Class 7 Social Science Part 2 Chapter 2 MCQs – India and Her Neighbours

A maritime neighbour is connected to another country by a sea or ocean, even without a direct land border. The chapter uses this idea to explain India’s relationships with nearby island countries and the wider Indian Ocean region.

Sri Lanka and the Maldives are identified as India’s immediate maritime neighbours. Their location across nearby waters has supported travel, trade and cultural exchange. This shows why a neighbourhood is not defined only by shared land boundaries.

India’s peninsula extends into the Indian Ocean, giving it access to important sea routes. The chapter connects this location with trade, regional cooperation and disaster assistance. Ports help link the country with other parts of Asia and Africa.

Buddhism travelled from India to China through routes used for trade and pilgrimage. Chinese monks visited Indian centres of learning, while monks from India carried teachings abroad. These exchanges created lasting spiritual and intellectual connections between the regions.

Faxian and Xuanzang were Chinese monks who travelled to Indian centres of learning. The chapter uses their journeys to show that connections between neighbouring regions included knowledge and religion, as well as the exchange of ordinary goods.

The chapter explains that Guru Nanak Dev spent the final years of his life at Kartarpur. The gurdwara is therefore an important Sikh pilgrimage site. Its significance illustrates how sacred places can connect communities across present-day borders.

Bangla is shared by Bangladesh and West Bengal. The chapter identifies language, culture and history as important links between them. Such connections help explain why relations between neighbours involve people’s everyday lives as well as government decisions.

The Ganga and Brahmaputra river systems cross national boundaries and connect India with Bangladesh. They support agriculture, fisheries, transport and livelihoods. Their shared importance makes cooperation over water and the surrounding environment valuable to both countries.

The Sundarbans is a mangrove region extending across India and Bangladesh. It supports rich biodiversity and helps protect coastal areas from storms. The chapter uses it to show how neighbouring countries can share both natural resources and environmental concerns.

The Pashupatinath Temple is in Kathmandu, Nepal. The chapter describes it as an important pilgrimage destination visited by people from India. Shared religious journeys and festivals strengthen cultural links and personal connections between the two countries.

Bhutan is called Drukyul, meaning the Land of the Thunder Dragon. It is a Himalayan country with close cultural and economic links to India. The chapter discusses Buddhism, shared rivers and cooperation as important features of this relationship.

Rivers flowing from Bhutan support hydroelectric power projects. The chapter presents this as an important area of cooperation with India. Such projects connect geography with economic activity, showing how shared natural features can support partnerships between neighbours.

Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness approach looks beyond the value of goods and services produced. The chapter mentions sustainability, good governance and culture among its concerns. It encourages students to think about different ways of understanding a country’s progress.

Myanmar connects India’s northeastern region with Southeast Asia. It shares land and maritime connections with India. The chapter discusses historical, cultural and commercial ties, including Buddhism, to explain why Myanmar is important for regional connectivity.

The Bamiyan Buddhas were carved into cliffs in Afghanistan. The chapter presents them as evidence of historical Buddhist connections between regions. Although the statues were destroyed in 2001, their history helps explain Afghanistan’s links with ancient cultural routes.

SAARC stands for South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. It was formed to promote cooperation and shared progress among countries in South Asia. The chapter mentions fields such as education, health, science and economic development as areas of common interest.

The Palk Strait is the narrow stretch of sea between India and Sri Lanka. Their proximity has supported long-standing contact. The chapter discusses religious links, cultural exchange and trade as important features of their relationship.

An archipelago is a group of islands. The chapter uses this term to describe Indonesia, which includes large islands such as Java and Sumatra along with many smaller islands. Its geography makes sea routes especially important for connections.

Tamil appears among the official languages of Singapore. The chapter asks students to connect this with historical links to south India. Language can provide evidence of migration, settlement and continuing cultural relationships between different regions.

The chapter describes Oman as rich in copper and discusses the possibility that Harappan traders brought copper ingots from there. This example links archaeological evidence with trade and shows that India’s maritime connections reach far back into the past.

A shared land boundary is not required for countries to be maritime neighbours. Seas can carry ships, people, goods and ideas between them. The chapter’s wider understanding of neighbourhood includes these long-standing connections across water.

The Sundarbans extends across India and Bangladesh, so its health matters to communities in both countries. Mangroves support wildlife and help reduce coastal risks. Cooperation is useful because environmental systems do not stop at political boundaries.

The chapter explains that the India–Nepal border arrangement supports family contact, work, education and trade. A family maintaining relationships across the border illustrates these everyday benefits. Cooperation between the countries remains important for managing their shared connections.

The 2004 tsunami affected several Indian Ocean countries. The chapter explains that this encouraged cooperation on sensors, communication and early warnings. Sharing information can give communities more time to respond when a dangerous event threatens the region.

Low-lying islands are vulnerable when sea levels rise because land and settlements may be affected. The chapter connects this concern with the Maldives. Shared climate challenges create reasons for countries to cooperate on sustainability and environmental protection.

The chapter repeatedly links commerce with the movement of people, beliefs and ideas. Traders and travellers carried more than physical products. Cultural influences could be adopted and adapted locally, creating connections without making every society exactly the same.

Myanmar lies between India’s northeast and mainland Southeast Asia. Improved transport links can make movement and exchange easier along this route. The chapter connects such projects with trade, cultural contact and cooperation among the countries involved.

The chapter presents Chabahar Port in Iran as a way to improve access to Afghanistan and Central Asia. This applies the idea that neighbourhood connections depend on transport routes and cooperation, as well as physical distance.

Assistance during the water crisis is one example of humanitarian cooperation described in the chapter. Neighbouring countries can support one another during emergencies. Geography, transport links and established relationships can help such support reach people who need it.

Related stories in different places can reflect a history of cultural exchange. The chapter discusses India’s links with Indonesia through trade, religion and the arts. Shared influences can remain visible even when each society develops its own forms of expression.