India and Her Neighbours
Complete NCERT Notes • 2026–27 • Exploring Society: India and Beyond Part-II
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🌏 Introduction
India has always shared deep connections with the countries around her. These connections have developed through geography, trade, migration, religion, culture, language, pilgrimage and political relationships.
A neighbour is not necessarily only a country sharing a land border. Because India is surrounded by the sea on three sides, countries connected to India through the Indian Ocean also form an important part of India's neighbourhood.
🎯 The Big Questions
What defines a neighbour? Is it only a shared land boundary?
How do geography and history influence India's relationships with her neighbours?
In what ways are India and her neighbours interconnected today?
📌 Chapter at a Glance
🗺️ Land Neighbours
India shares land boundaries with countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
🌊 Maritime Neighbours
Sri Lanka and the Maldives are among India's nearest maritime neighbours.
🏺 Shared History
Ancient trade routes connected India with Central Asia, Southeast Asia and the Arabian Peninsula.
☸️ Buddhism
Buddhism created powerful cultural and spiritual links between India and many Asian countries.
🚢 Maritime Trade
The Indian Ocean has connected India with Africa, West Asia and Southeast Asia for centuries.
🤝 Regional Cooperation
Modern projects and regional organisations promote trade, connectivity, security and development.
🗺️ Framing the Neighbourhood
India has a long land boundary stretching across diverse landscapes including mountains, plains, deserts, forests, marshes and river valleys.
Traditionally, countries sharing a land boundary are considered neighbours. However, India's geographical position also makes her a maritime nation.
India's position in the Indian Ocean places her between major regions including Southeast Asia, West Asia and Africa.
🌊 India and the Indian Ocean
India has a unique maritime position because the Indian peninsula extends deep into the Indian Ocean.
The Indian Ocean is an important route for international trade. It connects countries and allows the movement of goods, people and ideas.
🏔️ India and Her Land-Based Neighbours
India's land-based neighbourhood includes countries located along her northern, northwestern and northeastern boundaries.
| Neighbour | Broad Direction | Important Connection |
|---|---|---|
| China | North | History, Buddhism, trade and strategic relations |
| Pakistan | Northwest | Shared history, culture and a complex political relationship |
| Bangladesh | East | Shared history, language, rivers, culture and trade |
| Nepal | North | Open border, culture, religion, trade and people-to-people ties |
| Bhutan | North | Hydropower, Buddhism, culture and economic cooperation |
| Myanmar | East | Cultural links, trade and connectivity with Southeast Asia |
| Afghanistan | Northwest | Ancient trade routes, history and cultural connections |
🇨🇳 India and China
China is India's largest neighbour by area and one of Asia's most influential countries.
The Himalayas separate much of India and China. Their relationship has been shaped by geography, history, culture, trade and politics.
☸️ Buddhism — A Cultural Link
Buddhism originated in India and reached China around the 1st century CE through trade and pilgrimage routes.
Chinese monks such as Faxian and Xuanzang travelled to India and studied at Indian centres of learning.
Indian monks also carried Buddhist teachings to China. These movements created deep intellectual and spiritual links.
📦 Trade
India and China continue to have significant trade relations. India exports products such as iron ore, chemicals and cotton yarn, while importing electronic products and industrial equipment.
🇵🇰 India and Pakistan
India and Pakistan share a complex relationship shaped by the Partition of 1947, shared history, culture and political tensions.
The two countries have experienced several conflicts, including wars in 1948, 1965 and 1971 and the Kargil conflict of 1999.
🏺 Shared Heritage
Despite political tensions, the two countries continue to share languages, cuisines, music, traditions and cultural heritage.
Important cultural and religious sites in Pakistan are connected with Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh heritage.
🇧🇩 India and Bangladesh
India and Bangladesh share close historical, cultural and linguistic connections.
Bangladesh was created in 1971 after a war involving Pakistan, in which India played an important role.
🌊 Shared Rivers
India and Bangladesh share several transboundary rivers connected with the Ganga and Brahmaputra river systems.
These rivers are important for agriculture, fisheries, transportation and the livelihoods of millions of people.
🌳 Sundarbans
India and Bangladesh share the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest.
The Sundarbans are important for biodiversity and also help protect coastal areas from cyclones.
🇳🇵 India and Nepal
Nepal lies in the Himalayas and shares a long and open border with India.
🛕 Cultural Connections
India and Nepal share strong religious and cultural traditions. Pilgrims regularly travel between the two countries.
Festivals such as Dashain, Tihar and Holi are celebrated enthusiastically in both countries.
🚶 Open Border
The India-Nepal open border supports movement for employment, education, healthcare, trade, family connections and pilgrimage.
🇧🇹 The 'Land of the Thunder Dragon' — Bhutan
Bhutan is a small, landlocked Himalayan kingdom situated between India and China.
Bhutan shares borders with the Indian states of Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
💧 Hydropower
Several rivers originate in Bhutan and flow into India. These rivers are important for agriculture and hydroelectric power generation.
☸️ Buddhist Connections
India and Bhutan share deep Buddhist cultural and spiritual connections.
Indian Buddhist teachers such as Guru Padmasambhava played an important role in the development of Buddhism in Bhutan.
🇲🇲 India — Myanmar: Gateway to Southeast Asia
Myanmar shares both a land border and maritime connection with India.
India's northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram share borders with Myanmar.
India and Myanmar have historical, cultural and Buddhist connections.
🛣️ Connectivity
Myanmar is important because it provides India with a gateway towards Southeast Asia.
Modern connectivity projects aim to strengthen trade, transportation and people-to-people connections.
🇦🇫 India and Afghanistan
Afghanistan is a landlocked country in south-central Asia. Historically, it was connected to India through important trade and cultural routes.
🐫 Uttarapatha
The ancient Uttarapatha trade route connected the Ganga plains with Central Asia through Afghanistan.
Goods, religions, ideas, art and philosophy travelled along these routes.
🏛️ Cultural Heritage
Afghanistan was historically influenced by Indian cultural and religious traditions. The Bamiyan Buddhas were an important example of the spread of Buddhism in the region.
🌊 India's Maritime Neighbours
India's maritime neighbourhood extends across the Indian Ocean. Long before modern borders existed, Indian traders sailed across these waters to exchange goods, ideas and cultural traditions.
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
India's nearest maritime neighbour, separated by the Palk Strait.
🇲🇻 Maldives
An island nation consisting of more than 1,100 islets in the Indian Ocean.
🇹🇭 Thailand
Connected to India through centuries of maritime trade and cultural exchange.
🇲🇾 Malaysia
Linked with India through ancient sea routes and cultural and economic exchanges.
🇮🇩 Indonesia
An island nation with ancient connections to India through trade and culture.
🇮🇷 Iran & 🇴🇲 Oman
Important western maritime neighbours with ancient commercial and cultural links to India.
🇱🇰 India's Nearest Maritime Neighbour — Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is an island nation southeast of India. The two countries are separated by the narrow Palk Strait.
At their nearest point, India and Sri Lanka are only about 32 km apart.
☸️ Buddhism
Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BCE by Mahendra and Sanghamitra, associated with Emperor Ashoka.
🕉️ Shared Cultural Heritage
India and Sri Lanka have shared cultural, religious and historical connections for centuries.
Their modern relationship includes economic cooperation, cultural exchanges and regional partnerships.
🇲🇻 The Maldives — A Nation of Islets
The Maldives consists of more than 1,100 small islands or islets located in the Indian Ocean.
The Maldives is relatively close to India's Lakshadweep islands. Minicoy is only about 130 km from the Maldives.
Centuries of maritime trade created cultural connections between the Maldives and the Indian subcontinent.
🇹🇭 India and Thailand
India and Thailand have shared maritime connections for centuries. Indian traders travelled to Southeast Asia in search of valuable goods.
Indian religious and cultural traditions influenced Thailand. Buddhism became a major cultural connection.
🛣️ India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway
The India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway is a modern connectivity project designed to strengthen transportation, trade and regional cooperation.
🇲🇾 India and Malaysia
India and Malaysia have historical connections dating back more than two thousand years.
Ancient sea routes across the Bay of Bengal connected the Indian subcontinent with the Malay Peninsula.
Hindu and Buddhist cultural influences can be seen in the region's historical art, literature and traditions.
Modern relations also include trade and cooperation in areas such as energy, infrastructure and information technology.
🇮🇩 India and Indonesia
Indonesia is an archipelago consisting of thousands of islands. India and Indonesia are connected by the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea.
Maritime trade between Indian kingdoms and islands such as Java and Sumatra existed for more than two thousand years.
Indian cultural influence can still be seen in Indonesian history, art, literature and symbols.
🇮🇷 India and Iran — An Ancient Neighbour
India and Iran have shared trade and cultural connections since the Bronze Age.
Land routes through the regions of present-day Pakistan and Afghanistan connected India with the Iranian plateau.
🛣️ Chabahar Port
India has cooperated with Iran in developing Chabahar Port. The port provides India with an important route towards Afghanistan and Central Asia.
🇴🇲 Oman — The 'Land of Copper'
Oman lies on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It has important maritime connections with India.
India-Oman contact goes back thousands of years. Archaeological evidence suggests trade between the Harappan civilisation and Oman.
Oman was rich in copper, and copper was traded with the Indus-Sarasvati civilisation.
🤝 Modern Cooperation
India and Oman cooperate in areas including trade, maritime security and defence.
☸️ Buddhism and India's Neighbours
Buddhism is one of the strongest historical links between India and many neighbouring countries.
| School | Broad Historical Development | Regions Where It Spread |
|---|---|---|
| Theravada | Took shape around the 3rd century BCE. | Sri Lanka and parts of Southeast Asia |
| Mahayana | Developed around the 1st century BCE. | China, Japan, Korea and other regions |
| Vajrayana | Emerged around the 6th century CE. | Himalayan and Tibetan regions |
🤝 SAARC and Regional Cooperation
Several countries in South Asia came together in 1985 to form the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
SAARC aims to promote cooperation and progress in areas such as science, education, health, culture and economic development.
| SAARC Members Mentioned in the Chapter | Examples |
|---|---|
| South Asia | India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Maldives |
| Additional Member | Afghanistan |
🐫 Ancient Trade Routes
India's neighbourhood was connected through several ancient trade routes.
Connected the Ganga plains with regions of Central Asia through the northwest.
Connected different parts of the Indian subcontinent through routes towards the south.
Connected India and other parts of Asia with Central Asia and beyond.
Maritime routes helped traders exchange spices, textiles, precious goods and ideas across the Indian Ocean.
🎭 Cultural Connections Across Borders
India's relationship with her neighbours is visible not only in political and economic relations but also in everyday culture.
🍛 Food
Similar ingredients and cooking traditions can be found across neighbouring countries.
🎵 Music
Musical traditions and instruments have travelled across historical routes.
🛕 Religion
Hinduism and Buddhism created strong connections across Asia.
🗣️ Languages
Languages and scripts developed through centuries of cultural interaction.
🎉 Festivals
Shared religious and cultural traditions are reflected in festivals celebrated across borders.
🚢 Trade
Ancient and modern trade routes continue to connect India with neighbouring regions.
💡 Before We Move On...
- India and her neighbours share centuries of cultural, spiritual, religious and commercial exchanges.
- Ancient trade routes connected India with Central Asia, Southeast Asia and the Arabian Peninsula.
- Indian traditions spread peacefully through trade, pilgrimage and cultural exchange.
- Modern connectivity projects aim to revive historical connections.
- Films, music and television also contribute to people-to-people connections.
📝 Important Questions & Answers
Q1. What is a maritime neighbour?
Answer: A maritime neighbour is a country connected to another country by a shared sea or ocean even though the two countries may not share a direct land border. Sri Lanka and the Maldives are examples in India's neighbourhood.
Q2. Why is India strategically important in the Indian Ocean?
Answer: India's peninsula extends deep into the Indian Ocean and lies near important sea routes connecting Southeast Asia, West Asia and Africa. This gives India an important position in maritime trade and regional cooperation.
Q3. How has Buddhism created links between India and her neighbours?
Answer: Buddhism originated in India and travelled to many parts of Asia through trade, pilgrimage and the efforts of monks and teachers. It created strong cultural and spiritual links between India and countries such as China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.
Q4. What is India's relationship with Nepal like?
Answer: India and Nepal have close cultural, religious, social and economic relations. Their open border allows people to move between the countries for employment, education, trade, healthcare, family connections and pilgrimage.
Q5. Why is Bangladesh important to India?
Answer: India and Bangladesh share history, language, culture and several river systems. Their relationship also includes economic, strategic and cultural cooperation.
Q6. Why is Myanmar called India's gateway to Southeast Asia?
Answer: Myanmar shares a land border with India's northeastern states and provides an important geographical route towards Southeast Asia. Connectivity projects can strengthen trade and people-to-people relations through this route.
Q7. Why is Sri Lanka an important maritime neighbour of India?
Answer: Sri Lanka is India's nearest maritime neighbour and is separated from India by the Palk Strait. India and Sri Lanka share long-standing cultural, religious, historical and economic connections.
Q8. What is SAARC?
Answer: SAARC stands for South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. It was established in 1985 to promote cooperation and development among South Asian countries.
Q9. What is an archipelago?
Answer: An archipelago is a large group or chain of islands. Indonesia is an example of an archipelagic country.
Q10. Why is India-Oman cooperation historically important?
Answer: India and Oman have ancient maritime trade connections dating back thousands of years. Archaeological evidence indicates links between Oman and the Harappan civilisation. Modern cooperation includes trade, maritime security and defence.
🎯 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
A. Nepal B. Bhutan C. Sri Lanka D. Afghanistan
A. Nepal B. China C. Sri Lanka D. Maldives
A. Nepal B. Bhutan C. Myanmar D. Sri Lanka
A. Myanmar B. Iran C. Oman D. Sri Lanka
A. Malacca Strait B. Palk Strait C. Hormuz Strait D. Bering Strait
A. 1947 B. 1965 C. 1985 D. 2001
A. Nepal B. Afghanistan C. Indonesia D. Bhutan
A. Chabahar B. Mumbai C. Colombo D. Muscat
✏️ Fill in the Blanks
- A country connected to another country through a shared sea is called a ______ neighbour.
- India and Sri Lanka are separated by the ______ Strait.
- Nepal and India have an ______ border.
- Bhutan is known as the Land of the ______ Dragon.
- Myanmar provides India with a gateway to ______ Asia.
- SAARC was formed in the year ______.
- Indonesia is an ______ consisting of thousands of islands.
- India's cooperation with Iran includes development of ______ Port.
✅ True or False
| Statement | Answer |
|---|---|
| A maritime neighbour must share a land border with India. | False |
| Sri Lanka is separated from India by the Palk Strait. | True |
| India and Nepal have an open border arrangement. | True |
| Bhutan is a landlocked country. | True |
| Myanmar has no border with India. | False |
| Indonesia is an archipelago. | True |
| SAARC was formed in 1985. | True |
| India has never had maritime trade with Southeast Asia. | False |
🔗 Match the Following
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| Nepal | Open border |
| Bhutan | Land of the Thunder Dragon |
| Sri Lanka | Palk Strait |
| Myanmar | Gateway to Southeast Asia |
| Indonesia | Archipelago |
| Iran | Chabahar Port |
| Oman | Ancient copper trade |
📚 Exam-Oriented Questions
- Explain the difference between a land neighbour and a maritime neighbour.
- Explain why India's geographical location is important in the Indian Ocean.
- Describe the cultural and historical relationship between India and China.
- Explain the significance of the India-Nepal open border.
- Describe India's relationship with Bangladesh.
- Explain why Bhutan is an important neighbour of India.
- Why is Myanmar called India's gateway to Southeast Asia?
- Describe India's historical relationship with Afghanistan.
- Explain India's cultural relationship with Sri Lanka.
- How have ancient trade routes connected India with other countries?
- What is the role of SAARC in regional cooperation?
- Explain how Buddhism helped connect India with neighbouring countries.
🗺️ Map & Activity Practice
For exam and classroom practice, try these activities:
- Label India's land-based neighbours on a blank political map of Asia.
- Mark Sri Lanka and Maldives as maritime neighbours.
- Draw arrows showing important cultural flows between India and neighbouring countries.
- Locate important routes such as the Uttarapatha and major maritime trade routes.
- Mark the location of Chabahar Port in Iran.
- Identify the countries connected by the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chapter 14 of Class 7 Social Science?
Chapter 14 is titled India and Her Neighbours. It is Chapter 2 of Part-II of Exploring Society: India and Beyond.
Who are India's main land-based neighbours?
The chapter discusses Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar as India's land-based neighbours.
What is a maritime neighbour?
A maritime neighbour is a country connected to another through a shared sea or ocean rather than necessarily through a land border.
Which is India's nearest maritime neighbour?
Sri Lanka is India's nearest maritime neighbour.
Why is Nepal special among India's neighbours?
India and Nepal share an open border that enables significant movement of people, goods and cultural interaction.
What is SAARC?
SAARC is the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, established in 1985 to promote cooperation among South Asian countries.
Why is Buddhism important in India's relations with other countries?
Buddhism originated in India and spread to many parts of Asia. This created long-lasting cultural, religious and intellectual connections between India and several neighbouring countries.
Why is the Indian Ocean important for India?
The Indian Ocean provides important routes for international trade and connects India with Africa, West Asia and Southeast Asia.
⚡ Quick Revision
- 🌏 A neighbour can be connected by land or by sea.
- 🗺️ India's land-based neighbours include Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
- 🌊 Sri Lanka and Maldives are important maritime neighbours.
- ☸️ Buddhism created strong cultural connections between India and many Asian countries.
- 🇳🇵 India and Nepal have an open border.
- 🇧🇹 Bhutan is known as the Land of the Thunder Dragon.
- 🇲🇲 Myanmar is an important gateway to Southeast Asia.
- 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka is India's nearest maritime neighbour.
- 🇲🇻 Maldives consists of more than 1,100 islets.
- 🛣️ Ancient routes such as Uttarapatha and maritime trade routes connected India with other regions.
- 🤝 SAARC was established in 1985 to encourage regional cooperation.
- 🚢 Modern connectivity projects continue to strengthen India's relationships with neighbouring countries.
- 🎭 Food, language, religion, festivals, art and music continue to connect neighbouring societies.