M.M: 30
Attempt all questions.
Q1. Fill in the blank:
India's land border is over __________ km long. (1 Mark)
Ans: 15,100
Q2. Which of the following is NOT a land-based neighbour of India? (1 Mark)
(i) Nepal
(ii) Bhutan
(iii) Maldives
(iv) Myanmar
Ans: (iii)
Explanation: Maldives is a maritime neighbour of India, not a land-based neighbour. It consists of over 1,100 islets and is connected to India by sea.
Q3. What is the name of the corridor that allows Indian pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan? (1 Mark)
Ans: Kartarpur Corridor
Q4. True or False: Bhutan is called the 'Land of the Thunder Dragon'. (1 Mark)
Ans: True
Q5. Fill in the blank:
The Sundarban National Park is the largest __________ forest in the world. (1 Mark)
Ans: mangrove
Q6. What is a maritime neighbour? (2 Marks)
Ans: A maritime neighbour is a country connected to another by a shared sea or ocean, even without a direct land border. The ocean helps in trade, cultural exchange, and historical ties between the countries.
Q7. Why is India's central position in the Indian Ocean important? (2 Marks)
Ans: India's central position in the Indian Ocean helps in trade and regional cooperation. It allows India to act as a link between Southeast Asia, West Asia, and Africa. This location also enables India to provide quick humanitarian aid and disaster relief to neighbouring countries.
Q8. What are the three schools of Buddhism? (2 Marks)
Ans: The three schools of Buddhism are Theravāda, Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna. Theravāda is the School of the Elders from the 3rd century BCE. Mahāyāna is the Great Vehicle from the 1st century BCE, and Vajrayāna is the Diamond Vehicle or Tantric Buddhism from the 6th century CE.
Q9. Describe India's cultural and historical connection with China. (3 Marks)
Ans: India and China have shared a long relationship since 1950, shaped by history, geography, culture, trade, and politics. Buddhism forms a strong cultural link as it spread from India to China around the 1st century CE through trade and pilgrimage. Chinese monks like Faxian and Xuanzang travelled to India, while Indian monks like Bodhidharma carried Buddhist teachings to China. The two countries continue to have strong trade relations today.
Q10. Explain the importance of the Sundarban National Park. (3 Marks)
Ans: The Sundarban National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest mangrove forest in the world. About two-thirds of it lies in Bangladesh and the rest in India. It is home to the Bengal tiger and many other species. The park is important for biodiversity and climate resilience, and it serves as a barrier to cyclones protecting the coastal areas.
Q11. What are the main features of India's relationship with Nepal? (3 Marks)
Ans: India and Nepal share a long and open border that stretches across Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Sikkim. The 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship provides for open borders and free movement of people and goods. India is Nepal's largest trading partner, supplying petroleum, medicines, food items, and manufactured products, while Nepal exports agricultural produce, handicrafts, and garments to India.
Q12. Describe India's historical and cultural connections with Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. (5 Marks)
Ans: India has deep historical and cultural connections with Southeast Asian countries dating back over 2,000 years. Indian traders and scholars sailed to these regions from as early as the 3rd century BCE, exchanging spices, textiles, and religious ideas. In Thailand, the Dvāravatī culture and Ayutthayā Kingdom were named after Indian cities, and Thai monarchs are named after Rāma. Malaysia adopted a script based on India's Brāhmī script around the 4th century CE, and a large Indian community migrated there to work on plantations. Singapore's name derives from 'Singapuram' meaning 'lion city', and Tamil is one of its official languages. About 9% of Singapore's population is of Indian origin, and there is an area called 'Little India' in the city.
Q13. Explain India's maritime relationship with Indonesia and describe the Borobudur Stūpa. (5 Marks)
Ans: India and Indonesia have a maritime relationship dating back over 2,000 years through early maritime trade between Indian kingdoms and Java and Sumatra. The ancient university of Nālandā collaborated with the Muara Jambi temple complex in Indonesia. Islam also travelled to Indonesia from the shores of India, and the Indonesian currency (rupiah) carries Garuḍa, the vehicle of Viṣhṇu. The Borobudur Stūpa, built in the 8th and 9th centuries CE, is the world's largest Buddhist monument with a unique pyramidal shape consisting of five enormous platforms. It has over 500 statues of Buddha and many smaller stūpas, and its geometric design replicates a mandala representing the cosmos. Today, both countries work closely in regional groups for peace, trade, and sustainable development.
| 1. What are the main countries that share a border with India? | ![]() |
| 2. How does India's geographical location influence its relationships with its neighbours? | ![]() |
| 3. What role does cultural exchange play in India's relations with its neighbours? | ![]() |
| 4. How does India address border disputes with its neighbouring countries? | ![]() |
| 5. What are some common challenges that India faces with its neighbours? | ![]() |