UPSC Prelims 2025 Q62: Geography – Transport & Infrastructure Geography
India is one of the founding members of the International North - South Transport Corridor
(INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect
- (a) India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran
- (b) India to Central Asia via China
- (c) India to South - East Asia through Bangladesh and Myanmar
- (d) India to Europe through Azerbaijan
Answer: (a) India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran
Explanation
International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)
The INSTC is a 7,200 km multimodal route of ship, rail and road.
It was set up in 2000 at St Petersburg by India, Iran and Russia.
| Leg | Route |
|---|---|
| Sea | Mumbai to Bandar Abbas (Iran) |
| Land across Iran | To the Caspian Sea ports, or by rail through Azerbaijan |
| Onward | Astrakhan and Moscow in Russia, then northern Europe |
Why it matters:
| Benefit | Detail |
|---|---|
| Shorter | Much shorter than the Suez Canal route |
| Bypasses | Pakistan |
| Linked with | Chabahar Port and the Ashgabat Agreement |
The options checked: it does not run through China, nor to South-East Asia; Azerbaijan is only one branch on the way, with Iran as the hub.
Answer: (a) India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. The INSTC links India to Central Asia and Europe via Iran.
- (b) Incorrect. The corridor does not pass through China.
- (c) Incorrect. The route to South-East Asia is the India-Myanmar-Thailand highway, not the INSTC.
- (d) Incorrect. Azerbaijan is one branch of the route; the corridor is defined by its passage through Iran.
Key point
INSTC (2000; India, Iran, Russia): 7,200 km multimodal corridor from Mumbai through Iran and the Caspian region to Russia and Europe; linked with Chabahar.
Remember
INSTC = India to Russia and Europe via Iran.
Common mistakes
- Confusing the INSTC with the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor of 2023.
- Thinking it runs through Pakistan or China.
- Forgetting the three founders: India, Iran, Russia.
Exam tip
North-South = India up to Russia. Iran is the bridge in the middle.
Sources
- Ministry of External Affairs — International North-South Transport Corridor
- Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways — INSTC and Chabahar Port