Class 12 Political Science Chapter 3 — Contemporary South Asia (English Medium) | ASSEB
Welcome to HSLC Guru. This page provides complete ASSEB Class 12 Political Science (Contemporary World Politics) Chapter 3 — Contemporary South Asia — question answers for English-medium HS Second Year students. The chapter examines the politics of South Asia after the Cold War, focusing on how the seven countries — India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives, and now Afghanistan — have navigated democracy, conflict, and cooperation through SAARC and SAFTA.
About the Chapter
“Contemporary South Asia” introduces the South Asian region as a geographic, cultural, and political unit. The chapter discusses the diverse political systems of the region — democracies in India and Sri Lanka, the alternation between civilian and military rule in Pakistan and Bangladesh, the transition from monarchy to democracy in Nepal and Bhutan, and the political evolution of the Maldives. It analyses the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka involving the LTTE, the trajectory of India–Pakistan relations including the Kashmir issue and nuclear rivalry, and the role of regional cooperation through SAARC (1985) and SAFTA (2004).
Summary
South Asia commonly refers to the region comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan and Myanmar are sometimes included. The Himalayas in the north and the Indian Ocean in the south, the Arabian Sea in the west and the Bay of Bengal in the east give the region a clear geographical identity. Despite linguistic, ethnic, and religious diversity, these countries share a common historical experience and aspirations for democracy and development.
Political Systems: India and Sri Lanka have remained democracies since their independence. Pakistan and Bangladesh have alternated between civilian and military rule. Bhutan transitioned from monarchy to multi-party democracy in 2008. Nepal abolished its monarchy in 2008 and adopted a republican constitution in 2015. The Maldives became a multi-party democracy in 2005. Despite these variations, popular support for democracy is strong across the region.
Pakistan — Military and Democracy: After the framing of the first constitution, General Ayub Khan took over in 1958. He was followed by General Yahya Khan and later General Zia-ul-Haq (1977) and General Pervez Musharraf (1999). Civilian governments under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto, and Nawaz Sharif have alternated with military regimes. The dominance of the military, clergy, and landowning aristocracy, weak political parties, and conflict with India have hindered democracy.
Bangladesh: Was East Pakistan from 1947 until 1971. Resentment against West Pakistani domination, denial of Bengali as a national language, and unequal economic development led to the movement led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Following the 1970 elections and Pakistan’s military crackdown, India intervened in December 1971, and Bangladesh became independent. After Mujib’s assassination in 1975, military rule under Ziaur Rahman and H. M. Ershad followed. Democracy was restored in 1991.
Nepal: A Hindu kingdom that became a constitutional monarchy in the 1990s. A Maoist insurgency demanded a constituent assembly. In 2006, a popular pro-democracy movement (Jana Andolan II) forced King Gyanendra to restore parliament. The monarchy was abolished in 2008, and Nepal became a federal democratic republic, adopting a new constitution in 2015.
Sri Lanka — Ethnic Conflict: Independent in 1948, Sri Lanka faced Sinhala–Tamil tensions. Sinhala migrants from India dominated politics, and Tamils (originally migrants from India during colonial times) felt marginalised. The LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam), formed in 1983, demanded a separate Tamil state, leading to a long civil war. India sent the IPKF (Indian Peace Keeping Force) in 1987. The LTTE was finally defeated in 2009. Despite the conflict, Sri Lanka has maintained democratic institutions and high economic growth.
India–Pakistan Relations: Marked by the Kashmir dispute, three wars (1947–48, 1965, 1971) and the Kargil conflict (1999). Both countries became nuclear powers in 1998. Other tensions include river-water sharing (resolved by the Indus Waters Treaty, 1960), Siachen, terrorism, and demarcation of borders. Despite tensions, peace efforts continue through dialogues, cricket diplomacy, and people-to-people contact.
SAARC and SAFTA: The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established in 1985 by seven countries (Afghanistan joined in 2007). SAARC promotes cooperation in agriculture, education, health, environment, and trade. The South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) was signed in 2004 and came into force in 2006, aiming to lower trade barriers. India also has bilateral cooperation, e.g., the 1996 Ganges Water Treaty with Bangladesh and a Free Trade Agreement with Sri Lanka. Outside powers like China and the USA have strong interests in South Asia.
সাৰাংশ (Assamese Summary)
দক্ষিণ এছিয়া অঞ্চলটো সাধাৰণতে ভাৰত, পাকিস্তান, বাংলাদেশ, নেপাল, ভূটান, শ্ৰীলংকা আৰু মালদ্বীপ — এই সাতখন দেশকে বুজোৱা হয়। কেতিয়াবা আফগানিস্তান আৰু ম্যানমাৰকো অন্তৰ্ভুক্ত কৰা হয়। উত্তৰে হিমালয় আৰু দক্ষিণে ভাৰত মহাসাগৰে এই অঞ্চলটোক এক ভৌগোলিক একক হিচাপে গঢ় দিছে। ভাৰত আৰু শ্ৰীলংকাত গণতন্ত্ৰ চলি আছে; পাকিস্তান আৰু বাংলাদেশত সামৰিক শাসন আৰু অসামৰিক চৰকাৰৰ বদল ঘটিছে; নেপাল আৰু ভূটানত ৰাজতন্ত্ৰৰ পৰা গণতন্ত্ৰলৈ পৰিৱৰ্তন হৈছে। শ্ৰীলংকাত LTTE-ৰ জাতিগত সংঘাত (১৯৮৩–২০০৯) দীৰ্ঘদিন চলিছিল। ভাৰত-পাকিস্তান সম্পৰ্কত কাশ্মীৰ, পাণী বিভাজন আৰু পাৰমাণৱিক প্ৰতিদ্বন্দ্বিতাৰ দ্বাৰা টান হৈ আছে। ১৯৮৫ চনত SAARC আৰু ২০০৪ চনত SAFTA গঠন কৰি আঞ্চলিক সহযোগিতা বৃদ্ধি কৰাৰ চেষ্টা চলি আছে।
NCERT Textbook Questions and Answers
Q1. Identify the countries of South Asia.
Answer: The countries of South Asia are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan and Myanmar are sometimes considered part of the region. The Himalayas in the north and the Indian Ocean in the south, the Arabian Sea in the west, and the Bay of Bengal in the east give the region a distinct geographical identity.
Q2. How is the South Asian region characterised politically?
Answer: South Asia presents a mosaic of political systems: India and Sri Lanka are long-standing democracies; Pakistan and Bangladesh have alternated between democratic and military rule; Bhutan and Nepal transitioned from monarchy to democracy; Maldives moved from sultanate to multi-party democracy in 2005. Despite this diversity, ordinary people across the region see democracy as the most desirable system of government.
Q3. Highlight any two issues that hampered the consolidation of democracy in Pakistan.
Answer: (i) The dominance of the military, clergy, and landowning aristocracy has frequently led to the overthrow of elected governments and military rule. (ii) The continuing conflict with India has strengthened pro-military groups, who argue that civilian rulers are weak on national security. Other obstacles include weak political parties, lack of genuine international support for democracy, and over-reliance on US and Western military aid.
Q4. Mention any two challenges before the democracy of Bangladesh.
Answer: (i) Repeated military coups and authoritarian rule (Zia-ur-Rahman, H. M. Ershad) before the restoration of democracy in 1991. (ii) Persistent rivalry between the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has weakened parliamentary functioning. Poverty, religious extremism, and natural disasters add further pressure on democratic governance.
Q5. Name the principal players in the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.
Answer: The principal players were the Sinhala-dominated Government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil minority represented militantly by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), founded in 1983, which demanded a separate state called Tamil Eelam. India also intervened through the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in 1987, withdrawing in 1990. The LTTE was militarily defeated in 2009.
Q6. Mention some of the recent agreements between India and Pakistan.
Answer: Significant agreements include the Indus Waters Treaty (1960) brokered by the World Bank, the Tashkent Agreement (1966), the Shimla Agreement (1972), and the Lahore Declaration (1999). Confidence-building measures, the launching of bus services (Delhi–Lahore, Srinagar–Muzaffarabad), trade agreements, and people-to-people contacts have also been pursued, although terrorism and Kashmir remain unresolved.
Q7. Mention some of the agreements signed between India and Bangladesh.
Answer: The most important is the Ganges Water Treaty (1996) for the sharing of Ganges waters at Farakka. Other cooperation includes trade agreements, the Land Boundary Agreement (2015), transit rights, joint efforts against insurgent groups, and SAARC and BIMSTEC cooperation. Disputes remain over illegal migration, river waters, and border management.
Q8. Mention some of the commonalities and differences between Bangladesh and Pakistan in their democratic experiences.
Answer: Commonalities: Both have experienced military rule, weak political parties, problems of consolidating democracy, and threats from religious extremism. Differences: Bangladesh has remained a democracy since 1991 with regular elections, while Pakistan has had military takeovers in 1958, 1977, and 1999. Bangladesh’s military returned to barracks more permanently; Pakistan’s military still wields enormous influence on foreign and security policy.
Q9. List three challenges to democracy in Nepal.
Answer: (i) The legacy of monarchy and the long Maoist armed insurgency that resulted in thousands of deaths. (ii) Drafting and adopting a new constitution acceptable to all ethnic, regional, and Madhesi groups — finally adopted in 2015. (iii) Political instability, frequent change of governments, and pressures from neighbours like India and China.
Q10. Explain the elements that constitute India’s vision of a more peaceful and cooperative regional order in South Asia.
Answer: India’s vision rests on (i) democratic consolidation across South Asia, since democracies tend to resolve disputes peacefully; (ii) bilateral confidence-building agreements like the Indus Waters Treaty and the Ganges Water Treaty; (iii) regional cooperation through SAARC and SAFTA; (iv) people-to-people contacts and cultural exchanges; (v) strategic restraint in the face of provocation; and (vi) keeping outside powers from inflaming regional tensions.
Short Answer Type Questions (2-3 marks)
Q1. What is South Asia?
Answer: South Asia is a regional grouping of seven countries — India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Maldives — bounded by the Himalayas in the north and the Indian Ocean in the south. Afghanistan and Myanmar are sometimes included.
Q2. When was SAARC formed and which countries are its members?
Answer: SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) was formed in December 1985. Its founding members were Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan joined in 2007 as the eighth member.
Q3. What is SAFTA?
Answer: SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Area) is the regional trade agreement signed by SAARC members in 2004 and effective from 1 January 2006. It aims to lower tariffs to 20% by 2007 and create a free-trade zone in South Asia.
Q4. What is the LTTE?
Answer: The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), founded in 1976 and active from 1983, was a militant Tamil organisation that fought a civil war against the Sri Lankan government for an independent Tamil state, “Tamil Eelam”. It was militarily defeated in May 2009.
Q5. What was the IPKF?
Answer: The Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) was sent by India to Sri Lanka in 1987 under the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord to disarm the LTTE and restore peace. It got drawn into fighting the LTTE and was withdrawn in 1990, an experience that proved costly for India.
Q6. Why is the Kashmir issue a major obstacle in India-Pakistan relations?
Answer: Both countries claim Kashmir in full. They have fought wars (1947–48, 1965) over it, and Pakistan supports cross-border militancy. Until the dispute is resolved, normalisation of relations remains difficult.
Q7. What were the main causes of the creation of Bangladesh?
Answer: West Pakistani political and economic domination over East Pakistan, suppression of the Bengali language, denial of fair share in jobs and resources, and the refusal to honour the 1970 election results led to the freedom struggle under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. India’s intervention in December 1971 led to the birth of Bangladesh.
Q8. Mention two outside powers with strong interests in South Asia.
Answer: The United States (post-9/11 strategic ties with Pakistan and India, and a balancer in the region) and China (strategic partnership with Pakistan, BRI projects in Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Maldives) are the two most prominent outside powers in South Asia.
Q9. Mention two confidence-building measures (CBMs) between India and Pakistan.
Answer: (i) Bus services across the line of control: Delhi–Lahore (1999) and Srinagar–Muzaffarabad (2005). (ii) Agreement on advance notice of ballistic missile tests and the Lahore Declaration (1999) calling for nuclear restraint.
Q10. What is the Ganges Water Treaty?
Answer: The Ganges Water Treaty was signed in 1996 between India and Bangladesh for sharing of the Ganges waters at the Farakka barrage. It is valid for 30 years and is regarded as a major confidence-building bilateral agreement.
Long Answer Type Questions (5-6 marks)
Q1. Examine the political development of Pakistan since independence.
Answer: Pakistan, born in 1947, framed its first constitution in 1956. In 1958, General Ayub Khan dismissed the political setup and ruled until 1969 when he was succeeded by General Yahya Khan, under whom the 1971 war broke out and Bangladesh was created. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto became Prime Minister and gave Pakistan a democratic constitution in 1973, but he was overthrown by General Zia-ul-Haq in 1977. Democratic rule returned briefly under Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif (1988–1999), but in 1999 General Pervez Musharraf seized power. Democracy returned again in 2008. Recurring military intervention reflects the structural dominance of the military, clergy, and landed aristocracy, weak political parties, and India-Pakistan tensions which keep the security establishment central to politics.
Q2. Discuss the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.
Answer: Sri Lanka, independent in 1948, has two main ethnic groups: the Sinhalese (Buddhist majority) and Tamils (Hindu, mostly in the north and east). Sinhala-dominated governments adopted policies favouring Sinhalese in language, jobs, and education, leaving Tamils marginalised. The Tamils demanded a federal arrangement, then equal rights, and finally a separate state. The LTTE, formed in 1983, led an armed struggle for an independent “Tamil Eelam.” India intervened in 1987 by sending the IPKF; the experience proved disastrous for India and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in 1991. After three decades of bloody civil war, the LTTE was militarily defeated in 2009. Despite the conflict, Sri Lanka maintained democratic institutions and one of the highest growth rates in South Asia.
Q3. Trace the major issues in India-Pakistan relations.
Answer: The major issues are: (i) Kashmir dispute — the principal political conflict, with both countries claiming the territory and fighting wars in 1947–48 and 1965, plus the Kargil conflict of 1999. (ii) Cross-border terrorism — India accuses Pakistan of supporting terrorist groups operating from its territory. (iii) Nuclear rivalry — both became nuclear weapon states in 1998. (iv) River-water sharing — substantially resolved by the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960. (v) Siachen Glacier dispute. (vi) Demarcation of land and maritime boundaries in Sir Creek. Despite these, the two have signed the Tashkent (1966), Shimla (1972), and Lahore (1999) agreements; bus and rail links and trade have grown intermittently.
Q4. Discuss the achievements and limitations of SAARC.
Answer: Achievements: SAARC has institutionalised regional dialogue, signed the SAFTA in 2004, established the SAARC Development Fund and South Asian University, and works in agriculture, environment, education, women’s rights, and disaster relief. Limitations: Suspicion between India and Pakistan paralyses summits; intra-SAARC trade is below 5% of total trade; smaller states fear Indian dominance; bilateral disputes are excluded from the agenda; and political instability and terrorism repeatedly disrupt cooperation. SAARC has not achieved the integration levels of ASEAN or the EU.
Q5. Describe the political transitions in Nepal and Bhutan.
Answer: Nepal: Long ruled as a Hindu kingdom, Nepal moved to constitutional monarchy in 1990 after a popular movement. A Maoist insurgency from 1996 demanded radical reform. In 2001, the royal massacre placed King Gyanendra on the throne, and his absolutist moves provoked the 2006 Jana Andolan II. Parliament was restored, monarchy was abolished in 2008, and a new federal democratic constitution was adopted in 2015. Bhutan: Was an absolute monarchy. King Jigme Singye Wangchuck initiated reforms, and in 2008 Bhutan adopted a new constitution and became a constitutional monarchy with multi-party elections, while retaining the Druk Gyalpo as head of state.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Q1. SAARC was established in the year:
(a) 1980 (b) 1985 (c) 1990 (d) 1995
Answer: (b) 1985
Q2. SAFTA came into force in the year:
(a) 2004 (b) 2005 (c) 2006 (d) 2007
Answer: (c) 2006
Q3. Which country joined SAARC as the eighth member in 2007?
(a) Myanmar (b) China (c) Afghanistan (d) Iran
Answer: (c) Afghanistan
Q4. The LTTE operated mainly in:
(a) Bangladesh (b) Pakistan (c) Sri Lanka (d) Maldives
Answer: (c) Sri Lanka
Q5. Bangladesh was created in the year:
(a) 1947 (b) 1965 (c) 1971 (d) 1975
Answer: (c) 1971
Q6. The Indus Waters Treaty was signed in:
(a) 1947 (b) 1960 (c) 1972 (d) 1999
Answer: (b) 1960
Q7. The Shimla Agreement was signed between India and Pakistan in:
(a) 1966 (b) 1971 (c) 1972 (d) 1999
Answer: (c) 1972
Q8. The Lahore Declaration was signed in:
(a) 1972 (b) 1996 (c) 1998 (d) 1999
Answer: (d) 1999
Q9. The Kargil conflict took place in:
(a) 1965 (b) 1971 (c) 1999 (d) 2001
Answer: (c) 1999
Q10. The first military ruler of Pakistan was:
(a) Yahya Khan (b) Ayub Khan (c) Zia-ul-Haq (d) Pervez Musharraf
Answer: (b) Ayub Khan
Q11. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman led the freedom struggle of:
(a) Pakistan (b) Bangladesh (c) Sri Lanka (d) Nepal
Answer: (b) Bangladesh
Q12. Monarchy was abolished in Nepal in the year:
(a) 1990 (b) 2006 (c) 2008 (d) 2015
Answer: (c) 2008
Q13. Bhutan adopted its written constitution in:
(a) 1990 (b) 2005 (c) 2008 (d) 2010
Answer: (c) 2008
Q14. The Maldives became a multi-party democracy in:
(a) 2000 (b) 2005 (c) 2008 (d) 2012
Answer: (b) 2005
Q15. The Ganges Water Treaty was signed between:
(a) India and Pakistan (b) India and Nepal (c) India and Bangladesh (d) India and Bhutan
Answer: (c) India and Bangladesh
Q16. India and Pakistan tested nuclear weapons in:
(a) 1995 (b) 1996 (c) 1998 (d) 1999
Answer: (c) 1998
Q17. The IPKF was deployed by India in:
(a) Bangladesh (b) Sri Lanka (c) Maldives (d) Nepal
Answer: (b) Sri Lanka
Q18. The Tashkent Agreement was signed in:
(a) 1947 (b) 1960 (c) 1966 (d) 1972
Answer: (c) 1966
Q19. Operation Cactus by India in 1988 helped:
(a) Sri Lanka (b) Maldives (c) Nepal (d) Bhutan
Answer: (b) Maldives
Q20. SAARC headquarters is located in:
(a) New Delhi (b) Dhaka (c) Kathmandu (d) Colombo
Answer: (c) Kathmandu
Q21. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was militarily defeated in:
(a) 2005 (b) 2007 (c) 2009 (d) 2011
Answer: (c) 2009
Q22. The Jana Andolan II of Nepal took place in:
(a) 1990 (b) 2001 (c) 2006 (d) 2015
Answer: (c) 2006
Q23. Which is NOT a SAARC member?
(a) Maldives (b) Bhutan (c) Myanmar (d) Afghanistan
Answer: (c) Myanmar
Q24. The Bangladesh Liberation War was in:
(a) 1965 (b) 1971 (c) 1975 (d) 1980
Answer: (b) 1971
Q25. The Constitution of Nepal was adopted in:
(a) 2006 (b) 2008 (c) 2013 (d) 2015
Answer: (d) 2015
South Asian Countries — Quick Reference Table
| Country | Capital | Independence | Political System (Today) | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | New Delhi | 1947 | Federal Parliamentary Democracy | Largest democracy; nuclear power |
| Pakistan | Islamabad | 1947 | Federal Parliamentary (with strong military) | Repeated military rule; nuclear power |
| Bangladesh | Dhaka | 1971 | Parliamentary Democracy (since 1991) | Created from East Pakistan |
| Sri Lanka | Colombo / Sri Jayawardenepura | 1948 | Democratic Republic | Long Tamil ethnic conflict (1983-2009) |
| Nepal | Kathmandu | Never colonised | Federal Democratic Republic (2008/2015) | Monarchy abolished 2008 |
| Bhutan | Thimphu | Never colonised | Constitutional Monarchy (2008) | Druk Gyalpo head of state |
| Maldives | Male | 1965 | Presidential Republic (multi-party 2005) | Smallest South Asian state |
| Afghanistan | Kabul | 1919 | Islamic Emirate (de facto, 2021) | SAARC member since 2007 |
Key Terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| SAARC | South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, founded 1985. |
| SAFTA | South Asian Free Trade Area, signed 2004, in force 2006. |
| LTTE | Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam — Sri Lankan Tamil militant group, defeated 2009. |
| IPKF | Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka (1987-1990). |
| Tamil Eelam | The proposed separate Tamil homeland in northern and eastern Sri Lanka. |
| Jana Andolan | “People’s Movement” in Nepal — phases I (1990) and II (2006) for democracy. |
| Maoists | Communist insurgents in Nepal who waged armed struggle (1996-2006). |
| Druk Gyalpo | “Dragon King” — title of the King of Bhutan. |
| Indus Waters Treaty | 1960 treaty (World Bank-mediated) for sharing river waters between India and Pakistan. |
| Ganges Water Treaty | 1996 India-Bangladesh agreement on Ganges sharing at Farakka. |
| Shimla Agreement | 1972 post-war pact between India and Pakistan reaffirming bilateral resolution. |
| Lahore Declaration | 1999 India-Pakistan agreement on nuclear restraint and dialogue. |
| Tashkent Agreement | 1966 peace accord ending the 1965 India-Pakistan war. |
| Kargil Conflict | 1999 limited war between India and Pakistan in Kargil sector. |
| BIMSTEC | Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation — sub-regional grouping. |
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