given regional autonomy
b) That Sri Lanka should not give ‘concessions’ to the Tamils because the country belongs only to the Sinhala people
c) That Tamils should be integrated through economic development
d) That a power-sharing agreement should be negotiated
27. In which year did Afghanistan join SAARC?
a) 1985
b) 2004
c) 2007
d) 2014
28. Which factor contributed to the failure of building a stable democracy in Pakistan?
a) Lack of a strong pro-democracy sentiment
b) A weak human rights movement
c) The social dominance of the military, clergy, and landowning aristocracy
d) Absence of a free press
29. The Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) was sent to which country in 1987?
a) Nepal
b) Bangladesh
c) Maldives
d) Sri Lanka
30. According to the data provided, which South Asian country had the highest GDP per capita in 2017?
a) India
b) Pakistan
c) Sri Lanka
d) Bangladesh
31. What unique relationship exists between the citizens of India and Nepal?
a) They can vote in each other’s elections
b) They share a common currency
c) They can travel to and work in the other country without visas and passports
d) They have dual citizenship rights
32. After the military takeover by General Zia-ul-Haq in 1977, when was a democratic government re-established in Pakistan?
a) 1982
b) 1988
c) 1991
d) 1999
33. What reason did the US and other Western countries have for encouraging military rule in Pakistan in the past?
a) To promote economic stability in the region
b) To counter the influence of China
c) Fear of ‘global Islamic terrorism’ and Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal falling into the wrong hands
d) To mediate the Kashmir conflict
34. In Bangladesh, what constitutional change did Sheikh Mujib make in 1975?
a) Shifted from a presidential to a parliamentary system
b) Declared secularism as the state principle
c) Abolished all political parties except his own, the Awami League
d) Introduced a multi-party democratic system
35. A major disagreement between Nepal and India revolves around Nepal’s relationship with which other country?
a) Pakistan
b) China
c) Bangladesh
d) Bhutan
36. The conflict over the Siachen glacier is a strategic issue between which two countries?
a) India and China
b) Nepal and China
c) India and Pakistan
d) India and Nepal
37. When did the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) begin?
a) 1971
b) 1985
c) 1991
d) 2004
38. What was the main belief of the Maoists in Nepal during the 1990s?
a) They supported the constitutional monarchy
b) They believed in armed insurrection against the monarch and the ruling elite
c) They wanted closer ties with India
d) They promoted a non-violent path to democracy
39. India’s “Look East (Act East since 2014)” policy aims to link up with Southeast Asia via which country?
a) Bangladesh
b) Nepal
c) Bhutan
d) Myanmar
40. According to the text, which Scandinavian countries tried to mediate peace negotiations in Sri Lanka?
a) Sweden and Denmark
b) Finland and Sweden
c) Norway and Iceland
d) Denmark and Norway
41. The dispute over the demarcation line in Sir Creek in the Rann of Kutch is between which two nations?
a) India and Bangladesh
b) India and Pakistan
c) Pakistan and Iran
d) India and Nepal
42. Which one of the following is NOT a reason for Bangladesh’s unhappiness with India, as per the text?
a) India’s denial of illegal immigration
b) India behaving like a regional bully over river water sharing
c) India encouraging rebellion in the Chittagong Hill Tracts
d) India being unfair in trade
43. Which political party has dominated the political affairs of the Maldives and won the 2018 elections?
a) The Maldivian People’s Party
b) The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)
c) The Republican Party of Maldives
d) The Islamic Democratic Party
44. What was the “Six-point proposal” of Sheikh Mujib-ur Rahman for?
a) Independence for East Pakistan
b) Greater autonomy for East Pakistan
c) A new constitution for all of Pakistan
d) Military reforms in Pakistan
45. After its independence, the politics in Sri Lanka was dominated by forces representing the interests of which community?
a) The Tamil community
b) The Christian community
c) The Muslim community
d) The majority Sinhala community
46. What major challenge has SAARC faced, limiting its success?
a) Lack of funding from member states
b) Persisting political differences among members
c) Interference from China and the US
d) Disagreements over trade tariffs
47. In 1999, who removed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a military coup in Pakistan?
a) General Ayub Khan
b) General Zia-ul-Haq
c) General Yahya Khan
d) General Pervez Musharraf
48. Why is India’s role so central to most conflicts and cooperative efforts in South Asia?
a) Due to its large military and economic power
b) Due to its historical role as a regional leader
c) Due to its geography, where it is located centrally and borders all other members
d) Due to its status as a nuclear power
49. Despite the civil war, Sri Lanka was one of the first developing countries to achieve what?
a) Universal literacy
b) Successfully control the rate of growth of population
c) Become a nuclear power
d) Establish a free trade zone with India
50. What marked the beginning of a triangular conflict in Nepal?
a) The king’s dismissal of the government in 2002
b) The rise of the Maoists who believed in armed insurrection
c) The signing of a trade treaty with China
d) The pro-democracy protests of 1990
Answers and Explanations
1. Answer: b) Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
Explanation: The expression ‘South Asia’ usually includes the countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
2. Answer: c) India and Pakistan becoming nuclear powers
Explanation: When India and Pakistan joined the group of nuclear powers, the South Asian region became a focus of global attention.
3. Answer: c) India and Sri Lanka
Explanation: Both Sri Lanka and India have successfully maintained and operated democratic systems since their independence from British rule.
4. Answer: d) General Ayub Khan
Explanation: Following the framing of Pakistan’s first constitution, General Ayub Khan assumed control of the country’s administration and subsequently had himself elected.
5. Answer: b) India and Pakistan
Explanation: India’s financial and military support for East Pakistan’s independence movement resulted in a war between India and Pakistan in December 1971, which led to the creation of Bangladesh.
6. Answer: d) 2008
Explanation: Nepal transitioned into a democratic republic in 2008 after the monarchy was officially abolished.
7. Answer: b) Sinhala and Tamil
Explanation: The ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka is rooted in tensions between the majority Sinhala community and the Tamil minority, which fueled the rise of militant Tamil nationalism.
8. Answer: c) Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
Explanation: The militant group fighting for a separate Tamil country in Sri Lanka was named the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
9. Answer: b) The World Bank
Explanation: The Indus Waters Treaty was signed by India and Pakistan in 1960 with the assistance of the World Bank to resolve arguments over the use of the rivers.
10. Answer: b) Imposition of the Urdu language and unfair treatment of Bengali culture
Explanation: The people in the eastern region of Pakistan resented the imposition of the Urdu language and the unfair treatment of their native Bengali culture and language.
11. Answer: c) Bhutan
Explanation: In 2008, Bhutan became a constitutional monarchy and, under the king’s guidance, transitioned to a multi-party democracy.
12. Answer: d) Pakistan
Explanation: A survey of attitudes showed widespread support for democracy in the five large countries of the region, with Pakistan being the exception. In Pakistan, only 37% of respondents found democracy preferable, while 49% said it “doesn’t matter”.
13. Answer: c) To foil a coup attempt by mercenaries
Explanation: In November 1988, India’s air force and navy responded to a request from the Maldives to help stop an invasion by Tamil mercenaries from Sri Lanka.
14. Answer: b) South Asian Free Trade Area
Explanation: The South Asian Free Trade (SAFTA) agreement was signed by SAARC members with the promise of creating a free trade zone for the entire region.
15. Answer: c) Pakistan’s conflict with India
Explanation: Pakistan’s ongoing conflict with India has made the country’s pro-military groups more powerful and influential.
16. Answer: c) India and Bangladesh
Explanation: The Farakka Treaty was signed by India and Bangladesh in December 1996 to manage the sharing of the Ganga’s waters.
17. Answer: b) It was transformed from a Sultanate into a republic
Explanation: The Maldives functioned as a Sultanate until 1968, at which point it was restructured into a republic with a presidential form of government.
18. Answer: c) Awami League
Explanation: Sheikh Mujib-ur Rahman led the popular struggle against West Pakistani dominance as the head of the Awami League.
19. Answer: b) India and Pakistan
Explanation: The Kargil conflict, which took place in June-July 1999, was a military confrontation between India and Pakistan.
20. Answer: b) The Seven Party Alliance (SPA), the Maoists, and social activists
Explanation: The largely non-violent, pro-democracy movement in Nepal in 2006 was led by a coalition of the Seven Party Alliance (SPA), the Maoists, and various social activists.
21. Answer: b) Sharing of river waters, illegal immigration, and support for insurgent groups
Explanation: Disagreements between India and Bangladesh have included issues like the sharing of the Ganga and Brahmaputra river waters, Bangladesh’s denial of illegal immigration to India, and its alleged support for anti-Indian Islamic fundamentalist groups.
22. Answer: c) China and the United States
Explanation: China and the United States continue to be key and influential players in the politics of South Asia.
23. Answer: c) East Pakistan broke away to form Bangladesh
Explanation: Following the war with India in 1971, East Pakistan broke away from West Pakistan to become the independent nation of Bangladesh.
24. Answer: c) India’s large size and power, and the fear of it being a regionally-dominant power
Explanation: Due to India’s significant size and power, smaller neighboring countries are often suspicious of its intentions and fear that it aims to be a regionally-dominant power.
25. Answer: b) Indira Gandhi and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Explanation: The Simla Agreement was signed in July 1972. This followed the 1971 war, after which an elected government under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto came to power in Pakistan. Historical context confirms Indira Gandhi was India’s Prime Minister at the time.
26. Answer: b) That Sri Lanka should not give ‘concessions’ to the Tamils because the country belongs only to the Sinhala people
Explanation: Sinhala nationalists held the view that Sri Lanka should not provide any ‘concessions’ to the Tamil population because they believed Sri Lanka belongs to the Sinhala people exclusively.
27. Answer: c) 2007
Explanation: Afghanistan officially joined the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in 2007.
28. Answer: c) The social dominance of the military, clergy, and landowning aristocracy
Explanation: A major factor in Pakistan’s failure to build a stable democracy is the social dominance of the military, clergy, and landowning aristocracy, which has led to the frequent overthrow of elected governments.
29. Answer: d) Sri Lanka
Explanation: Following the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord, the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) began its operation in Sri Lanka in 1987.
30. Answer: c) Sri Lanka
Explanation: Sri Lanka registered the highest GDP per capita ($11,669) in 2017 among the listed South Asian countries and has maintained the highest per capita GDP for many years.
31. Answer: c) They can travel to and work in the other country without visas and passports
Explanation: A special treaty between India and Nepal allows citizens of both nations to travel to and work in the other country without needing visas or passports.
32. Answer: b) 1988
Explanation: After General Zia-ul-Haq faced a pro-democracy movement that began in 1982, an elected democratic government was established again in 1988 under the leadership of Benazir Bhutto.
33. Answer: c) Fear of ‘global Islamic terrorism’ and Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal falling into the wrong hands
Explanation: Western countries encouraged Pakistan’s military rule due to fears of ‘global Islamic terrorism’ and the concern that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons might fall into the hands of terrorist groups.
34. Answer: c) Abolished all political parties except his own, the Awami League
Explanation: In 1975, Sheikh Mujib amended the constitution, which led to a shift to a presidential system, and he also banned all political parties except for his own, the Awami League.
35. Answer: b) China
Explanation: The Indian government has frequently expressed displeasure over the warm relationship that exists between Nepal and China.
36. Answer: c) India and Pakistan
Explanation: India’s conflicts with Pakistan include strategic issues such as the control of the Siachen glacier.
37. Answer: b) 1985
Explanation: The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was initiated as a regional cooperative effort in 1985.
38. Answer: b) They believed in armed insurrection against the monarch and the ruling elite
Explanation: The Maoists of Nepal gained influence by advocating for an armed insurrection against the king and the country’s ruling elite.
39. Answer: d) Myanmar
Explanation: India’s Look East policy (known as Act East since 2014) aims to create a link with Southeast Asia through Myanmar.
40. Answer: c) Norway and Iceland
Explanation: International actors, specifically the Scandinavian countries of Norway and Iceland, attempted to mediate and bring the warring groups in Sri Lanka back to negotiations.
41. Answer: b) India and Pakistan
Explanation: India and Pakistan are in disagreement regarding the demarcation line in Sir Creek, located in the Rann of Kutch.
42. Answer: a) India’s denial of illegal immigration
Explanation: The Indian government has been unhappy with Bangladesh’s denial of illegal immigration44. The other points are listed as grievances of the Bangladeshi government against India.
43. Answer: b) The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)
Explanation: The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) is the dominant political force in the Maldives and was victorious in the 2018 elections.
44. Answer: b) Greater autonomy for East Pakistan
Explanation: In 1966, Sheikh Mujib-ur Rahman put forth a six-point proposal advocating for greater autonomy for the region of East Pakistan.
45. Answer: d) The majority Sinhala community
Explanation: Following independence, politics in Sri Lanka came to be dominated by groups that represented the interests of the majority Sinhala community.
46. Answer: b) Persisting political differences among members
Explanation: The success of SAARC has been limited primarily because of the persisting political differences among its member states.
47. Answer: d) General Pervez Musharraf
Explanation: The period of elective democracy in Pakistan ended in 1999 when General Pervez Musharraf led a military coup and removed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
48. Answer: c) Due to its geography, where it is located centrally and borders all other members
Explanation: Major conflicts and differences in South Asia often involve India, partly because of the region’s geography, where India is centrally located and is the only nation that shares a border with the other countries.
49. Answer: b) Successfully control the rate of growth of population
Explanation: Despite its internal conflict, Sri Lanka distinguished itself as one of the first developing countries to successfully manage and control its population growth rate.
50. Answer: b) The rise of the Maoists who believed in armed insurrection
Explanation: A triangular conflict emerged in Nepal involving the monarchist forces, the democrats, and the Maoists after the Maoists began an armed insurrection against the monarch and the ruling elite.
