India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation cor…

Current Affairs ·Previously asked in UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025

View the full solved paper: GS Paper I

Question

India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect

  1. A. India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran (Correct answer)
  2. B. India to Central Asia via China
  3. C. India to South-East Asia through Bangladesh and Myanmar
  4. D. India to Europe through Azerbaijan

Correct Answer

Option A — India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran.

Key Points

  • The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a multimodal (ship-rail-road) route connecting India to Russia and Europe via Iran.
  • India is a founding member (2000).
  • The corridor goes: India → Iran (Bandar Abbas/Chabahar) → Iran overland → Caspian Sea/Azerbaijan → Russia → Europe.
  • The defining feature is the Iran route connecting India to Central Asia and onward to Europe.