Explanation

The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a strategic 7,200 km multimodal network combining sea, rail, and road routes to enhance connectivity between India, Iran, Central Asia, Russia, and Europe.

The corridor begins from India (Mumbai port), moves to Iran using ports like Chabahar and Bandar Abbas, and then proceeds northward through Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries to reach Russia and further into Europe. This creates a continuous trade link from the Indian Ocean to the Caspian region and Europe.

A key objective of INSTC is to provide an alternative to the traditional Suez Canal route, reducing transit time (by ~30–40%) and costs for trade between India and Europe. It also enhances India’s strategic access to Central Asia, bypassing geographical constraints.

Thus, INSTC connects India to Central Asia and Europe via Iran, making Option A correct.