Q.Identify the country:
a. The struggle among pro-monarchy, pro-democracy groups and extremists created an atmosphere of political instability:
b. A landlocked country with multi-party competition:
c. The first country to liberalise its economy in the South Asian region:
d. In the conflict between the military and pro-democracy groups, the military has prevailed over democracy:
e. Centrally located and shares borders with most of the South Asian countries:
f. Earlier the island had the Sultan as the head of state. Now, it’s a republic:
g. Small savings and credit cooperatives in the rural areas have helped in reducing poverty:
h. A landlocked country with a monarchy:

Let’s go through each clue one by one.

a. The struggle among pro-monarchy, pro-democracy groups and extremists created an atmosphere of political instability — this points to Nepal, where a decade-long civil war (Maoist insurgency) was followed by a complex transition from monarchy to republic.

b. A landlocked country with multi-party competition — Nepal again fits: it is landlocked and, after the end of the monarchy in 2008, adopted a multi-party federal republic.

c. The first country to liberalise its economy in the South Asian region — Sri Lanka introduced economic liberalisation in 1977, well before India’s 1991 reforms.

d. In the conflict between the military and pro-democracy groups, the military has prevailed over democracy — Pakistan has experienced repeated military coups and long periods of military rule, with the army retaining decisive political power.

e. Centrally located and shares borders with most of the South Asian countries — India is the only South Asian nation that borders Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar (and shares maritime borders with Sri Lanka and the Maldives).

f. Earlier the island had the Sultan as the head of state. Now, it’s a republic — Maldives was a sultanate for centuries, became a republic in 1968 after a brief period as a sultanate again, and is now a presidential republic.

g. Small savings and credit cooperatives in the rural areas have helped in reducing poverty — Bangladesh is famous for its microfinance institutions (e.g., Grameen Bank) and rural cooperatives that have significantly reduced poverty.

h. A landlocked country with a monarchy — Bhutan is landlocked and was an absolute monarchy until 2008, when it transitioned to a constitutional monarchy.

Let’s go through each clue one by one, placing it in the context of South Asia’s diverse political and economic landscape.

a. The struggle among pro-monarchy, pro-democracy groups and extremists created an atmosphere of political instability

This describes Nepal. Nepal’s modern history has been marked by a long tug-of-war between the monarchy (which was abolished only in 2008), democratic movements (especially the 1990 People’s Movement and the 2006 Loktantra Andolan), and the Maoist insurgency (1996–2006). The interplay of these three forces created decades of instability.

b. A landlocked country with multi-party competition

Again, Nepal fits. It is landlocked between India and China, and since the end of the civil war and the abolition of the monarchy, it has operated as a multi-party federal republic. (Bhutan is also landlocked but has a constitutional monarchy, not multi-party competition in the same sense.)

c. The first country to liberalise its economy in the South Asian region

This is Sri Lanka. In 1977, under President J.R. Jayewardene, Sri Lanka abandoned its earlier socialist-style economic policies and opened up to foreign investment, trade, and private enterprise — well before India’s 1991 reforms. It was the pioneer of economic liberalisation in South Asia.

d. In the conflict between the military and pro-democracy groups, the military has prevailed over democracy

This points to Pakistan. Pakistan has experienced repeated military coups (1958, 1977, 1999) and long periods of direct military rule. Even when civilian governments have been in power, the military has retained enormous influence over foreign policy, security, and key institutions. Democracy has often been fragile or interrupted.

e. Centrally located and shares borders with most of the South Asian countries

This is India. India shares land borders with Pakistan, Afghanistan (via the disputed Kashmir region), China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. No other South Asian country has such a central, extensive border network.

f. Earlier the island had the Sultan as the head of state. Now, it’s a republic

This describes Maldives. The Maldives was a sultanate for centuries, became a republic briefly in 1953, then reverted to a sultanate, and finally became a republic again in 1968 after a referendum. The Sultan was replaced by an elected President.

g. Small savings and credit cooperatives in the rural areas have helped in reducing poverty

This is a hallmark of Bangladesh. The Grameen Bank (founded by Muhammad Yunus) and numerous microfinance institutions have used small savings and credit cooperatives to lift millions out of poverty, especially in rural areas. This model has been widely studied and replicated.

h. A landlocked country with a monarchy

This is Bhutan. Bhutan is landlocked in the eastern Himalayas, and until 2008 it was an absolute monarchy. In 2008, it transitioned to a constitutional monarchy, but the King remains the head of state. (Nepal, also landlocked, abolished its monarchy in 2008, so it no longer fits this description.)