Question

During the Cold War era, India and the USSR enjoyed a special relationship which led critics to say that India was part of the Soviet camp. It was which of the following type of relationship?

विकल्प

• Economical

• Political

• Military

• All of these

Answer 1

All of these

Explanation:

During the Cold War, India and the USSR had a special relationship, prompting critics to claim that India was in the Soviet camp. It was a multifaceted relationship:

1. Economic: At a time when such assistance was difficult to obtain, the Soviet Union aided India's public sector companies. It provided financial and technical assistance to steel plants such as Bhilai, Bokaro, and Visakhapatnam, as well as machinery plants such as Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. When India ran out of foreign exchange, the Soviet Union accepted Indian currency for trade.
2. Political: In the United Nations, the Soviet Union supported India's positions on the Kashmir issue. It also backed India during major conflicts, particularly the 1971 war with Pakistan. India, too, indirectly but crucially supported Soviet foreign policy.
3. Military: The Soviet Union provided India with the majority of its military hardware at a time when few other countries were willing to part with military technologies. The Soviet Union entered into various agreements that allowed India and the Soviet Union to jointly manufacture military equipment.
4. Culture: In the Soviet Union, Hindi films and Indian culture were popular. A large number of Indian writers and artists traveled to the Soviet Union.