SSC Selection Post 2025 PYQ — Question 10

Correct Answer

It provides direct access to Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan.

Explanation

The Chabahar Port, located in southeastern Iran on the Gulf of Oman, holds immense strategic significance for India. Historically, India’s land route to Afghanistan and the landlocked, resource-rich countries of Central Asia has been blocked due to political tensions with Pakistan, which denies India overland transit rights. By developing Chabahar Port, India secures a sea-to-land transit corridor that allows cargo ships to travel from India's western coast directly to Iran, and from there via roads and railways into Afghanistan and Central Asia, completely bypassing Pakistan.

The other options are factually incorrect. Chabahar Port is located in Iran, so it cannot serve as India's domestic port. While it facilitates trade, it is primarily a strategic geopolitical transit gateway rather than a dedicated hub for India's crude oil imports. Lastly, it connects India to the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman, and landlocked Central Asia—not to the Mediterranean Sea.

Key Points

Geopolitical Counterweight: Chabahar acts as a strategic counterweight to Pakistan’s Gwadar Port, which is located just about 72 km away and developed with Chinese assistance under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC): Chabahar serves as a crucial node in the larger INSTC network, significantly reducing multi-modal freight transit time and costs between India, Iran, Central Asia, and Russia.

Additional Facts

In May 2024, India signed a fresh, comprehensive 10-year long-term bilateral contract with Iran to operate and further develop the Shahid Beheshti terminal at Chabahar Port. This long-term commitment provides institutional stability for Indian investments and encourages regional traders to utilize this bypass route reliably. India has also supplied heavy cargo-handling equipment, like mobile harbor cranes, to modernize the port infrastructure.

Important Questions and Answers

Question: Which specific terminal of the Chabahar Port is being operated and developed directly by India?

Answer: India is directly involved in developing and operating the Shahid Beheshti terminal at Chabahar Port through India Ports Global Limited (IPGL).

Question: Which major highway connects the Chabahar network to the heart of Afghanistan, constructed with Indian assistance?

Answer: The Zaranj-Delaram Highway in Afghanistan was built by India's Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to connect the Iranian border town of Zaranj directly to the main Afghan highway network, facilitating smooth trade from Chabahar Port.