UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — New START’s expiry risks pushing the world to unchecked nuclear rivalry

Question 1

The New START Treaty, which expired in February 2026, was signed in 2010 by the Presidents of the United States and Russia. Under whose presidencies was the treaty signed?

Accepted Answer

Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev

Answer

George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin

Answer

Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin

Answer

Joseph Biden and Dmitry Medvedev

Question 2

In the context of the New START Treaty, the term 'strategic offensive arms' that fell within its central limits referred to which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

Deployed intercontinental-range delivery systems and the warheads carried on them

Answer

All nuclear warheads in a State's stockpile, including reserve and retired warheads

Answer

Tactical (non-strategic) nuclear weapons forward-deployed in Europe

Answer

Intermediate-range ground-launched missiles between 500 and 5,500 km

Question 3

With reference to the New START Treaty (2010) and its predecessor SORT / Moscow Treaty (2002), consider the following statements:
1. SORT capped deployed strategic warheads at 1,700–2,200 per side, whereas New START lowered the cap to 1,550 per side.
2. Unlike SORT, New START contained an explicit verification regime including on-site inspections and regular data exchanges.
3. SORT was a multilateral treaty open to the five NPT nuclear-weapon States, whereas New START was bilateral between the United States and Russia.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 4

Under the central limits of the New START Treaty that lapsed on 5 February 2026, what was the maximum number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads permitted to the United States and to the Russian Federation, per side?

Accepted Answer

1,550

Answer

1,350

Answer

2,200

Answer

6,000

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — New START’s expiry risks pushing the world to unchecked nuclear rivalry

Q1. The New START Treaty, which expired in February 2026, was signed in 2010 by the Presidents of the United States and Russia. Under whose presidencies was the treaty signed?

Q2. In the context of the New START Treaty, the term 'strategic offensive arms' that fell within its central limits referred to which one of the following?

Q4. Under the central limits of the New START Treaty that lapsed on 5 February 2026, what was the maximum number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads permitted to the United States and to the Russian Federation, per side?