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Q.1-10. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some questions.
An important event with potential to enhance and facilitate trade in South Asian sub-region has gone almost unnoticed. In a first, a Bangladesh truck, loaded with its export consignment, reached designated Customs clearance station in Delhi, via the border-crossing Customs check-post on the Indian side. On receipt of relevant information and documents from the transport operator, an on-line permit was issued for the vehicle, and driver electronically vetted by both India and Bangladesh. On-line GPS tracking system enabled the vehicle to be tracked 24X7, origin to destination, by the designated agency. The occasion signified an opportunity to change important contextual architecture of South Asian region in terms of integrated value chains.
Recall, the 2014 SAARC Summit in Kathmandu; the theme of “connectivity” was high on the Summit agenda for agreements on region-wide seamless road and rail transport to be formally signed after they had been duly deliberated and finalised by all the member states. But the Motor Vehicle and Rail Transport Agreements fell through due to Pakistan’s habitual obduracy. The Prime minister maintained that “our relations become stronger when we connect the lives of the ordinary citizens of our countries. That is why connectivity and services by rail and road are so important”. To break loose from the logjams, India is perforce adopting the “SAARC minus one” approach, its focus on economic corridor development through the South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation, involving six South Asian countries—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Myanmar too has indicated its intention to join SASEC. For road connectivity, relevant four of the SAARC countries, BBIN, got together to resolve the critical logistics-related problems they encounter. A landmark MVA for the regulation of passenger, personnel and cargo was signed by the transport ministers of these four countries in 2015. The framework agreement for road vehicles is currently being supplemented with implementing protocols. The real success of the project would indeed depend on its ability to promote harmonisation and standardisation of procedures, foreseeing simple provisions for micro-level operational issues as well as procedural norms. As the agreed protocols are currently work in progress, the cargo-laden truck from Bangladesh to Delhi was on a test/trial run. Lack of transit agreement among SAARC member countries has affected the intra-regional trade and the process of regional integration.
Economic growth rides on transport. Some 90% of intra-SAARC trade is transacted between neighbouring countries; 60% of it along land routes. Instead of seamless logistics chains, that is a growing norm worldwide, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan do not permit vehicles of one country to enter and operate in another. They indulge in antediluvian practice of unloading/loading of cargo at Wagah and other borders, resulting in multiple handlings, delays, losses. The total perceived cost of these deficiencies and delays, when aggregated with the estimated excess time costs, amounts to 12.31% of the average value of a typical shipment from Kolkata to Bangladesh compared to an “ideal” cost of 1.93% according to World Bank.
These severe restrictions are exacerbated by unharmonised, cumbersome documentation and regulatory processes, even divergent weekly holidays and working hours observed by Customs at cross-border stations. So, south Asia remains bedeviled for want of adequate economic integration. Intra-South Asia trade in 1948 accounted for 18% of its total trade, which now languishes at a paltry 3-4% of its collective global trade turnover, in comparison with over 25% in ASEAN, 35% in East Asia, 40% in NAFTA, 60% in EU. In this context, a SAFTA, MFN or free trade means little, if the goods do not move across borders freely. Transit barriers impede the flow much more severely than tariff barriers.
Bangladesh together with Myanmar occupies a pivotal position for Northeast India, Bhutan and Nepal to revive historical linkages with countries in Southeast Asia. Time is favourable. There has lately been good movement forward in India-Bangladesh logistics arrangements. Coastal shipping agreements between Bangladesh and India have been signed. There are discussions for regular containerised cargo movement between Dhaka and Kolkata.
Q.1. Which of the following statement is TRUE according the passage?
(1) The theme of 2014 SAARC Summit was “connectivity” and it was high on the Summit agenda.
(2) The South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation, involving—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
(3) The Motor Vehicle and Rail Transport Agreements fell through due to Bhutan’s habitual obduracy.
(4) Both 1 and 2
(5) Both 2 and 3
Q.2. Which of the following statements with regard to “enhance and facilitate trade in South Asian sub-region has gone almost unnoticed” is the one that is not based on the given passage?
(A) Driver electronically vetted by both India and Bangladesh.
(B) On-line GPS tracking system enabled the vehicle to be tracked 24X7.
(C) India continues to rank low at 130th position in terms of ease of doing business.
(1) Only A
(2) Only C
(3) Both A and C
(4) All A, B and C
(5) Both A and B
Q.3. Find the statement which is not based on the facts mentioned in the given passage?
(A) Bhutan together with Nepal occupies a pivotal position.
(B) A meeting between the chief negotiators of India and European Free Trade Association was held.
(C) A SAFTA, MFN or free trade means little, if the goods do not move across borders freely.
(1) Only C
(2) Only B and C
(3) Only B
(4) Both A and B
(5) Only A
Q.4. Which of the following statement with regard to “economic growth rides on transport” is/are NOT TRUE according the passage?
(A) Some 90% of intra-SAARC trade is transacted between neighbouring countries.
(B) India, Bangladesh and Pakistan do not permit vehicles of one country to enter and operate in another.
(C) 60% of intra-SAARC trade is transacted along land routes.
(1) Only A
(2) Only B
(3) Only A and B
(4) Both B and C
(5) All A, B and C
Q.5. India, Pakistan and Bangladesh transport resulting in multiple handlings, delays, losses. What was/were the reasons thereof?
(A) India, Bangladesh and Pakistan do not permit vehicles of one country to enter and operate in another.
(B) India, Bangladesh and Pakistan indulge in antediluvian practice of unloading/loading of cargo.
(C) The total perceived cost of the deficiencies and delays, amounts to 12.31%.
(1) Only A
(2) Both A and B
(3) Only B
(4) All A, B and C
(5) Not mentioned in the passage
Q.6. Which of the following statement has been made while mentioning the statement “time is favourable” according to the passage?
(A) Coastal shipping agreements between Bangladesh and India have been signed.
(B) There has lately been good movement forward in India-Bangladesh logistics arrangements.
(C) There are discussions for regular containerised cargo movement between Dhaka and Kolkata.
(1) Only C
(2) Both C and D
(3) Only A
(4) Both A and B
(5) All A, B and C
Q.7. How is/are the severe restrictions are exacerbated? Select your answer on the basis of the facts mentioned in the passage?
(A) by unharmonised, cumbersome documentation
(B) regulatory processes
(C) divergent weekly holidays
(D) working hours observed by Customs at cross-border stations.
(1) 0nly C
(2) Both C and D
(3) Only A
(4) Both A and B
(1) All A, B, C and D
Q.8. Choose the word which is most nearly the SAME in meaning as the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
Perforce
(1) Definitely
(2) Independently
(3) Crotchety
(4) Helplessly
(5) Smoothly
Q.9. Choose the word which is most nearly the OPPOSITE in meaning as the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
Seamless
(2) Regular
(3) Irregular
(4) Beneficial
(5) Quackery
(6) Piecemeal
Q.10. Choose the word which is most nearly the SAME in meaning as the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
Encounter
(1) Avoidance
(2) Experience
(3) Invite
(4) Gallop
(5) Exacerbate
ANSWERS
Q.1. (2)
Q.2. (3)
Q.3. (2)
Q.4. (2)
Q.5. (5)
Q.6. (5)
Q.7. (4)
Q.8. (4)
Q.9. (2)
Q.10. (2)
