10. The McMahon Line is associated with the boundary between which countries?
[UPPSC Civil Services Prelims, Paper I (2018)]
- (A) India and China
- (B) India and Pakistan
- (C) India and Myanmar
- (D) India and Nepal
Answer: (A) India and China
Explanation: The McMahon Line emerged from the 1914 Simla Convention discussions and is associated with the eastern sector of the India–China boundary. India regards it as part of the border, while China disputes its validity in the Arunachal Pradesh region.
9. Which neighbouring country shares India’s greatest land-border length?
[RPSC Second Grade GK, Group I (26 April 2017)]
- (A) Nepal
- (B) Myanmar
- (C) Bangladesh
- (D) China
Answer: (C) Bangladesh
Explanation: Bangladesh shares around 4,096.7 km of border with India, longer than the borders with China, Pakistan, Nepal or Myanmar. West Bengal accounts for more than half of the Bangladesh-facing frontier within India.
8. Which of the following is not a recognised international boundary line?
[UPSC NDA General Ability Test (17 April 2016)]
- (A) Dresden Line
- (B) Durand Line
- (C) Maginot Line
- (D) 38th Parallel
Answer: (A) Dresden Line
Explanation: The Durand Line is the Afghanistan–Pakistan frontier; the Maginot Line was a French defensive fortification system, and the 38th Parallel is associated with Korea’s division. Dresden Line is not conventionally listed as a political international boundary.
7. Which Indian state touches Nepal, Bhutan and China?
[MPPSC General Studies (2015)]
- (A) Arunachal Pradesh
- (B) Meghalaya
- (C) West Bengal
- (D) Sikkim
Answer: (D) Sikkim
Explanation: Sikkim adjoins Nepal to the west, Bhutan to the southeast and China’s Tibet region to the north and northeast. West Bengal forms its southern Indian connection. This strategic location makes Sikkim a distinctive tri-junction Himalayan state.
6. What is the national animal of Bhutan?
[JSSC Stenographer Mains, English (2015)]
- (A) Takin
- (B) Fennec fox
- (C) Karabakh horse
- (D) Bison
Answer: (A) Takin
Explanation: The takin is Bhutan’s national animal, a large Himalayan goat-antelope noted for its distinctive body shape. It is associated with Bhutanese folklore and high-altitude ecosystems. The raven is Bhutan’s national bird and archery is its national sport.
5. Yuan is the monetary unit of which country?
[HP TGT Arts TET (2014)]
- (A) Japan
- (B) China
- (C) Indonesia
- (D) Nepal
Answer: (B) China
Explanation: The yuan is the principal unit of China’s renminbi currency. Nepal uses the Nepalese rupee, while Japan uses the yen and Indonesia the rupiah. The capital of China is Beijing, and China is one of India’s largest land neighbours.
4. Consider the following:
1. Assam shares borders with Bhutan and Bangladesh.
2. West Bengal shares borders with Bhutan and Nepal.
3. Mizoram shares borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Which statements are correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims, General Studies (2006)]
- (A) 1, 2 and 3
- (B) 1 and 2 only
- (C) 2 and 3 only
- (D) 1 and 3 only
Answer: (A) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation: All three statements are geographically correct. Assam borders Bhutan and Bangladesh, West Bengal borders Nepal and Bhutan as well as Bangladesh, and Mizoram borders Bangladesh and Myanmar. The question tests international boundaries of northeastern Indian states.
3. Which combination lists the trans-Himalayan river systems?
[46th BPSC Prelims (2004)]
- (A) Satluj, Indus and Ganga
- (B) Brahmaputra, Satluj and Indus
- (C) Brahmaputra, Indus and Ganga
- (D) Satluj, Brahmaputra and Yamuna
Answer: (B) Brahmaputra, Satluj and Indus
Explanation: The Indus, Satluj and Brahmaputra have headwaters beyond the Great Himalayan range, principally in the Tibetan region. The Brahmaputra flows into India through Arunachal Pradesh and then onward to Bangladesh, demonstrating transboundary Himalayan drainage.
2. Arakan Yoma is the extension of the Himalayas located in which country?
[UPSC CSE Prelims, General Studies (1995)]
- (A) Baluchistan
- (B) Myanmar
- (C) Nepal
- (D) Kashmir
Answer: (B) Myanmar
Explanation: Arakan Yoma, now generally called the Rakhine Mountains, lies in western Myanmar. Its north–south trending ridges belong to the broader hill system continuing from northeastern India and the eastern Himalayan region, separating Myanmar’s coastal Rakhine area from its interior.
1. Which statement regarding SAARC countries was correct in 1992?
[UPSC CSE Prelims, General Studies (1992)]
- (A) Other than India, no SAARC member shared a land boundary with another member; Sri Lanka and Maldives are island countries
- (B) All countries sharing a land border with India belonged to SAARC
- (C) All mainland SAARC countries bordered China
- (D) Other than Sri Lanka and Maldives, no SAARC country possessed islands
Answer: (A) Other than India, no SAARC member shared a land boundary with another member; Sri Lanka and Maldives are island countries
Explanation: In 1992 SAARC had seven members, before Afghanistan joined in 2007. India was the common land neighbour among its mainland members: Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan did not then border another member except India. This is a historically dated question.
