UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Updates on Key Sectors in View of Developments in West Asia

Q1. Among India's imported petroleum products, which one has the highest share of its imports transiting the Strait of Hormuz?

  • A. Crude oil
  • B. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
  • C. Naphtha
  • D. Natural gas

Q2. As officially stated by the Government in 2026, approximately what share of its crude oil requirement does India meet through imports?

  • A. About 60%
  • B. About 70%
  • C. About 85%
  • D. About 95%

Q3. With reference to the Strait of Hormuz, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It lies between Iran to the north and Oman to the south.
  2. It links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
  3. It is regarded as the world's most important oil transit chokepoint.
  4. It connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q4. Through which one of the following waterways does the largest volume of the world's seaborne crude oil and petroleum liquids pass, making it the most important oil transit chokepoint?

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

Q5. In the context of recent developments in West Asia, 'Operation Sindhu' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. An Indian naval anti-piracy patrol mission in the Gulf of Aden
  • B. The evacuation of Indian nationals from Iran and Israel during the 2025 West Asia conflict
  • C. A strategic petroleum reserve build-up programme of the MoPNG
  • D. A scheme to divert refinery streams into the domestic LPG pool

Q6. Operation Sindhu, to evacuate Indian nationals from the Iran–Israel theatre, was launched in which month and year?

  • A. April 2015
  • B. February 2022
  • C. October 2023
  • D. June 2025

Q7. Decisions of the IGoM on West Asia to maintain uninterrupted domestic LPG and fuel supply are operationally implemented at the retail level primarily by which of the following?

  • A. The public-sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs)
  • B. The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) alone
  • C. GAIL (India) Limited only
  • D. The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI)

Q8. The Informal Group of Ministers (IGoM) on West Asia, the standing inter-ministerial mechanism reviewing energy and supply-chain risks, is chaired by which Union Minister?

  • A. The Minister of External Affairs
  • B. The Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister)
  • C. The Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas
  • D. The Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways

Q9. Consider the following matchings of Ministry with its lead role in India's West Asia contingency response. Which of the pairs given above is/are NOT correctly matched?

  1. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas — energy security (crude/LPG/PNG supply).
  2. Ministry of External Affairs — evacuation of the Indian diaspora (Operation Sindhu).
  3. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways — port operations and maritime logistics.
  4. Ministry of Home Affairs — management of India's strategic petroleum reserves.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 3 and 4

Q10. What is the amount of compensation approved for the public-sector Oil Marketing Companies to offset their domestic LPG under-recoveries during the West Asia oil shock?

  • A. ₹20,000 crore
  • B. ₹30,000 crore
  • C. ₹40,000 crore
  • D. ₹50,000 crore

Q11. Operation Kaveri was launched by India to evacuate its stranded nationals from which country?

  • A. Yemen
  • B. Ukraine
  • C. Sudan
  • D. Israel

Q12. In the context of the maritime logistics fallout of the West Asia conflict, the 'RELIEF' scheme stands for which of the following?

  • A. Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation
  • B. Rapid Evacuation and Logistics Initiative for Expatriate Families
  • C. Refinery LPG Enhancement and Import Equalisation Fund
  • D. Regional Energy Logistics and Inland Eastern Freight corridor