UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Conversations with Iran to continue: Jaishankar
Q1. On the Indian side, operations at the Shahid Beheshti terminal of Chabahar Port — reaffirmed during India's March 2026 outreach to Iran — are carried out by India Ports Global Ltd., which functions as a special purpose vehicle under which one of the following Union Ministries?
- A. Ministry of External Affairs
- B. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- C. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
- D. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
Q2. What is the duration (in years) of the long-term contract signed in May 2024 between India Ports Global Ltd. and Iran's Ports & Maritime Organization for operating the Shahid Beheshti terminal of Chabahar Port?
- A. 5 years
- B. 10 years
- C. 15 years
- D. 25 years
Q3. In the context of India's response to the 2026 West Asia crisis, the doctrine of 'strategic autonomy' invoked in commentary on the Government's position is best described as:
- A. India's policy of preserving independent decision-making and the freedom to pursue issue-based partnerships across rival blocs without entering binding military alliances
- B. A policy of mechanical equidistance from all major powers regardless of India's national interest in a given situation
- C. A constitutional requirement that all bilateral defence or security agreements receive prior approval of both Houses of Parliament
- D. India's declared nuclear posture of no-first-use coupled with maintenance of a minimum credible deterrent