Important Questions and Answers for Class 12 Political Science Chapter 3 Contemporary South Asia 2025-26

1. Multiple choice questions.

1. South Asia, as described in the chapter, generally includes which of the following combination of countries?

• (a) India, Pakistan, China, Bhutan, Sri Lanka
• (b) Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
• (c) India, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bhutan
• (d) Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh only

Answer: (b) Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.

2. Which two South Asian countries have been functioning democracies since their independence, according to the chapter?

• (a) India and Sri Lanka
• (b) Pakistan and Bangladesh
• (c) Nepal and Bhutan
• (d) Maldives and Sri Lanka

Answer: (a) India and Sri Lanka.

3. SAARC was established with the objective of promoting:

• (a) Military alliances in South Asia
• (b) Regional cooperation among South Asian countries
• (c) Nuclear cooperation between India and Pakistan
• (d) Political union of South Asia

Answer: (b) Regional cooperation among South Asian countries.

4. SAFTA, signed in 2004, mainly relates to:

• (a) Free movement of people in South Asia
• (b) Reduction of nuclear weapons
• (c) Increasing trade among South Asian countries
• (d) Cultural cooperation in South Asia

Answer: (c) Increasing trade among South Asian countries.

5. Which factor suddenly brought South Asia into global focus in the post-Cold War era?

• (a) Formation of SAARC
• (b) Adoption of democracy in Nepal
• (c) India and Pakistan joining the club of nuclear powers
• (d) End of civil war in Sri Lanka

Answer: (c) India and Pakistan joining the club of nuclear powers.

6. The civil war in Sri Lanka mainly involved conflict between:

• (a) Sinhalese and Muslims
• (b) Tamils and Muslims
• (c) Sinhalese and Tamils, led by LTTE
• (d) Sri Lanka and India

Answer: (c) Sinhalese and Tamils, led by LTTE.

7. Which of the following issues has NOT been a major source of tension between India and Pakistan as mentioned in the chapter?

• (a) Kashmir conflict
• (b) Water disputes
• (c) Border issues
• (d) Disputes over Antarctica

Answer: (d) Disputes over Antarctica.

8. The Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan has remained intact since:

• (a) 1947
• (b) 1960
• (c) 1971
• (d) 1998

Answer: (b) 1960.

9. Nepal became a democratic republic after the abolition of monarchy in the year:

• (a) 1971
• (b) 1985
• (c) 2008
• (d) 2015

Answer: (c) 2008.

10. Which external power has close strategic ties with Pakistan as highlighted in the chapter?

• (a) Russia
• (b) China
• (c) Japan
• (d) Brazil

Answer: (b) China.

2. Very Short Answer (VSA).

1. What is meant by South Asia in this chapter?

Answer: South Asia here refers to the region that usually includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, geographically framed by the Himalayas and the Indian Ocean.

2. Name any two types of political systems found in South Asia.

Answer: The region includes functioning democracies like India and Sri Lanka, and countries that have experienced military rule alongside democracy, such as Pakistan and Bangladesh.

3. What does the chapter mean by ‘democratic aspirations’ in South Asia?

Answer: Democratic aspirations refer to the strong public support and desire for democratic governance in South Asian societies, cutting across class and religious divisions, as revealed in surveys.

4. Mention one major characteristic of politics in Pakistan since independence.

Answer: Pakistan’s politics has been marked by repeated military coups that interrupted democratic rule, leaving the military and allied elites with significant influence over governance.

5. When did Bangladesh emerge as an independent country?

Answer: Bangladesh, formerly East Pakistan, emerged as an independent country in 1971 after a war of liberation against West Pakistan.

6. Who led the armed struggle for Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka?

Answer: The armed struggle for a separate Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka was led by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) from 1983 onwards.

7. State one area of cooperation between India and Bangladesh mentioned in the chapter.

Answer: One notable area of cooperation between India and Bangladesh is the Ganga water treaty, along with trade and disaster management collaboration.

8. What facility related to movement of people exists between India and Nepal?

Answer: India and Nepal have visa-free movement for their citizens, allowing easy cross-border travel and close people-to-people contacts.

9. In which year was SAARC formed?

Answer: SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) was formed in 1985 to promote regional cooperation among South Asian countries.

10. Name two external powers that have strategic interests in South Asia, as mentioned in the chapter.

Answer: The chapter points out that both China and the United States maintain strategic interests and influence in South Asia.

3. Short Answer Questions.

1. Explain any two major sources of conflict that make South Asia a turbulent region.

Answer: South Asia faces several conflicts. First, there are pending border and water-sharing disputes among states, for example between India and Pakistan. Second, internal conflicts such as insurgency, ethnic strife and struggles over resource sharing generate instability and sometimes violence within countries of the region.

2. Describe the democratic transition in Nepal as discussed in the chapter.

Answer: Nepal moved from monarchy to democracy after prolonged conflict. A Maoist insurgency and mass people’s movements challenged royal rule. This struggle led to elections for a Constituent Assembly, the abolition of monarchy in 2008, and the adoption of a new republican constitution in 2015, establishing Nepal as a democratic republic.

3. Highlight the main features of India–Pakistan relations after independence.

Answer: India and Pakistan have fought several wars, mainly over Kashmir in 1947, 1965, 1971 and the Kargil conflict of 1999. Despite acquiring nuclear weapons, tensions continue due to terrorism, border and water disputes. Yet, some cooperation exists, such as the Indus Waters Treaty that has survived since 1960.

4. Give two points each of disagreement and cooperation between India and Bangladesh.

Answer: Disagreements include river-water sharing (like over the Ganga), border tensions, immigration issues and debates about gas exports. Cooperation is visible in the Ganga water treaty, growing trade ties, and joint efforts in disaster management. These show both friction and possibilities for partnership in the relationship.

5. Discuss how Sri Lanka combined ethnic conflict with the continuation of democracy.

Answer: In Sri Lanka, ethnic tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil minority led to a prolonged civil war, with LTTE demanding Tamil Eelam. Despite violence, regular elections and democratic institutions continued to function. The state militarily defeated LTTE in 2009, ending the armed phase of the conflict.

6. Explain the nature of democracy and military rule in Pakistan since 2008.

Answer: Pakistan has a history of military coups and long periods of army rule. Since 2008, elected governments returned and democratic institutions function again. However, the military, influential clergy and economic elites still hold substantial power, limiting the depth and stability of Pakistan’s democratic process.

7. What are the main concerns of smaller South Asian neighbours regarding India’s role in SAARC and the region?

Answer: Smaller neighbours appreciate India’s markets and resources but worry about its economic and political dominance. In SAARC and regional dealings, they fear their interests may be overshadowed. Hence, while they engage in cooperation, they remain cautious about India’s disproportionate influence in regional affairs.

8. How do China and the United States influence contemporary South Asian politics?

Answer: China maintains close ties with Pakistan and invests in the region, shaping security and economic choices. The United States engages with both India and Pakistan, especially around counter-terrorism and economic partnerships. Their rivalries and partnerships affect regional alignments and policy decisions of South Asian states.

4. True or False Questions.

1. Bangladesh has been under uninterrupted military rule since its independence in 1971.

Answer: False.

2. Bhutan adopted a constitutional monarchy with multi-party democracy in 2008.

Answer: True.

3. The Maldives shifted from a Sultanate to a republic and later introduced multi-party democracy.

Answer: True.

4. SAARC was created in 1998 after the nuclear tests by India and Pakistan.

Answer: False.

5. The LTTE movement in Sri Lanka demanded a separate state called Tamil Eelam.

Answer: True.

6. India and Pakistan have fought wars only once, immediately after independence.

Answer: False.

7. The Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan has survived even during periods of war.

Answer: True.

8. Surveys cited in the chapter show that people in South Asia have little interest in democracy.

Answer: False.

9. Relations of India with Bhutan and the Maldives are described as largely positive and cooperative.

Answer: True.

10. SAFTA aims at reducing trade among South Asian countries to protect domestic markets.

Answer: False.

3. Fill in the Blanks Questions.

1. South Asia is geographically defined by the __________ in the north and the __________ in the south.

Answer: Himalayas; Indian Ocean.

2. Bangladesh, formerly known as __________, became independent in the year __________.

Answer: East Pakistan; 1971.

3. The regional organisation formed in 1985 to promote cooperation among South Asian countries is called __________.

Answer: SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation).

4. The agreement signed in 2004 to increase trade among South Asian countries is known as __________.

Answer: SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Area).

5. The armed Tamil group that fought for a separate homeland in Sri Lanka was called the __________.

Answer: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

6. The treaty that regulates river-water sharing between India and Pakistan and has remained intact since 1960 is the __________.

Answer: Indus Waters Treaty.

7. Nepal adopted its new republican constitution in the year __________.

Answer: 2015.

8. Among South Asian countries, __________ and __________ have been functioning democracies since independence.

Answer: India; Sri Lanka.

9. Public opinion surveys in South Asia show substantial support for __________ as a preferred form of government.

Answer: democracy.

10. Smaller South Asian neighbours sometimes worry about the economic dominance of __________ within SAARC.

Answer: India.

Learning Contemporary South Asia for Class 12 Political Science

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