Sample Lecturette 1: India & Its Neighbours | Preparation Tips for SSB Interview - CDS PDF Download

India has 9 neighbouring countries which are Bhutan, Pakistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan, Nepal, and China. It is the 7th largest country in the world and is surrounded by the Indian Ocean to the south, the Arabian Sea to the west, and the Bay of Bengal to the east. The Indian coastline spans a total of 7516.6 Km and the land border is 15,200 Km. 

Name the Neighbouring Countries of India

Knowing about the neighbouring countries of India is crucial for various competitive exams including Defence exams. The details of these countries and their capitals can be found in the table below and in the attached PDF. India has the third-largest international border in the world, following Russia and China.

Note that India has the third-largest international border in the world after Russia and China.

Neighbouring Countries of India and their Capitals

Here are the capitals of all the countries that share a land border with India. Don't forget that Maldives and Sri Lanka share a sea border with India too. The capital of Maldives is Male, and Sri Lanka has two capitals: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte and Colombo.

Neighbouring Countries of India: Important Details

Let's talk about some other important details about each of India's neighbouring countries, starting with Afghanistan:

India and Afghanistan

India and Afghanistan have a strong relationship, with India supporting Afghanistan both financially and through various infrastructure projects. Next up is Bangladesh:

The Bilateral relations between India & Afghanistan have been strong. India has always supported Afghanistan. It has been a strong protestor of the Taliban & has helped Afghanistan financially in improving its economy. India has built more than 200 public and private schools, sponsors over 1,000 scholarships, hosting more than 16,000 students from Afghanistan.
India has also built various infrastructure projects such as the Salma Dam, popularly known as Afghan-India Friendship Dam. With the induction of the Chabhar port & Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline (TAPI), the mutual cooperation between the two countries is expected to be strengthened.

India and Bangladesh

India and Bangladesh share cultural ties, but there have been disputes over issues such as the Farraka Barrage and illegal immigration. Despite this, the two countries have a bilateral trade partnership worth $10 billion, and recently inaugurated the Bangladesh-India Friendship pipeline to supply diesel to Bangladesh.

India and Bhutan

Bhutan is a neighbouring country of India with 20 states that shares a border with India. The two countries have a special relationship since 1949, and Bhutan supports India in various international forums. India has a military training team permanently based in West Bhutan to train the Royal Bhutan Army.

India and China

China is another neighbouring country of India with 26 states that has a lot of trade business with India. Although India & China have a cordial relationship, there have been border disputes and economic competition that have sometimes led to strained relationships. There have been three conflicts between the two countries, and the 2017 Doklam standoff created some bitterness. India & China have different diplomatic stances, and their bilateral trade is $89.6 billion.

India and Myanmar

India has a neighbouring country called Myanmar where the official language is Burmese. The two countries have improved their relationship since 1993, despite previous issues with drug trafficking and the military junta in Myanmar. India is the fourth largest export market for Myanmar, and India also exports goods to Myanmar.

Infrastructure projects, such as the India-Thailand-Myanmar Highway Road and the Kaladan Multi-modal project, will give both countries an economic boost. They have agreed to establish a 4-lane highway linking India, Myanmar, and Thailand. The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project will connect Kolkata with Sittwe's seaport in Myanmar by sea, then connect Sittwe to Lashio in Myanmar via the Kaladan riverboat route, and finally connect Lashio to Mizoram in India by road.

India and Nepal

India has two neighbouring countries, Nepal and Pakistan. Nepal has 7 provinces and many religious places that Indians often visit, but since the end of 2015, political issues and border disputes have strained relations between the two countries. This has caused anti-Indian sentiments in Nepal. Nepal also supports China's OBOR, which is a cause of concern for India.

India and Pakistan

Pakistan was once part of India but is now a separate country with 4 provinces. Relations between India and Pakistan have always been complex and largely hostile due to historical and political events. The two countries have fought three major wars since their independence and participated in numerous armed skirmishes and military standoffs. Attempts have been made to improve the relationship, but recent attacks in Pathankot, Uri and Pulwama have escalated tension between the two countries.

India and Sri Lanka

India and Sri Lanka are neighbouring countries, with Sri Lanka being an island close to India. Sri Lanka is made up of 9 states. The relationship between India and Sri Lanka is positive, with only 4% of Sri Lankans having a negative view of India. This is due to the cultural ties between the two countries, with the spread of Hinduism and Buddhism religions. The economic ties between India and Sri Lanka are around $3.6 billion, thanks to the South Asia Free Trade Agreement.

India and Maldives

India's other neighbouring country is the Maldives, which shares sea borders with India. The two countries are close allies in terms of strategic, economic and military cooperation. India provides protection to the Maldives in case of external aggression or armed rebellion. India has also provided extensive economic assistance to the Maldives, participating in infrastructure, health, civil aviation, telecommunications and labour resources development programmes. The two countries share good relations in terms of the military, with both undergoing military exercises. India has also gifted many ships and aircraft to the Maldivan National Defence Force.

International Organisation of Neighbouring Countries of India

The countries around India are involved in international organisations for cooperation and mutual benefit.

Neighbouring countries of India Map

A map of India's neighbours is provided for easy identification.