← HCS syllabus
HCS (Haryana)Stage 2: Main Written Examination
India and its Neighbourhood
What the official syllabus says
HCS Main Written Examination, Paper IV: General Studies-II:
- India and its neighborhood- relations.
Topics in detail
Policy framework
- Neighbourhood First policy; Act East policy (2014); Indian Ocean outlook (SAGAR, 2015, and MAHASAGAR)
- Tools: connectivity, development partnership, lines of credit, trade, energy links, people-to-people ties
Country by country
- Pakistan: Partition legacy, Kashmir, Simla Agreement (1972), Indus Waters Treaty (1960) and India's decision to hold it in abeyance (2025), cross-border terrorism, Kartarpur corridor
- China: Panchsheel (1954), the 1962 war, boundary agreements of 1993 and 1996, Line of Actual Control, Galwan clash (2020), trade deficit, Belt and Road Initiative and CPEC
- Nepal: Treaty of Peace and Friendship (1950), open border, hydropower, boundary questions
- Bhutan: Friendship Treaty (1949, revised 2007), hydropower co-operation
- Bangladesh: 1971, Land Boundary Agreement (2015), Ganga waters treaty (1996), Teesta, border management, connectivity
- Sri Lanka: Tamil question, Indo-Sri Lanka Accord (1987) and the 13th Amendment, fishermen, Chinese presence, economic support
- Myanmar: Kaladan multi-modal project, India–Myanmar–Thailand highway, border and refugee issues
- Maldives and the Indian Ocean island States: security, development aid
- Afghanistan: development partnership, humanitarian aid, regional security
Cross-cutting issues
- Border management and infrastructure; illegal migration; insurgent groups
- River water sharing
- Regional connectivity: ports, railways, power grids, BBIN
- China's growing presence in South Asia and the Indian Ocean
- Trade imbalances and regional economic integration
Extended neighbourhood
- Central Asia: energy and connectivity; the International North–South Transport Corridor; Chabahar port in Iran
- West Asia and the Gulf: energy security, diaspora, maritime security
- Indian Ocean island States beyond South Asia: Mauritius and Seychelles
- South-East Asia as the land and sea link of the Act East policy
Development partnership with neighbours
- Lines of credit and grant projects: roads, railways, housing, power transmission
- Hydropower co-operation with Bhutan and Nepal; cross-border electricity trade
- Integrated check posts and land ports on the borders
- Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief as a first responder
- Scholarships and training (Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme)
Neighbours at a glance
| Country | Foundational agreement | Current questions |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | Simla Agreement, 1972 | Terrorism, Kashmir, Indus waters |
| China | Panchsheel, 1954 | Boundary, trade deficit, Indian Ocean presence |
| Nepal | Treaty of Peace and Friendship, 1950 | Boundary, treaty review, hydropower |
| Bhutan | Friendship Treaty, 1949 (revised 2007) | Hydropower, connectivity |
| Bangladesh | Land Boundary Agreement, 2015 | Teesta, border, connectivity |
| Sri Lanka | Indo-Sri Lanka Accord, 1987 | Fishermen, Tamil question, Chinese presence |
Overlaps
Security challenges in border areas are in General Studies III.