Political Instability and Democratic Transitions in South Asia
International Relations
- PYQs8
- Articles1
Background
UPSC frequently examines political developments in India's neighbourhood, their implications for India's foreign policy, regional stability, and the challenges faced by democratic institutions in South Asia.
Political instability in South Asian nations often involves the breakdown of democratic processes, the rise of interim or non-elected governments, and significant civil unrest. These transitions can be triggered by various factors, including economic grievances, political corruption, or challenges to electoral legitimacy, impacting regional security and bilateral relations.
Facts & tables
- Government Overthrow
- Governments can be toppled by popular uprisings, such as student-led protests.
- Interim Administrations
- Interim governments may emerge to manage transitions, sometimes leading to the banning of major political parties.
- Security Measures
- Such transitions often involve widespread security alerts, law enforcement actions, and arrests of political activists.
- Impact on Political Parties
- Historically significant political parties can be sidelined or banned during periods of political upheaval.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Geopolitics & International Conflicts |
| Conceptual area | International Relations |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Awami League | Historical political party, currently banned |
| Bangladesh Nationalist Party | Currently ruling party |
| Interim Government of Bangladesh | Temporary administration overseeing transition |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
Prelims angle: Institutional roles and functions
- Political instability often involves popular uprisings and government overthrows.
- Interim governments can emerge, sometimes banning major political parties.
- Such events lead to widespread security concerns and law enforcement actions.
- Impacts regional stability and India's foreign policy.
- Highlights challenges to democratic institutions in South Asia.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2024 | Multi-statement analysis, Cause and effect relationships |
| 2023 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2022 | Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2022 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2022 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2015 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2014 | Factual recall |
Timeline
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Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Conceptual area
-
International Relations
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2014
Factual recall
-
Prelims 2015
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2022
Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2022
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2022
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2023
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2024
Multi-statement analysis, Cause and effect relationships
-
Prelims 2025
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
-
Bangladesh issues countrywide alert fearing unrest on anniversary of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League
The article illustrates a case of political instability in Bangladesh, marked by a government's overthrow, an interim administration, the banning of a major political party, and subsequent unrest, highlighting the fragility of democratic transitions in the region.
See also
No related topics linked yet.
Past papers
2015–2024 · 6 questions
In the news
Bangladesh issues countrywide alert fearing unrest on anniversary of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League
The article illustrates a case of political instability in Bangladesh, marked by a government's overthrow, an interim administration, the banning of a major political party, and subsequent unrest, highlighting the fragility of democratic transitions in the region.
Try these PYQs
With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements:
1. The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-member States.
2. Inter-governmental organisations can seek observer status in the UN General Assembly.
3. Permanent Observers in the UN General Assembly can maintain missions at the UN headquarters.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
Statement 1 is correct. The United Nations General Assembly may grant non-member states, international organizations, and other entities Permanent Observer Status. Statement 2 is correct. The General Assembly decided that observer status would be confined to States and intergovernmental organizations whose activities cover matters of interest to the Assembly. Statement 3 is correct. Permanent Observers may participate in the sessions and workings of the General Assembly and maintain missions at the UN Headquarters.
Consider the following statements:
1. Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in north -western Kenya.
2. Some people who fled from South Sudan civil war live in Bidibidi.
3. Some people who fled from civil war in Somalia live in Dadaab refugee complex in Kenya.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is Incorrect: Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in northwestern Uganda, not Kenya. Statement 2 is Correct: People fleeing the civil war in South Sudan have been hosted in the Bidibidi settlement. Statement 3 is Correct: The Dadaab refugee complex is located in Kenya and houses refugees, including those who fled the civil war in Somalia. Therefore, the correct statements are 2 and 3 only.
Consider the following pairs :
Regions : often Reason for being in news
1. North Kivu and Ituri : War between Armenia and Azerbaijan
2. Nagorno-Karabakh : Insurgency in Mozambique
3. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia : Dispute between Israel and Lebanon
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched ?
None of the pairs (1, 2, or 3) are correctly matched. Let's break it down: 1. North Kivu and Ituri: This region in the Democratic Republic of Congo experiences conflict, but is not related to the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. 2. Nagorno-Karabakh: This enclave is disputed between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but the insurgency is happening in Mozambique. 3. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia: These are currently under heavy fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war, not a dispute between Israel and Lebanon.
Consider the following statements :
Statement-I : There is instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region.
Statement-II: There have been military takeovers/coups d'état in several countries of the Sahel region in the recent past.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
* Statement-I: There is instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region. This statement is correct as the Sahel region has been experiencing significant instability and security challenges, including terrorism, armed conflict, and humanitarian crises. * Statement-II: There have been military takeovers/coups d'état in several countries of the Sahel region in the recent past. This statement is also correct. Several countries in the Sahel region, such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Chad, have experienced military coups in recent years. * Statement-II explains Statement-I because the military takeovers and coups contribute to the instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region. The political instability resulting from these coups disrupts governance, exacerbates conflict, and undermines efforts to address security and development challenges in the region.
In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not participant/ participants?
1. Bangladesh
2. Cambodia
3. China
4. Myanmar
5. Thailand
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
All 6 participants of the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation are member countries bordering the basins of the Mekong and Ganga rivers, aiming to collaborate on various initiatives. These countries are: - India - Cambodia - Laos - Myanmar - Thailand - Vietnam Hence, China & Bangladesh are not part of the Mekong-Ganga Corporation.
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Consider the following countries
1. Armenia
2. Azerbaijan
3. Croatia
4. Romania
5. Uzbekistan
Which of the above are members of the Organization of Turkic States?
The Organization of Turkic States, formerly called the Turkic Council or the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States, is an international organization comprising prominent independent Turkic countries - Azerbaijan
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan - Turkey
- Uzbekistan
Recently, a series of uprisings of people referred to as ‘Arab Spring’ originally started from
* The Arab Spring uprisings originally started in Tunisia. * In December 2010, a young Tunisian street vendor named Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire in protest of police harassment. This act of desperation sparked widespread demonstrations throughout Tunisia, demanding an end to corruption, unemployment, and political repression. * The success of the Tunisian revolution, which eventually led to the overthrow of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, inspired similar protests across the Arab world, becoming known as the Arab Spring.
Consider the following countries:
I. Austria
II. Bulgaria
III. Croatia
IV. Serbia
V. Sweden
VI. North Macedonia
How many of the above are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization?
❌ I. Austria - Not a NATO member (maintains neutrality). ✅ II.Bulgaria - NATO member (joined in 2004). ✅ III. Croatia - NATO member (joined in 2009). ❌ IV.Serbia - Not a NATO member (participates in Partnership for Peace, but not a full member). ✅ V. Sweden - NATO member (officially joined in March 2024). ✅ VI. North Macedonia - NATO member (joined in 2020). So, four of the listed countries are members of NATO: Bulgaria, Croatia, Sweden, and North Macedonia.