Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Addressing an Indian Ocean Conference this month, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankarlisted two \u201ctrend lines\u201d that have most influenced the \u201cevolution\u201d of Indian Ocean countries: a greater caution in power projection by the United States, and the rise of China that has permeated many spheres but also resulted in territorial tensions. He also listed two developments that have the most heightened uncertainties in the region: the American pull-out from Afghanistan and the novel coronavirus pandemic. While challenges to India and its neighbourhood were quite correctly identified, it is on these very factors that Indian leadership in the region has been challenged the most, and has fallen short. To begin with, there is the challenge that the situation in Afghanistan has thrown up, triggered by the U.S. decision to pull out all troops. Four months after the Taliban takeover of Kabul, it is clear that New Delhi has failed to effect outcomes in a country where it has had a role historically, and is now left studying the threats that will emanate from Afghanistan \u2014 from terror groups, narcotics, and mass migration to flee the growing humanitarian crisis there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The next big challenge India has faced is from Chinese aggression, quite directly. Regardless of the Indian Prime Minister\u2019s statement in June 2020 that \u201cneither has anyone come in, nor is anyone inside\u201d Indian territory, it is clear from a number of ground sources, satellite maps and official releases that the People\u2019s Liberation Army (PLA) has amassed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in unprecedented numbers for \u201cpeace-time\u201d, built villages and settled populations inside disputed territory claimed by India; it has also dug trenches, brought in heavy artillery and prepared road and helicopter and aircraft landing infrastructure for its forces right up to the boundary with India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those who have analysed the situation more closely have pointed objectives behind China\u2019s aggression at the LAC: to restrict India\u2019s recent efforts at building border infrastructure, bridges, and roads right up to the LAC; to restrict any possible perceived threat to Xinjiang and Tibet; to restrict India\u2019s ability to threaten China\u2019s key<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Belt and Road project, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), including a second link highway it plans from the Mustagh pass in occupied Gilgit-Baltistan to Pakistan, and to blunt any plans as outlined by the Home Minister in 2019 for India to reclaim Aksai Chin and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) militarily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Addressing an Indian Ocean Conference this month, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankarlisted two \u201ctrend lines\u201d that have most influenced the \u201cevolution\u201d of Indian Ocean countries: a greater caution in power projection by the United States, and the rise of China that has permeated many spheres but also resulted in territorial tensions. He also listed two developments that have the most heightened uncertainties in the region: the American pull-out from Afghanistan and the novel coronavirus pandemic. While challenges to India and its neighbourhood were quite correctly identified, it is on these very factors that Indian leadership in the region has been challenged the most, and has fallen short. To begin with, there is the challenge that the situation in Afghanistan has thrown up, triggered by the U.S. decision to pull out all troops. Four months after the Taliban takeover of Kabul, it is clear that New Delhi has failed to effect outcomes in a country where it has had a role historically, and is now left studying the threats that will emanate from Afghanistan \u2014 from terror groups, narcotics, and mass migration to flee the growing humanitarian crisis there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The next big challenge India has faced is from Chinese aggression, quite directly. Regardless of the Indian Prime Minister\u2019s statement in June 2020 that \u201cneither has anyone come in, nor is anyone inside\u201d Indian territory, it is clear from a number of ground sources, satellite maps and official releases that the People\u2019s Liberation Army (PLA) has amassed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in unprecedented numbers for \u201cpeace-time\u201d, built villages and settled populations inside disputed territory claimed by India; it has also dug trenches, brought in heavy artillery and prepared road and helicopter and aircraft landing infrastructure for its forces right up to the boundary with India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those who have analysed the situation more closely have pointed objectives behind China\u2019s aggression at the LAC: to restrict India\u2019s recent efforts at building border infrastructure, bridges, and roads right up to the LAC; to restrict any possible perceived threat to Xinjiang and Tibet; to restrict India\u2019s ability to threaten China\u2019s key<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Belt and Road project, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), including a second link highway it plans from the Mustagh pass in occupied Gilgit-Baltistan to Pakistan, and to blunt any plans as outlined by the Home Minister in 2019 for India to reclaim Aksai Chin and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) militarily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. What is the challenge Afghanistan has posed to India?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A. After the takeover of Taliban, there is a humanitarian catastrophe, with food stocks running low because of disruptions caused by conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
B. Taliban is building a friendly relationship with Pakistan and China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
C. Taliban takeover has led to the rise of China which resulted in territorial tensions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
D. Following the Taliban takeover of Kabul, New Delhi has been unable to influence outcomes in Afghanistan, where it has had a role previously.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n E. None of these<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sol:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the given passage, it is mentioned that \u201cTo begin with, there is the challenge that the situation in Afghanistan has thrown up, triggered by the U.S. decision to pull out all troops. Four months after the Taliban takeover of Kabul, it is clear that New Delhi has failed to effect outcomes in a country where it has had a role historically,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore, option D is the correct answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Which of the following are the “trend lines” listed by S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs?<\/p>\n\n\n\n I. The rise of the U.S that has permeated many spheres but also resulted in territorial tensions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n II. A greater caution in power projection by the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n III. The rise of China that has permeated many spheres but also resulted in territorial tensions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IV. The U.S. decision to pull out all troops from Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A. Both I and III<\/p>\n\n\n\n B. Both II and III<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n C. Both I and II<\/p>\n\n\n\n D. Both III and IV<\/p>\n\n\n\n E. All the above<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sol:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the given passage, it is mentioned that \u201cAddressing an Indian Ocean Conference this month, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar listed two \u201ctrend lines\u201d that have most influenced the \u201cevolution\u201d of Indian Ocean countries: a greater caution in power projection by the United States, and the rise of China that has permeated many spheres but also resulted in territorial tensions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore, option B is the correct answer<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. What did the Prime Minister say about China’s aggression?<\/p>\n\n\n\n A. He said, \u201cneither has anyone come in, nor is anyone inside\u201d Indian territory.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n B. He said, \u201cthe People\u2019s Liberation Army (PLA) has amassed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC)\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n C. He said, \u201cthe Chinese built villages and settled populations inside disputed territory claimed by India\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n D. He said, \u201cthe Chinese brought in heavy artillery and prepared road and helicopter and aircraft landing infrastructure for its forces right up to the boundary with India\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n E. None of these<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the given passage, it is mentioned that \u201cRegardless of the Indian Prime Minister\u2019s statement in June 2020 that \u201cneither has anyone come in, nor is anyone inside\u201d Indian territory\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore, option A is the correct answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Which of the following is\/are the developments that have the most heightened uncertainties?<\/p>\n\n\n\n A. A greater caution in power projection by the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n B. The American pull-out from Afghanistan and the novel coronavirus pandemic.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n C. The challenge India has faced is from Chinese aggression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n D. Both A and B<\/p>\n\n\n\n E. All the above<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the given passage, it is mentioned that \u201cHe also listed two developments that have the most heightened uncertainties in the region: the American pull-out from Afghanistan and the novel coronavirus pandemic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore, option B is the correct answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. Which of the following is NOT one of the objectives behind China\u2019s aggression?<\/p>\n\n\n\n A. to restrict India\u2019s recent efforts at building border infrastructure, bridges, and roads right up to the LAC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n B. to restrict any possible perceived threat to Xinjiang and Tibet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n C. to impose sanctions and ban Indian officials from entering China and freezing their assets in China.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n D. to restrict India\u2019s ability to threaten China\u2019s key Belt and Road project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n E. None of these<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sol:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the given passage, in last paragraph it is mentioned that \u201cThose who have analysed the situation more closely have pointed five objectives behind China\u2019s aggression at the<\/p>\n\n\n\n LAC: to restrict India\u2019s recent efforts at building border infrastructure, bridges, and roads right up to the LAC; to restrict any possible perceived threat to Xinjiang and Tibet; to restrict India\u2019s ability to threaten China\u2019s key Belt and Road project, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), including a second link highway it plans from the Mustagh pass in occupied Gilgit-Baltistan to Pakistan, and to blunt any plans as outlined by the Home Minister in 2019 for India to reclaim Aksai Chin and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) militarily.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore, option C is the correct answer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow: Addressing an Indian Ocean Conference this month, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankarlisted two \u201ctrend lines\u201d that have most influenced the \u201cevolution\u201d of Indian Ocean countries: a greater caution in power projection by the United States, and the rise of China that has permeated […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":419,"featured_media":162873,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[5232],"tags":[5233],"class_list":["post-162869","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-english-language","tag-english-language"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gkseries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162869","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gkseries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gkseries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gkseries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/419"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gkseries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=162869"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.gkseries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162869\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":162874,"href":"https:\/\/www.gkseries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162869\/revisions\/162874"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gkseries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/162873"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gkseries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=162869"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gkseries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=162869"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gkseries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=162869"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}