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Q72 (IAS/2016) International Relations & Global Affairs › International Organisations & Groupings › Global economic governance Official Key

'Belt and Road Initiative' is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of

Result
Your answer:  ·  Correct: D
Explanation

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is China's initiative that facilitates the exchange and integration of goods, technology, capital and personnel[1]. China launched the Education Action Plan for the Belt and Road Initiative in July 2016[2], demonstrating its active promotion of the initiative during this period. The African Union was developing a strategic approach towards the Belt and Road Initiative through its New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD)[3], showing that while other regions engaged with BRI, it fundamentally remains China's foreign policy and infrastructure development initiative. The Belt and Road Initiative is China's ambitious transcontinental connectivity project aimed at enhancing trade and investment links across Asia, Europe, and Africa through infrastructure development. Therefore, when mentioned in news, it is primarily discussed in the context of China's affairs, making option D the correct answer.

Sources
  1. [1] https://www.unido.org/sites/default/files/unido-publications/2025-03/makingit_24_full_web_0.pdf
  2. [3] https://wwfke.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/chinas_belt_and_road_initiative_and_its_implications_for_africa.pdf
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. 'Belt and Road Initiative' is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of [A] African Union [B] Brazil [C] Europe…
At a glance
Origin: Mostly Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 · 7.5/10
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This is a classic 'Headline Awareness' question. In 2016, BRI/OBOR was the single most dominant term in international relations. The strategy is simple: for every major geopolitical proper noun (e.g., 'Global Gateway', 'B3W'), know the 'Parent Country' immediately.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
As of 2016, is the Belt and Road Initiative mentioned in news coverage in the context of China's affairs?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"combining this with the implementation of New Urban Agenda adopted at Habitat III in October 2016"
Why this source?
  • Explicitly links China’s BRI to international agendas and a 2016 event (Habitat III), showing coverage of BRI in the context of China's affairs in 2016.
  • Discusses BRI as an active framework for exchange and urban policy relevant to China and partner countries in 2016.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Education Action Plan for the Belt and Road Initiative, July 2016, Belt and Road Portal."
Why this source?
  • References a specific Belt and Road Initiative action plan dated July 2016, indicating BRI was part of public coverage and policy discussion in 2016.
  • Places BRI within China’s push for international collaboration, tying the initiative to Chinese affairs in that year.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > Kolkata-Kunming Corridor-A Proposed Highway > p. 80
Strength: 5/5
“The Kolkata-Kunming project connects China, Myanmar, India and Bangladesh. This is an ambitious project that hopes to connect Kolkata with Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province of China. The project was announced by the Chinese President XI Jinping-led regime in 2013. It is also called the ' New Silk Road Economic Belt. The main objective of this corridor is to form a thriving economic belt with focus on cross border transport, energy, tourism and communication network. It was also visualised that this corridor could play an important role in 'global economic recovery'. The project has”
Why relevant

Says the Kolkata–Kunming project was announced by Xi in 2013 and is called the 'New Silk Road Economic Belt', showing the initiative name is used for specific projects.

How to extend

A student could note the 2013 announcement date and search 2014–2016 news for the project name (New Silk Road / OBOR / BRI) to see if media referenced it in China affairs.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > One Belt-One Road (The New Silk Route) > p. 85
Strength: 4/5
“The ambitious project based on $5 trillion, of 'One Belt One Road (OBOR)' has been designed by the Chinese government under the Chinese President Xi Jinpings. It is an 'umbrella of trade initiatives' some of which are already under way. Bringing together ongoing and planned and future infra projects, it includes the 'China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and Bangladesh, China, India-Myanmar Corridor, which India opposes. India is strongly opposed to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) on the ground that Occupied Kashmir, a key chunk of OBOR is an integral part of India. China however, organized a meeting in Beijing on May 14–15, 2017, about the One Belt-One Road (OBOR).”
Why relevant

Describes OBOR as an umbrella of trade initiatives and mentions planned meetings in Beijing (May 2017), linking the initiative to state actions and public events covered in news.

How to extend

Use the fact OBOR convened forums to look for news reports in 2016 about OBOR-related projects or preparatory diplomacy in China.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > One Belt-One Road (The New Silk Route) > p. 86
Strength: 5/5
“of about $46 billion (Economic Corridor) between China and Pakistan which shall link China to port of Gwadar (Baluchistan-Pakistan) on the Arabian Sea. As stated above, India did not participated in the 'One Belt One Road' forum meeting in Beijing held on May 14–15, 2017. India is strongly opposed to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a key chunk of One Belt One Road (OBOR) that passes through the Occupied Kashmir under Pakistan. India's main objection is that occupied Kashmir is an integral part of India and a question of sovereignty and territorial integrity. This road cuts down transport time from factories in eastern China to West Asia 12 days to 36 hours.”
Why relevant

Links the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) explicitly to One Belt One Road and gives project details that are likely to attract news coverage.

How to extend

Because CPEC is a high-profile BRI component, search 2016 news about CPEC to infer whether BRI/OBOR terminology appeared in reporting on China–Pakistan ties.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > Foreign Relations > p. 793
Strength: 4/5
“The Chumbi Valley of Tibet, Bhutan's Ha Valley and Sikkim surround it. In 2017, the Chinese tried to construct a road in the area, and Indian troops, called in by their Bhutanese counterparts, objected to it, resulting in the stand-off. Doklam is strategic for India as it is close to the Siliguri Corridor, which connects mainland India with its north-eastern region. Bilateral ties were also affected over the US$ 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a project pushed by President Xi Jinping of China to consolidate China's influence in the world.”
Why relevant

States CPEC is part of the Belt and Road Initiative and ties it to a 2017 border/diplomatic stand-off (Doklam), showing textbooks treat BRI as relevant to Chinese foreign affairs and security stories.

How to extend

A student could map links between security/diplomatic incidents (e.g., Doklam 2017) and earlier 2016 coverage of BRI components to see if news already discussed BRI in that context.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > The Middle Sector > p. 34
Strength: 3/5
“Intruding Chinese troops spotted on July 22, 2016 by a team of ITBP officials (Fig. 16.2–A). China is also claiming the Chumbi Valley and Toe-point in Sikkim. Toe-point along the border of Sikkim and Bhutan is important strategically. China is negotiating with Bhutan on this valley and hill, which is not acceptable to India.”
Why relevant

Records a July 22, 2016 incident of Chinese troops intruding (border news), illustrating that 2016 had China-focused incidents which news outlets might pair with broader initiatives like BRI.

How to extend

Cross-reference 2016 border incidents in news archives with mentions of BRI/OBOR to test whether media tied such China affairs items to the initiative.

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Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

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