Which of the below statements is/are correct?
Statement 1: India supports connectivity through the North-South Transport Corridor.
Statement 2: The corridor strengthens India's trade with the Pacific Islands.

Correct option is B

The correct answer is (b) Only Statement 1 is correct
Explanation:
· Statement 1 is correct. India supports connectivity through the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal network linking India with Eurasian regions—via ship, rail, and road—to boost trade and improve connectivity with Central Asia, Russia, and Europe.
· Statement 2 is incorrect. The INSTC does not involve or strengthen India's trade with the Pacific Islands. It connects India to regions in Eurasia, specifically Central Asia, Russia, and Europe.
Information Booster:
· The INSTC was launched in September 2000 by India, Russia, and Iran to establish a more efficient trade route, avoiding longer sea paths like the Suez route.
· It helps cut transit times by up to 40%, making freight transport faster, cheaper, and more reliable between India and Eurasian markets.
· The corridor often uses Iranian ports like Chabahar and Bandar Abbas as key transit gateways, highlighting the strategic importance of India–Iran cooperation in this initiative.
Additional Knowledge:
· There is no linkage between the INSTC and the Pacific Islands. The corridor focuses entirely on connecting South Asia with landlocked Central Asia, Russia, and further into Europe— not the Pacific region.
· India’s trade or connectivity with the Pacific Islands involves other programs like the India–Pacific Islands Forum and bilateral maritime initiatives, but not INSTC.