UPSC Mains PYQs on India and Its Neighbourhood (GS Paper 2)
Every UPSC Mains question on India and Its Neighbourhood between 2013 and 2025 is listed below, newest year first, with the marks it carried. Filter by microtheme to see one idea across all the years.
By Team MaargX UPSC · UPSC Mains 2013-2025
Short answer: UPSC has asked 7 questions on India and Its Neighbourhood (syllabus item 17 of GS Paper 2) between 2013 and 2025, worth 75 marks in all, about 2.3 questions a year. The most-asked microthemes are Neighbourhood (7). The busiest year was 2013 (4 questions, 40 marks).
UPSC syllabus, GS Paper 2, item 17: India and its neighborhood- relations.
Find Questions by GS Paper, Syllabus Topic and Microtheme
Step 1 paper → Step 2 syllabus topic → Step 3 subject → Step 4 microtheme. Each step opens after the one before it.
India and Its Neighbourhood: questions year-wise with marks
2022 1 question · 10 marks
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India is an age-old friend of Sri Lanka.' Discuss India's role in the recent crisis in Sri Lanka the light of the preceding statement.
2015 2 questions · 25 marks
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Project `Mausam' is considered a unique foreign policy initiative of the Indian Government to improve relationship with its neighbors. Does the project have a strategic dimension? Discuss.
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Terrorist activities and mutual distrust have clouded India-Pakistan relations. To what extent the use of soft power like sports and cultural exchanges could help generate goodwill between the two countries? Discuss with suitable examples.
2013 4 questions · 40 marks
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Discuss the political developments in Maldives in the last two years. Should they be of any cause of concern to India?
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In respect of India-Sri Lanka relations, discuss how domestic factors influence foreign policy.
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The protests in Shahbag Square in Dhaka in Bangladesh reveal a fundamental split in society between the nationalists and Islamic forces. What is its significance for India?
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What is meant by Gujral doctrine? Does it have any relevance today? Discuss.
No question matches these choices. Try another year or microtheme, or reset.
India and Its Neighbourhood at a Glance
| Syllabus item | GS Paper 2, item 17 (International Relations) |
|---|---|
| Questions asked | 7 (2013-2025), about 2.3 a year |
| Total marks | 75 marks |
| Last five years | 1 questions, 10 marks (2021-2025) |
| Usual weight | 10 marks (5 questions) |
| Directive words | Discuss (6) |
| Busiest year | 2013 (4 questions, 40 marks) |
Year-Wise Summary
| Year | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 10 marks |
| 2015 | 2 | 25 marks |
| 2013 | 4 | 40 marks |
| Total | 7 | 75 marks |
Microthemes in India and Its Neighbourhood
These are the ideas inside this topic, most asked first. Select one to see all its questions year-wise with marks.
- Neighbourhood 7 · 75 marks
Other Topics in GS Paper 2
- 01. Indian Constitution: Evolution and Features 18 · 235 marks
- 02. Union and States: Federal Structure 16 · 195 marks
- 03. Separation of Powers and Dispute Redressal 10 · 117.5 marks
- 04. Devolution to Local Levels 8 · 97.5 marks
- 05. Comparison with Other Constitutions 9 · 115 marks
- 06. Parliament and State Legislatures 13 · 162.5 marks
- 07. Executive, Judiciary and Pressure Groups 17 · 197.5 marks
- 08. Representation of the People's Act 11 · 137.5 marks
- 09. Constitutional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies 23 · 282.5 marks
- 10. Government Policies and Interventions 9 · 112.5 marks
- 11. NGOs, SHGs and the Development Industry 14 · 177.5 marks
- 12. Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections 9 · 110 marks
- 13. Health, Education and Human Resources 18 · 215 marks
- 14. Poverty and Hunger 10 · 127.5 marks
- 15. Transparency, Accountability and E-Governance 18 · 215 marks
- 16. Role of Civil Services 5 · 60 marks
- 18. Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings 19 · 230 marks
- 19. Policies of Other Countries and Indian Diaspora 16 · 195 marks
- 20. International Institutions and Agencies 15 · 187.5 marks
How to Use Mains PYQs Topic Wise
- Start with the microthemes. Open a topic and read its microtheme list. The ones with the most questions are the ideas UPSC returns to.
- Read the demand words. Note how questions begin: discuss, examine, critically analyse, comment. Each asks for a different answer structure.
- Write by marks. A 10-mark question needs a tight answer of about 150 words, and a 15-mark question about 250 words.
- Cover all years of a microtheme. Write the oldest and the latest question on the same microtheme, and see how the angle changed.
- Revise and rewrite. Revise the topic from the notes, and write the same question again after a week.
For the method in full, read the Mains answer writing strategy. The official papers are on our UPSC PYQs page.
Questions are shown as printed in the UPSC Civil Services (Main) General Studies papers of 2013-2025. The grouping into topics and microthemes is by Team MaargX UPSC. Check any wording against the official paper on upsc.gov.in.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many UPSC Mains questions have been asked on India and Its Neighbourhood?
7 questions on India and Its Neighbourhood appeared in UPSC Mains GS Paper 2 between 2013 and 2025, worth 75 marks in all. That is about 2.3 questions a year. Every one of them is listed on this page, year-wise with its marks.
Which India and Its Neighbourhood microthemes does UPSC ask most often?
The most-asked microthemes in India and Its Neighbourhood are Neighbourhood (7). The number in brackets is how many questions each has had since 2013. Use the microtheme filter to see all of them together, year by year, with marks.
In which year was India and Its Neighbourhood asked the most in UPSC Mains?
The busiest year for India and Its Neighbourhood was 2013 (4 questions, 40 marks). The lightest was 2022 (1 questions, 10 marks). Treat these swings as noise: UPSC does not repeat a fixed pattern, so cover the whole topic.
How many marks do India and Its Neighbourhood questions carry?
Of the 7 questions on India and Its Neighbourhood, 2 of 12.5 marks, 5 of 10 marks. Plan your word limit by marks: 10-marker answers run to about 150 words and 15-marker answers to about 250 words.
What kind of questions does UPSC ask on India and Its Neighbourhood?
The directive words in the 7 questions on India and Its Neighbourhood are Discuss (6). Match your answer to the word: discuss and examine want both sides with a conclusion, while comment and critically analyse want a reasoned stand.
Is India and Its Neighbourhood important for UPSC Mains?
In the last five years (2021-2025) UPSC asked 1 questions on India and Its Neighbourhood, worth 10 marks. In the first five years (2013-2017) it asked 6, worth 65 marks.
Which GS paper does India and Its Neighbourhood belong to?
India and Its Neighbourhood belongs to UPSC Mains GS Paper 2, titled Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations. The questions on this page are all from that paper.
How should I use these India and Its Neighbourhood PYQs?
Read the microtheme list first, then pick one and write two or three answers in the time limit. Compare each with what the question demands (discuss, examine, critically analyse). Revise the topic from the Maarg Manthan notes and write the same question again after a week.
Official Sources
These are the primary sources behind this page. Rules, dates and papers can change, so confirm them on the official pages.
- UPSC: Previous Year Question Papers
- UPSC: Previous Year Question Papers (Archives)
- UPSC: Revised Syllabus and Scheme
- UPSC: Civil Services Examination Rules