Samacheer Kalvi 10th Social Science Chapter 22 Exercise Solutions — India's International Relations | KalviGavani

• (a) 1942
• (b) 1944
• (c) 1945
• (d) 1948

• (a) 3
• (b) 5
• (c) 7
• (d) 10

• (a) 1982 in New Delhi
• (b) 1985 in Dhaka
• (c) 1987 in Colombo
• (d) 1990 in Islamabad

• (a) Brazil
• (b) Russia
• (c) Indonesia
• (d) South Africa

• (a) 1965
• (b) 1971
• (c) 1972
• (d) 1999

• (a) SAARC
• (b) ASEAN
• (c) BRICS
• (d) BIMSTEC

• (a) 1947
• (b) 1962
• (c) 1965
• (d) 1971

• (a) Treaty of Versailles
• (b) 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship
• (c) Shimla Agreement
• (d) Land Boundary Agreement

• (a) Bangladesh-India-Myanmar Strategic Trade and Economic Cooperation
• (b) Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation
• (c) Belt and International Maritime Transport and Economic Cooperation
• (d) Bay of Bengal Integrated Multi-State Trade and Exchange Cooperation

• (a) ASEAN
• (b) United Nations
• (c) European Union
• (d) NATO

The United Nations is an international organisation founded on 24 October 1945 to maintain peace, promote cooperation, and protect human rights among nations. Its six main organs are the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the International Court of Justice, the Secretariat, and the Trusteeship Council (now inactive).

India demands a permanent UNSC seat because it is the world's largest democracy, a founding UN member, the largest troop contributor to peacekeeping, the fifth-largest economy, and home to over one-seventh of humanity. India argues that the current P5 composition reflects 1945 power structures and does not represent the modern world.

SAARC is the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, a regional organisation founded in 1985 in Dhaka to promote economic and regional integration. Its eight member countries are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Decisions in SAARC require unanimous consent.

BRICS gives India a platform to coordinate with other major emerging economies on global governance reforms, trade, and development financing. Through the New Development Bank, India accesses alternative infrastructure funding beyond Western-dominated institutions like the World Bank and IMF. BRICS also amplifies India's voice on climate change, trade fairness, and multipolar world order.

BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) is a regional group of seven countries: India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, and Bhutan. Unlike SAARC, BIMSTEC includes both South and Southeast Asian nations, is less affected by India-Pakistan tensions, and has been more active in recent years, making it a practical alternative for regional cooperation.

The Shimla Agreement was signed on 2 July 1972 between Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto after the 1971 India-Pakistan War. It established that both countries would settle their disputes through bilateral negotiations and peaceful means, respect the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, and refrain from altering the status quo unilaterally. It remains a key framework document for India-Pakistan relations.

The main issues between India and China are the unresolved border disputes along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), especially over Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh; the 1962 war legacy; China's close ties with Pakistan; trade imbalance favouring China; and occasional military standoffs such as the 2017 Doklam crisis and the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. Despite tensions, bilateral trade exceeds $100 billion annually.

India exercises soft power through yoga (recognised by the UN with an International Day), Bollywood cinema, Indian cuisine popular worldwide, the IT and software expertise of Indian professionals, the influence of the Indian diaspora, and India's democratic values and cultural diversity. Soft power builds international goodwill without military or economic coercion.

The Indian diaspora, numbering over 30 million people, strengthens India's international relations by sending remittances (India receives the highest remittances globally), acting as cultural ambassadors, lobbying host-country governments in India's favour, facilitating trade and investment links, and serving as a bridge for technology and knowledge transfer.

India is the largest troop contributor to UN peacekeeping, having sent over 2,75,000 personnel to 49 of 71 UN missions since 1950. Indian peacekeepers have served in Korea, Congo, Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan, South Sudan, and many other conflict zones. India also provides police units, military observers, and medical teams, and has lost over 170 soldiers in peacekeeping operations.

• India is a founding member of the UN, joining in 1945, and has been an active participant in all major UN organs and agencies.
• India is the largest troop contributor to UN peacekeeping operations, having served in 49 missions with over 2,75,000 personnel.
• India has served as a non-permanent member of the Security Council eight times and currently campaigns for a permanent seat, arguing the need to reform the UNSC to reflect 21st-century realities.
• India advocates for developing nations on issues like climate justice, trade fairness, and sustainable development at the General Assembly and ECOSOC.
• India contributes to UN specialised agencies such as UNESCO, WHO, and UNICEF, and supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through national policies.
• India has been a strong voice against colonialism, apartheid, and racial discrimination, supporting liberation movements across Asia and Africa.
• India's positions at the UN reflect its commitment to multilateralism, peaceful dispute resolution, and a rules-based international order.
• Despite its contributions, India remains outside the nuclear non-proliferation regime (NPT), which complicates its bid for permanent UNSC membership.

• SAARC was founded in 1985 in Dhaka with the goal of promoting economic, social, and cultural development in South Asia through regional cooperation.
• Its eight members — Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka — represent over one-fifth of the world's population.
• Achievements include the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) agreement of 2006, the SAARC Food Security Reserve, and cooperation in agriculture, health, and education through regional centres.
• The SAARC Development Fund supports infrastructure and social projects across member nations.
• However, SAARC's effectiveness is severely limited because all decisions require unanimous consent, and bilateral disputes — especially India-Pakistan tensions — frequently block progress.
• Several SAARC summits have been postponed or cancelled due to political disagreements, and the last summit was held in 2014 (Kathmandu).
• Intra-regional trade remains below 5% of total SAARC trade, far lower than the EU or ASEAN, reflecting weak economic integration.
• As a result, many members now favour BIMSTEC or bilateral agreements as more practical alternatives for regional cooperation.

• India-Pakistan relations have been dominated by the Kashmir dispute since Partition in 1947, when the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir acceded to India, a decision Pakistan contests.
• Four major wars have been fought: 1947 (First Kashmir War), 1965 (Second Kashmir War), 1971 (Bangladesh Liberation War), and 1999 (Kargil War), along with numerous border skirmishes.
• The Shimla Agreement of 1972 established the framework for bilateral resolution of disputes and the Line of Control, but tensions have persisted.
• Cross-border terrorism, particularly the 2001 Parliament attack, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and the 2019 Pulwama attack, have repeatedly derailed peace efforts.
• Attempts at dialogue — such as the Lahore Declaration (1999), the Agra Summit (2001), and various composite dialogues — have not yielded lasting results.
• Trade between the two countries is minimal due to political restrictions, though both stand to gain significantly from normalised economic ties.
• The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, brokered by the World Bank, remains one of the few agreements that has survived all conflicts.
• Cultural and people-to-people ties across the border remain strong, but political and military tensions continue to dominate the relationship.

• India-China relations are shaped by the 1962 Sino-Indian War, fought over border disputes in Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh, which left a legacy of distrust.
• China claims Arunachal Pradesh as "South Tibet" and controls Aksai Chin, which India claims. The Line of Actual Control (LAC) is not clearly demarcated, leading to frequent standoffs.
• Despite political tensions, bilateral trade exceeds $100 billion, with India importing electronics, machinery, and chemicals from China and exporting raw materials and pharmaceuticals.
• China's close strategic partnership with Pakistan, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, is a major concern for India.
• Recent military standoffs — Doklam (2017) and Galwan Valley (2020) — have escalated tensions and led to military build-up on both sides.
• India and China cooperate in multilateral forums such as BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
• Both countries share interests in climate change negotiations, WTO reforms, and representing developing nations' interests, but strategic rivalry dominates the relationship.
• Cultural exchanges, Buddhist heritage links, and people-to-people contacts exist but remain limited compared to the scale of both nations.

India-Nepal:

• India and Nepal share a unique open border governed by the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship, allowing free movement of people and goods without visas.
• Cultural, religious, and people-to-people ties are deep, with shared Hindu and Buddhist heritage and open pilgrimage routes.
• However, disputes over the Kalapani-Limpiyadhura border and India's perceived interference in Nepali politics have caused occasional friction.
• India is Nepal's largest trade partner and provides significant development assistance, defence cooperation, and disaster relief.

India-Bangladesh:

• India played a crucial role in Bangladesh's independence in 1971 and has maintained strong ties since.
• The Land Boundary Agreement of 2015 resolved long-standing enclave and boundary disputes, and both countries cooperate on counter-terrorism, trade, and connectivity.
• The Teesta River water-sharing dispute remains unresolved, and illegal immigration and border killings are areas of concern.
• Bilateral trade is growing, and Bangladesh is India's largest trading partner in South Asia.

India-Sri Lanka:

• India-Sri Lanka relations are influenced by the Tamil issue, with India supporting the legitimate rights of the Tamil minority through the 1987 India-Sri Lanka Accord.
• The Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) was deployed to Sri Lanka (1987-1990) but the intervention ended controversially.
• Ongoing disputes over fishermen crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line in the Palk Strait and incidents of arrest and violence affect relations.
• Trade and investment are growing, and both countries cooperate on security, development projects, and cultural exchanges.

• India's soft power refers to its ability to influence other nations through culture, values, and policies rather than military or economic coercion.
• Yoga is India's most recognised soft power export; the UN declared 21 June as the International Day of Yoga in 2014, and it is celebrated in over 190 countries.
• Bollywood films reach audiences across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the diaspora, creating cultural affinity and familiarity with Indian life and values.
• Indian cuisine is globally popular, and Indian restaurants and food culture serve as informal diplomatic bridges in many countries.
• India's IT and software expertise has made Indian professionals a visible and respected presence in technology hubs worldwide, from Silicon Valley to London and Bangalore.
• The Indian diaspora, over 30 million strong, acts as cultural ambassadors, political lobbyists, and economic connectors between India and their host nations.
• India's democratic system and pluralistic society serve as a model for developing nations, enhancing India's credibility and moral authority in international forums.
• Cultural diplomacy through ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) scholarships, festivals of India abroad, and educational exchanges further extend India's reach.
• India's soft power complements its hard power (military and economic strength) to build a comprehensive and credible international presence.