UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Centre ensuring steady flow of cooking gas during turbulent times: Nirmala Sitharaman

Q1. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's statement in March 2026 that the Centre had ensured a steady flow of cooking gas during turbulent times in West Asia was made in the Rajya Sabha while replying to the debate on which one of the following?

  • A. The Finance Bill, 2026
  • B. The Appropriation Bill
  • C. Demands for Grants of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
  • D. A Short Duration Discussion under Rule 176

Q2. The March 2026 order directing oil refineries and petrochemical complexes to maximise LPG output by diverting propane, butane, propylene and butene streams to the LPG pool was issued by which one of the following?

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

Q3. Which single maritime chokepoint accounts for the largest share (about 90%) of India's imported Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) shipments, as cited by the Centre during the 2026 West Asia crisis?

  • A. Strait of Malacca
  • B. Bab el-Mandeb
  • C. Suez Canal
  • D. Strait of Hormuz

Q4. In the context of India's LPG import pricing, the term 'Saudi CP', which moved sharply upward during the 2026 West Asia crisis, most accurately refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A consumer subsidy granted by the Government of Saudi Arabia on LPG cylinders exported to South Asia
  • B. The monthly Contract Price notified by Saudi Aramco for propane and butane, which serves as the international benchmark for Asian LPG imports
  • C. A ceiling price for crude petroleum agreed by OPEC+ members and applied to long-term Asian buyers
  • D. The capacity-linked freight tariff charged by Saudi-flagged Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGCs) on Gulf–India routes