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UPSC Prelims 2026Question 67International Relations

Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists: — List I (Project Supported by India) — List II (Country); A. — Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Project — 1. — Maldives; B. — Restoration of Stor Palace — 2. — Afghanistan; C. — District Hospital at Dickoya — 3. — Bhutan; D. — Institute of Security and Law Enforcement Studies — 4. — Sri Lanka Code:

Options

  1. (a)1 — 4 — 2 — 3
  2. (b)3 — 2 — 4 — 1
  3. (c)3 — 4 — 2 — 1
  4. (d)1 — 2 — 4 — 3
Correct answer: b
Decision rule

Match India's aid projects by sector: hydropower to Bhutan, heritage restoration to Afghanistan, health and housing to Sri Lanka, security training to Maldives.

Explanation

Correct Answer

(b) A-3, B-2, C-4, D-1

That is:

Project Supported by IndiaCountry
Mangdechhu Hydroelectric ProjectBhutan
Restoration of Stor PalaceAfghanistan
District Hospital at DickoyaSri Lanka
Institute of Security and Law Enforcement StudiesMaldives

Explanation of the Correct Answer

India has supported several development and capacity-building projects in neighbouring countries as part of its Neighbourhood First Policy and development partnership diplomacy.

The correct matching is:

  • Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Project is located in Bhutan.
  • Restoration of Stor Palace was undertaken in Afghanistan.
  • District Hospital at Dickoya was built with Indian assistance in Sri Lanka.
  • Institute of Security and Law Enforcement Studies is located in Maldives.

Therefore, the correct code is A-3, B-2, C-4, D-1, which corresponds to option (b).

Why Other Options Are Incorrect

OptionVerdictExplanation
(a) A-1, B-4, C-2, D-3IncorrectIt wrongly places Mangdechhu in Maldives and Restoration of Stor Palace in Sri Lanka.
(b) A-3, B-2, C-4, D-1CorrectAll four projects are correctly matched with their respective countries.
(c) A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1IncorrectMangdechhu and ISLES are correct, but Stor Palace and Dickoya Hospital are wrongly matched.
(d) A-1, B-2, C-4, D-3IncorrectStor Palace and Dickoya Hospital are correct, but Mangdechhu and ISLES are wrongly matched.

Relevant Supplementary Information

India-Supported Projects in Neighbouring Countries

ProjectCountrySectorSignificance
Mangdechhu Hydroelectric ProjectBhutanHydropowerStrengthens India-Bhutan energy cooperation; electricity generation and export
Restoration of Stor PalaceAfghanistanHeritage conservationSymbol of India’s support for Afghan cultural heritage and reconstruction
District Hospital at DickoyaSri LankaHealth infrastructureImproves healthcare access in Sri Lanka’s plantation region
Institute of Security and Law Enforcement StudiesMaldivesSecurity and policingCapacity-building in law enforcement and internal security
Project Supported by IndiaCountrySectorSignificance
Mangdechhu Hydroelectric ProjectBhutanHydropower / EnergyMajor India-Bhutan hydropower cooperation project
Restoration of Stor PalaceAfghanistanHeritage conservationIndia-supported restoration of Afghan cultural heritage
District Hospital at DickoyaSri LankaHealth infrastructureStrengthens healthcare access in Sri Lanka’s plantation region
Institute of Security and Law Enforcement Studies / National College for Policing and Law EnforcementMaldivesSecurity / Capacity-buildingSupports policing, law enforcement and security training in Maldives; NCPLE is described as a major India-supported grant project in Maldives. (Drishti IAS)

Quick Memory Table

CountryIndia-Supported Project
BhutanMangdechhu Hydroelectric Project
AfghanistanRestoration of Stor Palace
Sri LankaDistrict Hospital at Dickoya
MaldivesInstitute of Security and Law Enforcement Studies

Key Takeaways from the Tables

Key PointExplanation
Hydropower projects are strongly linked with BhutanMangdechhu is one of the major India-Bhutan hydropower cooperation projects.
Stor Palace is linked with AfghanistanIndia has supported heritage restoration and reconstruction projects there.
Dickoya Hospital is in Sri LankaIt is a health infrastructure project supported by India.
ISLES is in MaldivesIt relates to security and law enforcement capacity-building.
Correct matching is 3-2-4-1Hence, option (b) is correct.
Key PointExplanation
Bhutan is strongly linked with hydropowerMangdechhu, Chukha and Tala are major India-Bhutan hydropower projects.
Afghanistan is linked with reconstruction and heritageStor Palace, Salma Dam and Parliament building are important examples.
Sri Lanka is linked with health, housing and cultural projectsDickoya Hospital and Jaffna Cultural Centre are important.
Maldives is linked with security and connectivity projectsNCPLE and Greater Male Connectivity Project are key examples.
Correct matching for the question is A-3, B-2, C-4, D-1This corresponds to option (b).

Context and Current Relevance

  • These projects reflect India’s development partnership approach in South Asia.
  • India’s assistance covers diverse sectors such as energy, health, heritage, security and capacity-building.
  • Such projects strengthen India’s regional goodwill and support the Neighbourhood First Policy.

Table: Quick Memory Table for the Given Question

Remember ThisCountry
MangdechhuBhutan
Stor PalaceAfghanistan
Dickoya HospitalSri Lanka
Security and Law Enforcement InstituteMaldives

Table: Similar India-Supported Projects Abroad

CountryImportant India-Supported Project / InitiativeSector
BhutanMangdechhu Hydroelectric ProjectHydropower
BhutanChukha Hydroelectric ProjectHydropower
BhutanTala Hydroelectric ProjectHydropower
AfghanistanAfghan Parliament BuildingGovernance / Infrastructure
AfghanistanSalma Dam / Afghan-India Friendship DamWater resources / Hydropower
AfghanistanRestoration of Stor PalaceHeritage conservation
Sri LankaDistrict Hospital at DickoyaHealth
Sri LankaIndian Housing ProjectHousing / Rehabilitation
Sri LankaJaffna Cultural CentreCulture / Community infrastructure
MaldivesNational College for Policing and Law EnforcementSecurity / Capacity-building
MaldivesIndira Gandhi Memorial HospitalHealth
MaldivesGreater Male Connectivity ProjectConnectivity / Infrastructure
NepalMotihari-Amlekhgunj Petroleum PipelineEnergy connectivity
NepalNepal-Bharat Maitri Pashupati DharmashalaReligious / Community infrastructure
BangladeshIndia-Bangladesh Friendship PipelineEnergy connectivity
BangladeshAkhaura-Agartala Rail LinkRail connectivity

Table: Country-wise Pattern of India’s Development Partnership

CountryCommon Sectors of Indian AssistanceExamples
BhutanHydropower, education, roads, capacity-buildingMangdechhu, Chukha, Tala hydropower projects
AfghanistanInfrastructure, heritage, governance, water resourcesParliament building, Salma Dam, Stor Palace restoration
Sri LankaHousing, health, culture, education, rehabilitationDickoya Hospital, Indian Housing Project, Jaffna Cultural Centre
MaldivesSecurity, health, connectivity, water and sanitationNCPLE, IGMH, Greater Male Connectivity Project
NepalEnergy, roads, railways, religious infrastructurePetroleum pipeline, Pashupati Dharmashala, rail links
BangladeshRail, road, energy, border connectivityAkhaura-Agartala rail, Friendship Pipeline, lines of credit projects
MyanmarConnectivity, port, roads, capacity-buildingKaladan Project, Sittwe Port, IMT Highway segments

Table: Common MCQ Traps

ProjectCorrect CountryCommon Trap
Mangdechhu Hydroelectric ProjectBhutanConfused with Maldives because both are small neighbours
Stor Palace RestorationAfghanistanConfused with Sri Lanka or Maldives due to heritage angle
District Hospital at DickoyaSri LankaConfused with Afghanistan because both received Indian development aid
Institute of Security and Law Enforcement Studies / NCPLEMaldivesConfused with Sri Lanka due to maritime-security cooperation
Salma DamAfghanistanConfused with Nepal/Bhutan hydropower projects
Jaffna Cultural CentreSri LankaConfused with Afghanistan heritage projects
Greater Male Connectivity ProjectMaldivesConfused with Bangladesh or Sri Lanka connectivity projects
Maitri SetuBangladeshConfused with Nepal or Myanmar border bridges
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