UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Oil imports from Russia hit 38-month low

Q1. Russia's share of India's total crude oil imports in December 2025 — a 38-month low — was approximately what percentage?

  • A. About 24.9%
  • B. About 34%
  • C. About 40%
  • D. About 18%

Q2. The Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC), which tracks and publishes India's monthly crude oil import data referenced in the December 2025 figures, functions under which of the following Union Ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • B. Ministry of External Affairs
  • C. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
  • D. Ministry of Finance

Q3. With reference to India's crude oil import pattern in December 2025 as compared with November 2025, consider the following statements: 1. Russia's share of India's total crude imports fell from about 34% in November 2025 to about 24.9% in December 2025. 2. India's crude oil imports from the United States rose year-on-year in December 2025, even as imports from Russia contracted. 3. India's December 2025 crude import volume from Russia of about 5.8 million tonnes was the highest recorded in 38 months. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Russia's share of India's total crude imports fell from about 34% in November 2025 to about 24.9% in December 2025.
  2. India's crude oil imports from the United States rose year-on-year in December 2025, even as imports from Russia contracted.
  3. India's December 2025 crude import volume from Russia of about 5.8 million tonnes was the highest recorded in 38 months.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. With reference to the U.S. sanctions package announced on 22 October 2025 (effective 21 November 2025) that significantly affected India's Russian crude oil intake, consider the following entities: 1. Rosneft 2. Lukoil 3. Gazprom 4. Majority-owned subsidiaries of Rosneft and Lukoil Which of the above is/are correctly identified as entities directly designated under that sanctions package?

  1. Rosneft
  2. Lukoil
  3. Gazprom
  4. Majority-owned subsidiaries of Rosneft and Lukoil
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q5. In the context of India's crude oil imports from Russia, the term 'Urals crude' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A medium-sour crude oil blend that is Russia's principal seaborne export grade
  • B. A light-sweet crude produced exclusively in eastern Siberia for the Asia-Pacific market
  • C. A natural gas condensate extracted from the Yamal Peninsula and exported as LNG feedstock
  • D. A refined petroleum product blended at Black Sea terminals before export to South Asia