SSC
What does CPEC stand for?
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Answer: Option C — China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
Detailed Solution
CPEC stands for the "China-Pakistan Economic Corridor", a large network of infrastructure projects connecting western China with Pakistan.
About the CPEC:
- It was formally launched in April 2015, during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Pakistan, though related agreements were signed from 2013.
- It is described as the "flagship project" of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
- It runs for about 3,000 km, from Kashgar in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China to Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea, in Balochistan, Pakistan.
- Its estimated value was initially about 46 billion US dollars, and later rose to more than 60 billion dollars.
Its components:
- Roads and highways, including the upgrade of the Karakoram Highway.
- Railways, such as the planned upgrade of the Karachi-Peshawar railway line (ML-1).
- Energy projects, such as coal, hydro, solar and wind power plants.
- Development of Gwadar port and the Gwadar International Airport (opened in 2024-25).
- Special Economic Zones (SEZs).
- Fibre-optic cables.
Importance for China:
It gives China a shorter route to the Arabian Sea and the Middle East, reducing its dependence on the Strait of Malacca (the "Malacca Dilemma") for energy imports.
India's objections:
- CPEC passes through Gilgit-Baltistan, a part of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), which India considers an integral part of its territory (Union Territory of Ladakh).
- India says that this violates its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and has therefore opposed the CPEC and refused to join the BRI.
- India has also objected to the extension of CPEC projects to Afghanistan.
Other challenges:
- Security threats from separatist groups in Balochistan, and attacks on Chinese workers.
- Rising debt burden on Pakistan.
Related corridors:
- India's "International North-South Transport Corridor" (INSTC) with Iran and Russia.
- India's development of the Chabahar port in Iran, about 170 km west of Gwadar; India signed a 10-year agreement in 2024 to operate its Shahid Beheshti terminal.
Why not the other options?
- ✗"Central Pakistan Energy Corridor" is not the correct expansion.
- ✗"China-Pacific Economic Cooperation" is not the correct expansion.
- ✗"Central Pacific Export Corridor" is not the correct expansion.
Quick tip
Remember: CPEC = China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (launched 2015; Kashgar to Gwadar; flagship of the BRI; passes through Gilgit-Baltistan in PoK, so India opposes it); Chabahar (Iran) = India's port project.
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Abbreviations & Full Forms — Preparation
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This topic covers the full forms of common abbreviations used in government, banking, science, technology, defence, international relations and everyday life, such as ISRO, NABARD, SEBI, GDP, GST and UNICEF. These questions are quick marks if you have revised the most common abbreviations. Group them by field (banking, government bodies, science and technology, international organisations) and pay attention to small words such as 'of', 'for' and 'and', since wrong options often change just one word. Practise the abbreviations and full forms questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.