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Question 27 of 72 · World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies
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Myanmar shifted its capital from Yangon to Naypyidaw in:

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Answer: Option D — 2005

Detailed Solution

Myanmar's military government began moving the national capital from Yangon (Rangoon) to Naypyidaw in November 2005.

About the move:

  • Government ministries were moved suddenly, starting on 6 November 2005.
  • The new capital was officially named "Naypyidaw" (also spelt Nay Pyi Taw) on 27 March 2006, Armed Forces Day.
  • The name means "Abode of Kings" or "Royal Capital".
  • The city was built from scratch in central Myanmar, about 320 km north of Yangon, near the town of Pyinmana.

Reasons given for the move included its central location, which made it easier to govern the whole country, and its distance from the coast. Many observers believed security concerns were also important.

About Naypyidaw:

It is one of the fastest-growing cities in Myanmar, but its roads and buildings are much larger than its population needs. It is known for its very wide, often nearly empty highways (one has 20 lanes).

It houses the Parliament (Pyidaungsu Hluttaw), the Presidential Palace and the government ministries.

The "Uppatasanti Pagoda" in Naypyidaw is a near-replica of the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon.

It hosted the Southeast Asian Games in 2013 and the ASEAN Summit in 2014.

It suffered heavy damage in the strong earthquake of March 2025, whose epicentre was near Mandalay.

About Yangon:

  • It remains the largest city and the commercial capital of Myanmar.
  • It was the capital under British rule (from 1885) and after independence until 2005.
  • It is home to the Shwedagon Pagoda.

Earlier capitals of Myanmar:

  • Bagan (Pagan): capital of the Pagan kingdom (9th-13th centuries).
  • Ava (Inwa), Amarapura and Mandalay: royal capitals.
  • Mandalay was the last royal capital (1857-1885), before the British annexed Upper Burma.

Other countries that have moved their capitals:

  • Brazil: from Rio de Janeiro to Brasilia (1960).
  • Nigeria: from Lagos to Abuja (1991).
  • Indonesia: is building a new capital, "Nusantara", on the island of Borneo.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗1989 is the year the country's English name was changed from Burma to Myanmar.
  • ✗1998 is not linked to the capital shift.
  • ✗2011 is the year a nominally civilian government took office.

Quick tip

Remember: Myanmar's capital moved from Yangon to Naypyidaw in 2005 (named 2006; "Abode of Kings"); Mandalay = last royal capital; Brazil = Brasilia (1960); Nigeria = Abuja (1991).

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World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers world GK: countries with their capitals, currencies and parliaments, national symbols, famous landmarks, the longest, largest and highest features of the world, and international boundary lines such as the Radcliffe, McMahon and Durand Lines. The most common questions match a country with its capital or currency, or a parliament with its name (such as the Knesset of Israel or the Diet of Japan). Revise countries continent by continent, giving extra attention to India's neighbours. Questions on boundary lines usually ask which two countries a line separates. Practise the world GK 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.

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