India-Sri Lanka Relations — Prelims Strategy

Prelims Strategy

Focus on memorizing key dates (1987 Accord, IPKF period 1987-1990, civil war end 2009), specific agreements (ISFTA 2000, CEPA 2017), and recent developments (Hambantota Port lease 2017, economic crisis assistance 2022).

Pay special attention to constitutional provisions (13th Amendment), key personalities (Rajiv Gandhi, J.R. Jayewardene), and geographical features (Palk Strait, Palk Bay). For MCQs, watch for confusion between similar agreements, wrong dates, and incorrect personalities.

Common traps include mixing up Sri Lankan leaders, confusing IPKF deployment reasons, and wrong details about Chinese projects. Use elimination technique by identifying clearly wrong options first. Remember specific numbers: $4 billion crisis assistance, 99-year Hambantota lease, 30 km Palk Strait width.

Current affairs integration is crucial - stay updated on latest developments in bilateral relations, Chinese projects, and Tamil issue developments.