India and its Neighbourhood Relations

* Statement-I: There is instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region. This statement is correct as the Sahel region has been experiencing significant instability and security challenges, including terrorism, armed conflict, and humanitarian crises.

* Statement-II: There have been military takeovers/coups d'état in several countries of the Sahel region in the recent past. This statement is also correct. Several countries in the Sahel region, such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Chad, have experienced military coups in recent years.


* Statement-II explains Statement-I because the military takeovers and coups contribute to the instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region. The political instability resulting from these coups disrupts governance, exacerbates conflict, and undermines efforts to address security and development challenges in the region.

* Statement 1 is incorrect: Exercise MITRA SHAKTI-2023 was a joint military exercise between India and Sri Lanka.

* Statement 2 is correct: The ninth edition of Joint Military exercise "Exercise MITRA SHAKTI-2023" commenced in Aundh (Pune).

* Statement 3 is correct: The Scope of the exercise includes synergizing joint responses during counter-terrorist operations.

* Statement 4 is correct: 15 personnel from Indian Air Force and five personnel from Sri Lankan Air Force participated in the exercise.

* Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is an Indian diplomat and politician serving as the Minister of External Affairs of India since 2019. He has authored two prominent books:

* 'The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World' (2020) which provides insights into India's foreign policy approach.

* 'Why Bharat Matters' is a compilation of his articles and speeches that delve into India's global significance.


Pair 1 is Incorrect: Donbas is a historical and industrial region in eastern Ukraine, comprising the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. It has been a primary theater of conflict between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists/Russian forces.

Pair 2 is Incorrect: Kachin State is the northernmost state of Myanmar. It has been the site of long-standing conflict between the Myanmar military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) seeking ethnic autonomy.

Pair 3 is Incorrect: Tigray is the northernmost region of Ethiopia. Since 2020, it has been the center of a major civil conflict involving the Ethiopian federal government, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), and neighboring Eritrea.

Senkaku Islands are a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea.


Japan and China claim the uninhabited islands, known as the Senkaku in Japan and Tiaoyu in China, as their own, but Japan has administered them since 1972.

Statement 1 is incorrect: International Mother Language Day is observed on 21 February every year. It is declared by UNESCO and not UNICEF.

Statement 2 is correct: The demand that Bangla has to be one of the national languages was raised in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan.

Aleppo is a city in Syria , serving as the capital of the Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate.

Kirkuk is a city in Iraq , serving as the capital of the Kirkuk Governorate, located 238 kilometres north of Baghdad.

Mosul is a major city in northern Iraq situated on the west bank of the Tigris, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank.

Mazar-e Sharif, the city is in Afghanistan , 35 miles south of the border with Uzbekistan. Hence, B is the correct option.

The correctly matched pairs are:

1. Catalonia — Spain: Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain. It is frequently in the news due to its distinct cultural identity and the regional independence movement. 2. Mindanao — Philippines: Mindanao is the second-largest island in the Philippines. It has been in the news primarily due to the Bangsamoro peace process and internal security matters.

Incorrectly matched pairs:

* Crimea: This is a peninsula located on the northern coast of the Black Sea. While internationally recognized as part of Ukraine, it was annexed by Russia in 2014. It has no geographical connection to Hungary. * Oromia: This is the largest regional state in Ethiopia, not Nigeria. It is the homeland of the Oromo people, the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia.

China-Led Initiative BRI is a global development strategy spearheaded by the Chinese government.

It aims to create a network of trade routes connecting China with other countries in Asia, Europe, and Africa through investments in infrastructure development.


Hence, option D is the correct answer.

1. Kurd - Bangladesh (Incorrect): Kurds are a Muslim ethnic group with a significant population in southeastern Turkey, northern Iraq, northwestern Iran, and northern Syria. They are not a major community in Bangladesh.

2. Madhesi - Nepal (Correct): Madhesis are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group inhabiting the Terai plains of southern Nepal. They are a politically and socially aware community that has sometimes advocated for greater rights and representation within Nepal.

3. Rohingya - Myanmar (Correct): Rohingya are a Muslim ethnic group facing persecution in Myanmar. They are often mentioned in the news due to human rights concerns and the ongoing Rohingya genocide.

Hence, option C is the correct answer.

Statement 1 is incorrect. The inaugural IONS was held in February 2008 in New Delhi, India. The Indian Navy served as the Chair for the first two years (2008-2010).

Statement 2 is correct. IONS is indeed a voluntary initiative that aims to promote maritime cooperation among the navies of countries bordering the Indian Ocean. It provides a platform for discussions on regional maritime security issues and fosters friendly relationships between participating nations.

Pair 1 is correct: Chechnya is a republic located in the northern part of the Caucasus Mountains, and it is a part of Russia.

Pair 2 is incorrect: Darfur is a region located in western Sudan, not Mali.

Pair 3 is incorrect: Swat Valley is located in the northwestern part of Pakistan, not Iraq.


Statement 1 is not correct. Bilateral trade between India and Sri Lanka has increased by around 9 times between 2000-01 and 2018-19. Total trade between the two countries was US$ 6.2 billion in 2018-19, out of which India's exports to Sri Lanka were US$ 4.7 billion and imports were US$ 1.5 billion. Although India has always had a trade surplus with Sri Lanka, the gap has widened since 2008-09. In 2012-13 and 2016-17, the trade slumped, thus disturbing the steady increase in the graph.

Statement 2 is correct. According to the World Bank, India exports $2.25 billion worth of textile and clothing products to Bangladesh. In turn, it imports $336 million worth of textile and clothing products from Dhaka.

Statement 3 is not correct. Bangladesh is India's biggest trade partner in South Asia. Bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh has grown steadily over the last decade. India's exports to Bangladesh in FY 2018-19 stood at $9.21 billion and imports during the same period were at $1.04 billion.