100. Consider the following statements about river bridges connecting India with neighbouring countries:
1. Maitri Setu over the Feni connects Ramgarh in India with Sabroom in Bangladesh.
2. Jhulaghat suspension bridge connects India with Myanmar.
3. Mechi bridge connects Panitanki Bypass in India with Kakarvitta in Nepal.
Which are correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims, GS Paper I (2026)]
- (A) 1 and 2
- (B) 2 and 3
- (C) 1 only
- (D) 3 only
Answer: (D) 3 only
Explanation: Only the Mechi Bridge statement is correct. Maitri Setu actually connects Sabroom in India with Ramgarh in Bangladesh, opposite to statement 1. Jhulaghat spans the Kali River on the India–Nepal border, not the India–Myanmar border.
99. Which statement about BIMSTEC is incorrect?
[UPSC CDS-I, General Knowledge (12 April 2026)]
- (A) Pakistan is included among its eight member states
- (B) The BIMSTEC Secretariat is in Dhaka
- (C) India leads the security sector
- (D) Thailand leads the connectivity sector
Answer: (A) Pakistan is included among its eight member states
Explanation: BIMSTEC has seven members: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Pakistan is not a member. Its permanent secretariat is in Dhaka, and the grouping promotes economic, security and regional connectivity cooperation across the Bay of Bengal.
98. Which strait separates India from Sri Lanka?
[SSC MTS 2025 cycle (10 February 2026, Shift 3)]
- (A) Palk Strait
- (B) Strait of Malacca
- (C) Strait of Hormuz
- (D) Cook Strait
Answer: (A) Palk Strait
Explanation: The Palk Strait lies between the Tamil Nadu coast and northern Sri Lanka. Together with the Gulf of Mannar and nearby shoals, it forms the sea passage separating the two countries. Neither nation has a land border with the other.
97. In which city was the 11th India–Sri Lanka exercise Mitra Shakti 2025 conducted?
[RRB Group D (6 February 2026, Shift 1)]
- (A) Belagavi
- (B) Chennai
- (C) Kochi
- (D) Jodhpur
Answer: (A) Belagavi
Explanation: Belagavi in Karnataka hosted the 11th edition of Mitra Shakti, the bilateral army exercise involving India and Sri Lanka. The training concentrated on improving interoperability, coordination and responses to sub-conventional security challenges through joint tactical drills and professional exchange.
96. Which Sri Lankan proposal supported by India sought to limit great-power rivalry in the Indian Ocean?
[DSSSB Assistant Superintendent (3 July 2026, Shift 2)]
- (A) Indian Ocean Zone of Peace
- (B) ASEAN Alliance
- (C) Non-Alignment Treaty
- (D) South Asian Free Trade Agreement
Answer: (A) Indian Ocean Zone of Peace
Explanation: Sri Lanka promoted the Indian Ocean Zone of Peace concept in the early 1970s. A United Nations General Assembly declaration followed in 1971. The idea aimed to reduce military confrontation and preserve the ocean as an area of peaceful regional cooperation.
95. India signed a biodiversity and climate-cooperation memorandum with which neighbour in February 2026?
[RRB Group D 2025 cycle (4 August 2026, Shift 3)]
- (A) Germany
- (B) France
- (C) Brazil
- (D) Nepal
Answer: (D) Nepal
Explanation: Nepal is India’s Himalayan neighbour with connected forests, river systems and wildlife corridors. Cooperation on biodiversity and climate change is particularly important across the Terai region, where conservation depends on coordinated policies on both sides of the international border.
94. In which country is the highest peak in the Himalayas situated?
[SSC JE Mechanical (4 December 2025, Shift 2)]
- (A) Nepal
- (B) India
- (C) Pakistan
- (D) Bhutan
Answer: (A) Nepal
Explanation: Mount Everest lies on the Nepal–China border, with Tibet on its northern side. At approximately 8,848.86 metres, it is the highest mountain on Earth. It is known as Sagarmatha in Nepali and Chomolungma in Tibetan.
93. Bangladesh is to taka as Bhutan is to which currency?
[MP Police Constable (2 November 2025, Shift 2)]
- (A) Rupiah
- (B) Ngultrum
- (C) Kyat
- (D) Lari
Answer: (B) Ngultrum
Explanation: The Bhutanese ngultrum is the national currency of Bhutan, while the taka is used in Bangladesh. Ngultrum is pegged at par with the Indian rupee, reflecting the close economic and monetary relationship between Bhutan and India.
92. Which neighbour of India is popularly known as the Land of the Thunder Dragon?
[SSC CGL (21 September 2025, Shift 3)]
- (A) Nepal
- (B) Bhutan
- (C) Sri Lanka
- (D) Maldives
Answer: (B) Bhutan
Explanation: Bhutan is traditionally called Druk Yul, meaning Land of the Thunder Dragon. The thunder dragon or Druk appears on its national flag. The association also reflects the country’s Buddhist cultural identity, history and distinctive national symbolism.
91. Which India–Bangladesh electricity project involves a proposed 765 kV transmission connection?
[SSC CGL (16 September 2025, Shift 2)]
- (A) Agartala–Parbotipur–Guwahati grid
- (B) Katihar–Parbotipur–Bornagar interconnection
- (C) Jalpaiguri–Chattogram corridor
- (D) Siliguri–Bogura–Mymensingh HVDC link
Answer: (B) Katihar–Parbotipur–Bornagar interconnection
Explanation: The proposed Katihar–Parbotipur–Bornagar corridor links India and Bangladesh through high-voltage cross-border infrastructure. Such regional networks can improve electricity exchange and potentially facilitate the movement of Himalayan hydropower, connecting India, Bangladesh and neighbouring producers.