Introduction
Questions on India's neighbours come up 1–2 times per SSC Stenographer paper. India shares land borders with 7 countries — Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Afghanistan (a small disputed strip) — and maritime borders with Sri Lanka and Maldives. After this lesson you will know capital, currency, border length and one signature fact for each neighbour.
Core Concept
Land neighbours (clockwise):
- Pakistan — Capital Islamabad, Currency Pakistani Rupee, Border 3323 km.
- China — Capital Beijing, Currency Yuan, Border 3488 km (LAC).
- Nepal — Capital Kathmandu, Currency Nepalese Rupee, Border 1751 km, world's only Hindu majority + Mt Everest.
- Bhutan — Capital Thimphu, Currency Ngultrum, Border 699 km, Gross National Happiness.
- Myanmar — Capital Naypyidaw, Currency Kyat, Border 1643 km.
- Bangladesh — Capital Dhaka, Currency Taka, Border 4096 km (longest with India).
- Afghanistan — Capital Kabul, Currency Afghani, small border (POK strip).
Maritime neighbours:
- Sri Lanka — Capital Colombo (commercial), Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (administrative), Currency Sri Lankan Rupee.
- Maldives — Capital Male, Currency Rufiyaa.
Formula Sheet
| Country | Capital | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | Islamabad | Pakistani Rupee |
| China | Beijing | Yuan |
| Nepal | Kathmandu | Nepalese Rupee |
| Bhutan | Thimphu | Ngultrum |
| Myanmar | Naypyidaw | Kyat |
| Bangladesh | Dhaka | Taka |
| Sri Lanka | Colombo / Kotte | Sri Lankan Rupee |
| Maldives | Male | Rufiyaa |
Solved Examples
Example 1. Which country has the longest border with India?
- Bangladesh — 4096 km.
- Answer: Bangladesh.
Example 2. Capital of Bhutan?
- Thimphu.
Question Patterns
- Capital ↔ country.
- Currency ↔ country.
- Longest/shortest border.
- Country ↔ unique fact.
- Border line names (LAC China, LoC Pakistan).
- SAARC headquarter etc.
Mistakes to Avoid
1. Mixing capitals — Naypyidaw not Yangon.
2. Confusing border lengths.
3. Forgetting Sri Lanka's two capitals.
4. Missing Afghanistan as land neighbour via POK.
Exam Importance
| Exam | Frequency | Marks | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSC Stenographer | Medium | 1–2 | Capital and currency common |
| SSC CGL | High | 2–3 | Borders and capitals |
Why Neighbouring Countries is easy marks. SSC Stenographer 2026 asks 1–2 Neighbouring Countries items per paper. India shares land borders with 7 countries: Pakistan, Afghanistan (PoK only), China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar; and maritime borders with Sri Lanka and Maldives. Memorise the 9 capital-currency pairs: Pakistan-Islamabad-PKR, Afghanistan-Kabul-Afghani, China-Beijing-Yuan, Nepal-Kathmandu-NPR, Bhutan-Thimphu-Ngultrum, Bangladesh-Dhaka-Taka, Myanmar-Naypyidaw-Kyat, Sri Lanka-Colombo-LKR, Maldives-Male-Rufiyaa. Memorise India's longest land border (Bangladesh, ~4096 km) and shortest (Bhutan, ~699 km). Memorise the boundary lines: Radcliffe (India-Pakistan), Durand (Pakistan-Afghanistan), McMahon (India-China), Line of Control (LoC India-Pakistan in J&K), Line of Actual Control (LAC India-China). Memorise major rivers crossing borders: Indus (India-Pakistan), Brahmaputra (China-India-Bangladesh), Ganga (India-Bangladesh). Memorise major bilateral mechanisms: SAARC, BIMSTEC, BBIN, IORA, India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty 1949 (revised 2007). Cap each question at 20 seconds.
Quick Revision
- Memorise capital + currency for all 9.
- Know longest (Bangladesh) and shortest (Afghanistan) borders.
- Track border line names (LoC, LAC, McMahon).
- SAARC HQ — Kathmandu.
- Practise 3 PYQ Qs weekly.
- Cap revision at 20 min.
- Use a small flashcard set.
- Track recent capital changes.
- Capitals: Pakistan (Islamabad), Bangladesh (Dhaka), Bhutan (Thimphu), Nepal (Kathmandu), Sri Lanka (Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte/Colombo), Myanmar (Naypyidaw), China (Beijing), Maldives (Male), Afghanistan (Kabul).
- Currencies: Pakistani Rupee, Taka, Ngultrum, Nepalese Rupee, Sri Lankan Rupee, Kyat, Yuan, Rufiyaa, Afghani.
- Border lengths (km, approximate): Bangladesh 4096, China 3488, Pakistan 3323, Nepal 1751, Myanmar 1643, Bhutan 699, Afghanistan 106.
- Border passes: Nathu La (Sikkim–Tibet), Lipu Lekh (Uttarakhand–Tibet), Wagah (Punjab–Pakistan).
- Major rivers shared: Indus (Pakistan), Brahmaputra (Bangladesh/China), Ganga (Bangladesh).
- Strategic doctrines: Indus Waters Treaty (1960), Teesta talks, Kalapani dispute (Nepal), McMahon Line (China).
- Languages spoken: Pakistan (Urdu, Punjabi), Bangladesh (Bengali), Bhutan (Dzongkha), Nepal (Nepali), Sri Lanka (Sinhala, Tamil), Myanmar (Burmese), China (Mandarin), Maldives (Dhivehi), Afghanistan (Pashto, Dari).
- Religion-majority: Pakistan/Bangladesh/Maldives/Afghanistan (Islam), Bhutan (Buddhism), Nepal (Hindu-majority secular), Sri Lanka (Buddhism), Myanmar (Buddhism), China (mostly secular/Buddhist).
- Bodies of cooperation: SAARC (1985, Kathmandu HQ), BIMSTEC (1997), SAFTA, ASEAN-India, BBIN.
- Trade and aid: India–Bangladesh trade ~$15bn, India–Nepal trade ~$10bn, India–Bhutan economic integration deepest.
- Recent diplomatic actions: India's Neighbourhood First and Act East policies, vaccine diplomacy, Sagarmala outreach.
- For SSC Stenographer 2026, expect 1 neighbouring-country item per paper — mnemonic-friendly scoring worth 1.5 marks.
- Major cities: Karachi/Lahore/Peshawar (Pakistan), Dhaka/Chittagong (Bangladesh), Thimphu/Paro (Bhutan), Kathmandu/Pokhara (Nepal), Colombo/Kandy (Sri Lanka).
- Geographical landmarks: K2 (Pakistan), Mt. Everest (Nepal), Sundarbans delta (Bangladesh), Sigiriya rock (Sri Lanka), Bagan temples (Myanmar), Great Wall (China).
- Independence years: Pakistan/India (1947), Sri Lanka (1948), Myanmar (1948), Bangladesh (1971), Bhutan (always sovereign), Nepal (always sovereign), Maldives (1965), Afghanistan (1919).
- Heads of state: track current PM/President of each neighbour from a reliable monthly digest — SSC asks current heads roughly once every two cycles.