UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — 1st BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group Meeting held virtually under India’s BRICS Presidency New Delhi, 2nd – 3rd June 2026

Q1. With reference to the BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG), consider the following statements:

  1. It was established in 2015 by a decision of the BRICS Leaders to coordinate the grouping's anti-corruption cooperation.
  2. It functions exclusively as a subsidiary body of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
  3. Its chairmanship rotates each calendar year with the BRICS Chairship.
  4. Its mandate is restricted only to domestic anti-corruption reform within member states and excludes cross-border issues such as asset recovery.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 3 only

Q2. In the context of BRICS cooperation, the term 'BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG)' is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A Sherpa-track working group of BRICS member states, established in 2015, that coordinates cooperation on asset recovery, denial of safe haven and cross-border corruption
  • B. A treaty body established under the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) to review compliance by BRICS member states
  • C. A judicial mechanism of BRICS empowered to order extradition of fugitive economic offenders between member states
  • D. A standing oversight committee of the New Development Bank that audits BRICS-financed infrastructure projects for corruption

Q3. With reference to the 1st BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group Meeting (2–3 June 2026), which one of the following is the nodal Indian body that chaired the meeting?

  • A. Central Vigilance Commission
  • B. Central Bureau of Investigation
  • C. Department of Personnel and Training
  • D. Directorate of Enforcement

Q4. With reference to India's engagement with the BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG), consider the following statements: 1. The 1st BRICS ACWG Meeting under India's 2026 Presidency was held in physical mode in New Delhi. 2. The 2nd BRICS ACWG Meeting under India's 2026 Presidency is scheduled to be held in Hyderabad in August 2026. 3. India had earlier participated in the BRICS Anti-Corruption Ministerial Meet of 2022, which was held virtually under China's BRICS Chairship. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The 1st BRICS ACWG Meeting under India's 2026 Presidency was held in physical mode in New Delhi.
  2. The 2nd BRICS ACWG Meeting under India's 2026 Presidency is scheduled to be held in Hyderabad in August 2026.
  3. India had earlier participated in the BRICS Anti-Corruption Ministerial Meet of 2022, which was held virtually under China's BRICS Chairship.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. With reference to the official theme of India's BRICS Chairship 2026, 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability', which of the following is/are NOT among the four named pillars that form the BRICS acronym in this theme?

  1. Resilience
  2. Innovation
  3. Connectivity
  4. Sustainability
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 3 and 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4 only

Q6. With reference to India's BRICS Presidency in 2026, which of the following statements are correct?

  1. India formally assumed the BRICS Chairship from Brazil with effect from 1 January 2026.
  2. The 1st BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group Meeting under India's Presidency was held virtually on 2–3 June 2026.
  3. India is scheduled to host the 18th BRICS Summit in 2026.
  4. The inaugural BRICS Tourism Working Group Meeting of 2026 was chaired by China on behalf of the grouping.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. Indonesia was formally admitted as a full member of BRICS in January 2025 under the BRICS Chairship of which one of the following countries?

  • A. Russia
  • B. South Africa
  • C. Brazil
  • D. India

Q8. Which of the following countries were admitted as full members of BRICS during the expansion that took effect on 1 January 2024?

  1. Egypt
  2. Saudi Arabia
  3. Argentina
  4. United Arab Emirates
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q9. Under the provisions of which one of the following Acts does the superintendence over the Central Bureau of Investigation, in respect of investigation of offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, vest with the Central Vigilance Commission?

  • A. Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946
  • B. Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003
  • C. Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
  • D. Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013

Q10. With reference to the institutional architecture for tackling corruption in India, which of the following bodies are NOT under the administrative/nodal control of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT)?

  1. Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
  2. Enforcement Directorate (ED)
  3. Lokpal of India
  4. Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO)
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q11. Under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018, the 'Special Court' empowered to declare an individual as a fugitive economic offender is the Special Court designated under which one of the following statutes?

  • A. The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
  • B. The Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, 2002
  • C. The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
  • D. The Companies Act, 2013

Q12. With reference to India's domestic legal framework for combating black money, money-laundering and recovery of proceeds of crime, consider the following enactments:

  1. The Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, 2002
  2. The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018
  3. The Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992
  4. The Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Act, 2016
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q13. The BRICS Summit held at Xiamen, China — at which the Anti-Corruption Working Group was institutionalised — was which numbered summit in the BRICS Leaders' Summit series?

  • A. 7th
  • B. 8th
  • C. 9th
  • D. 10th

Q14. In the Government of India, which body is the nodal department that operationalises India's participation in the BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group?

  • A. Central Bureau of Investigation, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
  • B. Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
  • C. Enforcement Directorate, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance
  • D. Central Vigilance Commission