India's Neighboring Countries – Capitals, Currencies, Parliaments & Languages (Updated 2025)

✍️ Introduction

        India, strategically located in South Asia, shares its borders with several countries — each significant from a geopolitical, cultural, and economic standpoint. These neighboring nations are frequently covered in questions across government exams, especially in sections on Geography, Current Affairs, and Static General Knowledge.

This article provides a crisp yet detailed overview of India's neighboring countries, focusing on their capitals, currencies, parliaments, and official languages — topics often tested in competitive exams like UPSC, SSC, RRB, CDS, and State PSCs.

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🌐 India's Neighbors – Overview

India shares its land borders with 7 countries and maritime boundaries with 2 nations.

1. Bangladesh

   • Capital: Dhaka

   • Currency: Taka

   • Parliament: Jatiya Sangsad

   • Language: Bengali

   • India shares its longest land border with Bangladesh (4,096 km).

2. Pakistan

   • Capital: Islamabad

   • Currency: Pakistani Rupee

   • Parliament: National Assembly and Senate

   • Language: Urdu

   • India and Pakistan share the Line of Control (LoC), not an official border.

3. Nepal

   • Capital: Kathmandu

   • Currency: Nepalese Rupee

   • Parliament: Federal Parliament (House of Representatives + National Assembly)

   • Language: Nepali

   • Note: India and Nepal share strong religious, historical, and cultural ties.

4. Afghanistan

   • Capital: Kabul

   • Currency: Afghani

   • Parliament: No currently functioning democratic parliament under Taliban regime

   • Language: Pashto and Dari

   • India shares a narrow border with Afghanistan via the Wakhan Corridor.

5. Bhutan

   • Capital: Thimphu

   • Currency: Ngultrum (Indian Rupee also accepted)

   • Parliament: Bicameral – National Assembly and National Council

   • Language: Dzongkha

   • Highlight: India has deep economic and defense ties with Bhutan.

6. Myanmar

   • Capital: Naypyidaw

   • Currency: Kyat

   • Parliament: Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (Currently suspended after 2021 military coup)

   • Language: Burmese

   • Strategic Fact: India and Myanmar are connected by land through Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh.

7. China

   • Capital: Beijing

   • Currency: Renminbi (Yuan)

   • Parliament: National People’s Congress

   • Language: Mandarin Chinese

   • Exam Point: India and China share the Longest Himalayan Border, much of which is disputed.

8. Sri Lanka (Maritime Neighbor)

   • Capitals: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (Legislative), Colombo (Commercial)

   • Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee

   • Parliament: Parliament of Sri Lanka

   • Languages: Sinhala and Tamil

   • Interesting: Connected to India via the Palk Strait, ancient links to Tamil culture.

9. Maldives (Maritime Neighbor)

   • Capital: Malé

   • Currency: Maldivian Rufiyaa

   • Parliament: People’s Majlis

   • Language: Dhivehi

   • Exam Tip: A strategic partner of India in the Indian Ocean Region.

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📌 Key Exam Facts

• India shares the longest international border with Bangladesh.

• The shortest border is shared with Afghanistan (~106 km via the Wakhan Corridor).

• Bhutan accepts the Indian Rupee as legal tender alongside its own currency.

• China and Pakistan are India’s most strategically sensitive neighbors due to border tensions.

• Nepal is the only Hindu-majority neighboring country apart from India.

• Myanmar serves as a vital land route for India's Act East Policy.

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🧠 Pro Tips to Remember

• Use acronyms like BPNAM BSC (Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan, Maldives, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, China) to recall.

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      Keep revisiting this article and stay updated with changes in political structures or international relations.

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