Contemporary South Asia- 1 - Free MCQ Practice Test with solutions, UPSC

The Palk Strait is a strait between the Tamil Nadu state of India and the Mannar district of the Northern Province of the island nation of Sri Lanka.

Pakistan lacks genuine international support for democratic rule, which has encouraged the military to continue its dominance. Given the western fear of global Islamic terrorism, the military regime in Pakistan is seen as a protector of western interests in West Asia and South Asia.

The Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord was an accord signed in Colombo on 29 July, 1987, between Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sri Lankan President J. R. Jayewardene. The accord was expected to resolve the Sri Lankan Civil War by enabling the thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka and the Provincial Councils Act of 1987. Under the terms of the agreement, Colombo agreed to a devolution of power to the provinces, the Sri Lankan troops were to be withdrawn to their barracks in the north and the Tamil rebels were to surrender their arms.

He demanded autonomy for eastern region. In the 1970 elections in the then Pakistan, the Awami League led by Sheikh Mujib won all the seats in East Pakistan and secured a majority in the proposed constituent Assembly for the whole of Pakistan.

The Seven Party Alliance was a coalition of seven Nepali political parties seeking to end autocratic rule in the country. They spearheaded the Loktantra Andolan.
The alliance was made up of the following parties:

• Nepali Congress
• Nepali Congress
• Communist Party of Nepal
• Nepal Workers and Peasants Party
• Nepal Goodwill Party
• United Left Front
• People's Front

Indian Peace Keeping Force was the Indian military force performing a peacekeeping operation in Sri Lanka between 1987 and 1990.

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) dominates the political affairs of the island. The Maldivian Democratic Party is the first political party formed in the Republic of Maldives with a total membership of 53,139 individuals as of 11 July, 2021. It is a party with its stated goal being the promotion of human rights and democracy in the Maldives. The party won the first ever multi-party elections in the Maldives with the support from all the other political parties in the 2008 elections against the president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

Nepal, a landlocked country, faces the problem of Maoist guirellas.During te 1990s, the Maoist of Nepal were successful in spreading their influence. In April 2008 elections the Maoist won an absolute majority.

Legacy of British colonial institutions and regular elections has played a crucial role in the success of democracy in India and Sri Lanka. Here are the key factors contributing to this achievement:

• Historical Foundations: Both countries inherited democratic frameworks from British colonial rule, which established the basis for governance.
• Regular Elections: Frequent elections have allowed citizens to participate actively in the democratic process, reinforcing political accountability.
• Political Institutions: The presence of robust political institutions has helped maintain stability and continuity in governance.
• Public Engagement: Citizens in both nations have shown a strong commitment to democratic values, often advocating for their rights and participation in governance.

This combination of historical legacy and active civic engagement has enabled both India and Sri Lanka to navigate their diverse challenges while sustaining democratic governance.

Till 2006, Nepal was a constitutional monarchy with the danger of the king taking over executive powers. In 2006 a successful popular uprising led to the restoration of democracy and reduced the king to a nominal position. Nepal is now a republic with a multi-party system. However, the country is still in the process of framing its constitution.