2017 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2017 · GS Paper I

Question 84: International Relations and Current Affairs

What is the importance of developing Chabahar Port by India ?

aIndia’s trade with African countries will enormously increase.
bIndia’s relations with oil-producing Arab countries will be strengthened.
cIndia will not depend on Pakistan for access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.
dPakistan will facilitate and protect the installation of a gas pipeline between Iraq and India.

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).

Chabahar is an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman that India is developing. Its value to India is a route to Afghanistan and Central Asia that bypasses Pakistan, which has denied India land transit. It does not by itself raise India's trade with Africa enormously, it is not mainly about Arab oil producers, and Pakistan will not facilitate or protect any Iraq-India gas pipeline. Remember: Chabahar = access to Afghanistan and Central Asia without Pakistan.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Wrong: Chabahar is aimed at Afghanistan and Central Asia, not African trade.
  • (b) Wrong: strengthening ties with Arab oil producers is not its main importance.
  • (c) Right: it gives India access to Afghanistan and Central Asia without relying on Pakistan.
  • (d) Wrong: no gas pipeline through Pakistan is linked to Chabahar.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2017, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.