QUESTION 10
GS2
10 marks
A number of outside powers have entrenched themselves in Central Asia, which is a zone of interest to India. Discuss the implications, in this context, of India’s joining the Ashgabat Agreement, 2018.
WRITE IN
7 min
150 words
What the examiner wants
Discuss what joining the Ashgabat Agreement means for India in a Central Asia where outside powers compete.
DiscussExplain the different sides of the issue, use evidence, and finish with a balanced view.
Demand-wise check
- 1Ashgabat Agreement: international transport and transit corridor (Iran, Oman, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan); India joined 2018≈30 words
- 2Implications: link with INSTC and Chabahar, access bypassing Pakistan, trade, energy (TAPI)≈30 words
- 3Competition: China's BRI, Russia, Turkey, US≈30 words
- 4Challenges: Afghanistan instability, US sanctions on Iran≈30 words
Open in about 20 words and close in about 20.
Answer plan
ContextAgreementImplicationsChallengesConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Confusing with Ashgabat Declaration on other subjects
- No link to INSTC/Chabahar
Draw this
- Map: Mumbai → Chabahar → Iran → Turkmenistan → Uzbekistan/Kazakhstan (Ashgabat route), INSTC to Russia, Oman, Pakistan bypassed
Value addition
- FactIndia acceded to the Ashgabat Agreement in February 2018.MEA
- FactIndia signed a 10-year agreement to operate Chabahar's Shahid Beheshti terminal in May 2024.Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 21 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Aditya Srivastava · AIR 1 · Page 47 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 47 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Aditya Srivastava · AIR 1 · Page 50 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 7 minutes, then get it checked.