Class 12 Political Science: Contemporary South Asia

Introduction

• Discussion of Chapter 5 'Contemporary South Asia' of Class 12 Political Science.
• PDF and highlighted portions available.
• Important questions and notes are available from an exam point of view.

Geographical Position of South Asia

• South Asian countries include Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
• Location of the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, and Himalayas.
• Importance of diversity, geographical and cultural diversity in South Asia.

Political Diversity of South Asia

• Some countries have democracy, some have military rule.
• Continuous democracy in India and Sri Lanka.
• Mix of military and civilian rule in Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Political Situation in Nepal

• Constitutional monarchy until 2006.
• New constitution in 2015 and democratization of Nepal.

Ethnic Conflict in Sri Lanka

• Conflict between Sinhala and Tamil communities.
• Formation of LTTE in 1983.
• Failure of the Indian Peacekeeping Force.

India-Pakistan Relations

• Conflict over Kashmir since 1947.
• Creation of Bangladesh in 1971.
• Nuclear power testing by both countries.

India's Relations with Other Neighboring Countries

• Water disputes and economic cooperation with Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
• Progress in the field of political and economic cooperation.

SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation)

• Establishment of SAARC and its challenges.
• South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA).
• Limited success due to political differences.

Summary

• Diversity and political complexity in South Asia.
• Geographical and economic importance of India.
• Limitations and potentials of SAARC and regional organizations.

These notes collectively present a summary of the main points. You can use them for your exam preparation.