Correct answer: (a) India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran
Explanation
- A
India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran
India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran. That is the INSTC spine: India–Iran (Chabahar)–Caspian–Russia–Europe.
- B
India to Central Asia via China
Via China. INSTC is not a China land bridge.
- C
India to South-East Asia through Bangladesh and Myanmar
Bangladesh–Myanmar. That is a Bay of Bengal / IMT neighbourhood, not INSTC.
- D
India to Europe through Azerbaijan
Europe through Azerbaijan as the only path. Azerbaijan is on a branch; the official description is the Iran corridor.
Summary. Official Set A key is (a). The International North-South Transport Corridor links India to Central Asia and Europe via Iran (Chabahar / Bandar Abbas), the Caspian, and Russia. China and the Bangladesh–Myanmar land route are other corridors. INSTC’s founding map is the Iran route.
Same topic · past papers
UPSC has asked this before
These previous-year questions sit on the same topic. Open one to practise the earlier ask.