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title: "India and Her Neighbours"
board: "CBSE"
curriculum: "CBSE"
class: "Class 7"
subject: "Social Science"
book: "Exploring Society India and Beyond Part II"
chapter: "India and Her Neighbours"
chapter_slug: "india-and-her-neighbours"
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last_updated: "2026-06-20"
---

# India and Her Neighbours
This chapter discusses the relationships between India and its neighboring countries, both land-based and maritime, emphasizing their historical, cultural, and economic connections.

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## Knowledge Snapshot

| Field | Details |
| :--- | :--- |
| Class | Class 7 |
| Subject | Social Science |
| Book | Exploring Society India and Beyond Part II |
| Chapter | India and Her Neighbours |
| Pages | 29-60 |

---

## Chapter Summary

### Short Summary
India shares borders with several countries and has significant relationships with them, influenced by geography, history, and culture.

### Detailed Summary
The chapter outlines the concept of neighbors, traditionally defined by shared land borders. India's land neighbors include Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. India's maritime neighbors are Sri Lanka and the Maldives, along with other countries in the Indian Ocean such as Iran, Oman, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. The chapter highlights India’s strategic position in South Asia, its extensive coastline, and the importance of maritime routes for trade and cultural exchange. It also examines the complex relationships with its land neighbors, emphasizing the historical context of India and Pakistan, India and China, India and Bangladesh, India and Nepal, India and Bhutan, and India and Myanmar, detailing both cooperative and contentious aspects of these ties.

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## Topic-Wise Explanation

### Framing the Neighbourhood
India's neighborhoods extend beyond land borders to include maritime relations, emphasizing the interconnectedness of countries through trade and cultural ties facilitated by the Indian Ocean.

### India and Her Land-based Neighbours
India shares borders with Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, each with unique historical, cultural, and economic relationships influencing their diplomacy and trade.

### India's Maritime Neighbours
India is surrounded by water on three sides, having significant relations with countries like Sri Lanka and the Maldives, which are important for maritime trade and cultural exchanges.

### Cultural Exchanges and Cooperation
The chapter illustrates shared cultural practices, religious pilgrimages, and cooperation in trade and disaster management as crucial elements of India's relationships with neighboring countries.

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## Core Ideas

| Idea | Explanation |
| :--- | :--- |
| Neighbourhood | Understanding neighbors requires recognizing both land and sea connections, and their historical ties influence current relations. |

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## Key Concepts

| Concept | Meaning |
| :--- | :--- |
| Maritime Neighbour | A country connected to another by a shared sea or ocean, without a direct land border. |

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## Important Points for Revision
* India shares land boundaries with several countries including Pakistan, China, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
* India also has maritime neighbors, including Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
* The Indian Ocean is crucial for trade and cultural exchange.
* India has complex relationships with Pakistan and China often marked by tension.
* Cultural exchanges play a significant role in relations with neighbors like Nepal and Bhutan.
* The Kartarpur Corridor enables easier pilgrimage for Sikh followers between India and Pakistan.
* India and Bangladesh share cultural ties and cooperation in managing shared river systems.
* The India-Nepal relationship is characterized by open borders and strong cultural ties.

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## Practice Questions

### Short Answer Questions
1. Name the countries that share land borders with India.
2. What is meant by a maritime neighbor?
3. How does the Indian Ocean influence trade?
4. What historical connections exist between India and China?
5. Describe one cultural exchange between India and Nepal.

### Long Answer Questions
1. Discuss the historical significance of the relationships between India and Pakistan since independence.
2. Explain the impact of climatic changes on India-Bangladesh relations regarding the Sundarbans.
3. Analyze the economic cooperation between India and Bhutan, especially in hydroelectric power.

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## Related Concepts
* Maritime trade routes
* Cultural exchanges in South Asia
* Historical context of India-Pakistan relations

---

## Source Attribution

| Field | Value |
| :--- | :--- |
| Source | Edzy |
| Reference Type | examSubjectBookChapter |
| Reference ID | 69be8fa9bd8ab66187fedbc7 |
| Canonical URL | https://www.edzy.ai/cbse-class-7-social-science-exploring-society-india-and-beyond-part-ii-india-and-her-neighbours |
| Markdown URL | https://www.edzy.ai/okf/chapter/cbse-class-7-social-science-exploring-society-india-and-beyond-part-ii-india-and-her-neighbours.md |