International Boundary of India: Complete Notes

India’s international boundaries are not only significant for understanding its geography but are also frequently asked in Static GK sections of competitive exams like UPSC, RRB NTPC, SSC, and state-level exams. With a total boundary length of approximately 15,000 kilometers, India shares borders with 7 neighboring countries, making this topic essential for aspirants.

Key Facts about India’s International Boundaries

• Total Length: About 15,000 kilometers

• Countries Sharing Borders:
  • Pakistan
  • China
  • Nepal
  • Bangladesh
  • Bhutan
  • Myanmar
  • Afghanistan

Country-Wise Boundary Details

Region-Wise Details of India’s International Borders

Why This Topic is Important?

• Static GK Relevance: Boundary lengths and lines are frequently asked in exams.

• Geopolitical Understanding: Knowing about disputes and agreements helps in analyzing India’s relations with its neighbors.

• Geography Significance: This topic strengthens knowledge of Indian Geography and its strategic importance.

Pro Tip for Aspirants

Memorize the boundary lines (e.g., Radcliffe Line, McMahon Line) and lengths for quick recall during exams. Pair this knowledge with India’s geographical features for a comprehensive understanding.

This topic is a must-read for anyone preparing for competitive exams and wanting to ace questions on Indian Geography and Static GK!

Major Boundary Lines of India

Some of the major boundary lines of India are shown in the table below.

Overview of India’s Major International Boundaries

India Pakistan Boundary

• India and Pakistan share a long border that stretches for 3,323 kilometers. This boundary passes through the Indian states of Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir, as well as the Pakistani provinces of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

• The boundary between India and Pakistan was drawn after the partition of India in 1947. A British lawyer, Sir Cyril Radcliffe, was in charge of deciding where the border would be. Drawing the boundary was a difficult and complicated task.

• The western part of the border is known as the Punjab border, as it passes through the Punjab region in both countries. The eastern part, called the Kashmir border, runs through Jammu and Kashmir in India.

• Between 1947 and 1965, there were disputes over certain areas in Punjab and Kashmir. This led to the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965, which ended with the Tashkent Agreement.

• In 1990, tensions flared up again due to insurgency in Kashmir. Pakistani terrorists crossed into Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the Kargil War in 1999.

• The Line of Control (LoC) divides Indian and Pakistani-controlled Kashmir. While the LoC is seen as a temporary boundary, India does not consider it a permanent one.

• In recent years, there have been many ceasefire violations along the border. People living near the border face difficulties due to regular firing and shelling.

• To reduce tensions, India and Pakistan have tried to build trust with confidence-building measures. These include opening more trade routes, improving people-to-people contact, and restarting the bus service between Lahore and Delhi.

India China Boundary

• India and China share a long border of over 3,488 kilometers, passing through the towering Himalayan mountain ranges.

• The boundary was drawn in 1914 by British official Sir Henry McMahon and is known as the McMahon Line. This line placed the area east of Bhutan under British India.

• However, China does not accept the McMahon Line and claims parts of India’s northeast, including Arunachal Pradesh, which China refers to as ‘South Tibet.’

• Since there is no clearly defined boundary, India and China follow the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The LAC serves as the de facto boundary for patrolling and managing the border.

• Tensions have existed along the India-China border since the 1960s. In 1962, China launched an attack on India and captured parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh, leading to the Sino-Indian War. After the war, China withdrew from some areas but still claims Arunachal Pradesh.

• Even after the war, skirmishes and standoffs between Indian and Chinese forces along the LAC have continued due to the lack of a shared understanding of the line.

• To address the boundary issue and ensure peace, India and China held several rounds of talks in 1981. In 1996 and 2005, both countries signed agreements to reduce tensions, agreeing not to use force along the LAC and setting up mechanisms for border communication and management.

• In recent years, face-offs have occurred in places like Doklam, Demchok, and Pangong Tso Lake.

• Despite efforts to ease tensions, the unresolved border dispute, differing views of the LAC, and conflicting territorial claims have kept India-China relations tense. While negotiations have reduced hostilities, a final resolution remains out of reach.

India Bangladesh Boundary

• India and Bangladesh share a long border that stretches for 4,096.7 kilometers, passing through the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.

• The boundary was drawn in 1947 by Sir Cyril Radcliffe, who demarcated the border between India and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). However, soon after the partition, India and East Pakistan had disputes regarding the Radcliffe Line.

• In 1971, after the India-Pakistan war, Bangladesh gained independence. Following this, India and Bangladesh held negotiations to resolve their border disputes.

• In 1974, both countries signed a boundary agreement, which successfully resolved most parts of the international boundary. However, some areas remained disputed due to differing interpretations.

• Another significant issue along the border involves enclaves. There are 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh and 51 Bangladeshi enclaves in India.

• Additional challenges on the India-Bangladesh border include illegal immigration, smuggling, fencing, and sharing river waters. Bangladesh has accused India of violating their river water treaty.

• Since the 1990s, India and Bangladesh have made efforts to resolve these issues. They established a joint border committee and a joint river commission to manage these concerns.

• In 2015, India and Bangladesh reached a historic agreement to settle their 40-year-long land boundary dispute. The two countries exchanged 162 enclaves, with India handing over 51 Bangladeshi enclaves and Bangladesh returning 111 Indian enclaves.

India Nepal Boundary

• The international boundary between India and Nepal stretches for 1,751 kilometers, starting from Siliguri in West Bengal and ending at Surkhet in Nepal. It is one of India’s longest borders with a neighboring country.

• This border mainly follows natural features such as rivers, mountain ridges, and watersheds. The rugged terrain of the Himalayas makes it difficult to mark, with some mountains reaching heights of over 6,000 meters.

• The border can be divided into three parts:

1. The Tarai region in southern Nepal.
2. The Mahabharat Range in central Nepal.
3. The Himalayan Range in northern Nepal.

• The oldest section of the border, along the Kosi and Gandak rivers, has remained unchanged since 1816. The rest of the boundary between India and Nepal was demarcated between 1906 and 1960. However, due to the mountainous landscape, some parts remain difficult to define.

• The border is open, allowing people to cross freely. There are about 40 crossing points, with thousands of people visiting friends and family on both sides each day. India and Nepal also engage in trade across this open border.

• However, the open border has created some challenges. Illegal crossings occur, and criminals, along with smuggled drugs and weapons, also use the border. To address this, India is building fences in certain sensitive areas, though Nepal opposes fencing in some regions.

• In conclusion, while the open border fosters close ties between India and Nepal, it also presents some challenges. Cooperation between both countries is essential to resolving border issues and ensuring the well-being of people on both sides.

India Bhutan Boundary

• The international boundary between India and Bhutan spans 699 kilometers, starting at Bhutan’s easternmost point and ending at its westernmost point.

• This border largely follows natural features such as rivers and mountain ridges, with the rugged Himalayas making some areas difficult to mark clearly.

• The border can be divided into three main sections:

1. The foothills in the south and southwest.
2. The Black Mountains in central Bhutan.
3. The Himalayan ranges in northern Bhutan.

• The boundary was initially negotiated between British India and Bhutan in the 19th century. After India gained independence in 1947, the border was finalized through new agreements with Bhutan, with the final adjustments made in 1998.

• The India-Bhutan border is open for travel, with several crossing points where people can move freely. Trade between the two countries also occurs freely across the open border.

• However, the open border does lead to some issues, including occasional criminal activities and the smuggling of goods and drugs.

• India and Bhutan share a strong friendship, which is based on mutual respect for each other’s land, sovereignty, and equality. Both countries avoid interfering in each other’s internal affairs and offer support on international matters, fostering peace and stability at the border.

• India provides substantial financial assistance to Bhutan, funding much of Bhutan’s five-year plans. In return, Bhutan supports India’s position on international issues, contributing to the stability of the border.

• In conclusion, while the open border between India and Bhutan presents some challenges, the strong diplomatic and financial ties between the two countries help maintain stability. Continued cooperation will help address any border issues for the benefit of both nations.

India Myanmar boundary

• The international boundary between India and Myanmar stretches for 1,643 kilometers, starting in northeast India and ending in the Chin Hills of northwest Myanmar.

• This border primarily follows natural features such as the Naga Hills, the Patkai Hill range, and various rivers. The Chin Hills area is more challenging to demarcate due to the difficult terrain.

• The boundary lines were initially agreed upon between British India and Burma during the colonial era. After India’s independence in 1947, the boundary was finalized through new agreements with Myanmar. The demarcation process began in the 1950s and is largely complete, with a few disputed areas remaining.

• Unlike India’s borders with some neighboring countries, the India-Myanmar border is not an open one. Movement across this border requires permits and visas, with limited formal crossing points for travel and trade.

• The border region has experienced instability, mainly due to ethnic armed groups such as insurgents. Groups like the NSCN operate from bases in Myanmar and cross into India. The rugged terrain and dense forests in the region also facilitate criminal activities along the border.

• India and Myanmar have shared a traditional friendship, but India has been concerned about the presence of insurgent groups operating from Myanmar’s side.

• In recent years, the relationship between India and Myanmar has grown stronger. India has provided significant developmental and infrastructure assistance to Myanmar, while also importing natural gas from the country.

• Both nations have launched coordinated border patrols in areas affected by ethnic militants and India has been assisting in the capacity building of Myanmar’s armed forces. These measures have contributed to improved stability along the India-Myanmar border.

India Afghanistan Boundary

• The international boundary between India and Afghanistan is approximately 106 kilometers long, running through the Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan.

• This boundary largely follows the crest of the Hindu Kush mountains and the watershed between the Afghan and Chinese sides of the Kunar River valley. The rugged terrain and high altitudes make this border difficult to mark and manage.

• The boundary was finalized in the 19th century between British India and Afghanistan. After India’s independence in 1947, the boundary remained the same and was formalized through new agreements with Afghanistan.

• The border is not open for free movement. Visas are required for travel across the India-Afghanistan border, and there are no formal crossing points. Due to the difficult terrain, trade is minimal across the border.

• In recent decades, instability has arisen from the presence of the Taliban and terrorism originating from Afghanistan. Militant groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS, based in Afghanistan, pose a security threat to India. In response, India has built border fences and deployed security forces to protect the area.

• India has also provided approximately $3 billion in development aid to Afghanistan for infrastructure projects, education, and health programs. India supports the current Afghan government and opposes the Taliban.

• In addition to this, India and Afghanistan have collaborated on regional development projects, including the Chabahar port in Iran. This project provides trade access between India, Afghanistan, and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan. These initiatives help promote India’s strategic interests along the India-Afghanistan border.

🔰 Also read the article on Important Boundary Lines in the World here!

Conclusion

India’s development and diplomatic efforts in supporting Afghanistan’s stability play a crucial role in securing the border area. Enhancing economic and strategic relations will ultimately benefit the communities residing on both sides of the India-Afghanistan border.

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