UPSC CSE Mains 2014 · GS2
With respect to the South China sea, maritime territorial disputes and rising tension affirm the need for safeguarding maritime security to ensure freedom of navigation and over flight throughout the region. In this context, discuss the bilateral issues between India and China.
Theme
T116 Indo-Pacific, Quad, AUKUS & sea lanes: straits, South China Sea, trade shift
What UPSC asks in this theme
A cross-paper GS1–GS2 theme: global trade shifting to the Indo-Pacific, importance of straits and isthmuses, South China Sea geopolitics, India–China maritime issues, IPMDA bridging SAGAR and Quad, AUKUS, Quad's shift to trade, India–Japan ties, and Look/Act East.
What to cover
- Indo-Pacific concept and India's vision (SAGAR, IPOI)
- Chokepoints: Malacca, Hormuz, Bab-el-Mandeb; isthmuses and canals
- South China Sea disputes and UNCLOS
- Quad, IPMDA, AUKUS: purposes and overlaps
- Look East to Act East; ASEAN centrality
- India–Japan: investment, infrastructure, constraints
Writing the answer
- Join geography (GS1) and IR (GS2) — a map sketch helps
- End with India's strategic autonomy
These notes are for the whole theme, built from all 8 of its PYQs. UPSC does not publish model answers.
This question also needs
On the map
Map module 1: Physical IndiaMap module 4: World physical frameworkMap module 10: Neighbourhood & sea routes
More PYQs from this theme
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- GS2202610 marks
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Mention the significance of straits and isthmus in international trade.
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South China Sea has assumed great geopolitical significance in the present context. Comment.
- GS22013
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