UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — The 13th BRICS Urbanisation Forum under India’s Chairship Begins in New Delhi

Q1. In the context of BRICS, the term 'partner country' (as distinct from a full member) refers to a category of association under which one of the following countries has been inducted?

  • A. Indonesia
  • B. Belarus
  • C. Egypt
  • D. United Arab Emirates

Q2. With reference to the evolution and expansion of BRICS, consider the following statements: 1. The first BRIC Summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009. 2. South Africa joined the grouping — transforming BRIC into BRICS — in 2011. 3. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates became full members of BRICS with effect from 1 January 2024. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The first BRIC Summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009.
  2. South Africa joined the grouping — transforming BRIC into BRICS — in 2011.
  3. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates became full members of BRICS with effect from 1 January 2024.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. In the context of BRICS cooperation, the 'BRICS Urbanisation Forum' is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A Track-II civil-society dialogue on smart-city financing convened alongside the annual BRICS Leaders' Summit
  • B. A recurring sectoral ministerial track of BRICS that brings together ministers in charge of housing/urban affairs of member states to deliberate on urban development cooperation
  • C. A UN-Habitat sub-programme jointly funded by the BRICS New Development Bank to support municipal infrastructure in member states
  • D. A biennial mayors' summit organised under the BRICS Business Council to coordinate municipal procurement among member cities

Q4. With reference to the BRICS grouping, the term 'Sherpa', as used in the context of the meeting hosted by India in New Delhi on 9–10 February 2026, refers to which one of the following?

  • A. The senior official designated by each member country to coordinate the BRICS agenda and prepare deliverables on behalf of its leader
  • B. The rotating non-resident Chairperson of the Board of Governors of the New Development Bank
  • C. An independent technical expert nominated by the host country to draft the annual BRICS Leaders' Declaration
  • D. The head of the BRICS Business Council nominated by each member country's apex chamber of commerce

Q5. In the context of the origin of the BRICS grouping, the term 'BRIC' was first coined in 2001 in which one of the following contexts?

  • A. An economic research paper by Goldman Sachs projecting the long-term growth trajectory of major emerging economies
  • B. A joint communiqué of the G-20 Finance Ministers identifying systemically important emerging markets
  • C. A United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report on South–South cooperation
  • D. An International Monetary Fund (IMF) Working Paper on reform of the global financial architecture

Q6. Among the following flagship schemes of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, which one has the largest total indicative investment outlay?

  • A. Smart Cities Mission
  • B. AMRUT 2.0
  • C. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban 2.0
  • D. Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban 2.0

Q7. With reference to the National Urban Conclave 2025 held at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, consider the following initiatives: 1. Urban Invest Window (UiWIN) 2. Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme (DRAP) 3. PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan 4. Swachh Bharat Mission – Knowledge Management Unit (KMU) Which of the above are correctly identified as initiatives launched/unveiled at this Conclave?

  1. Urban Invest Window (UiWIN)
  2. Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme (DRAP)
  3. PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan
  4. Swachh Bharat Mission – Knowledge Management Unit (KMU)
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4 only

Q8. In the context of urban policy announcements made at the National Urban Conclave 2025, the 'Urban Invest Window (UiWIN)' is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A one-stop investment facilitation platform for Indian cities, set up by HUDCO under the guidance of MoHUA, to channel private investment and concessional multilateral finance into urban infrastructure
  • B. A SEBI-regulated municipal bond trading window operated exclusively by the Ministry of Finance for all Urban Local Bodies
  • C. A statutory single-window clearance portal that mandatorily approves every state-level urban housing project under PMAY-Urban 2.0
  • D. A NITI Aayog dashboard that solely tracks foreign direct investment inflows into India's 100 Smart Cities

Q9. How many member countries participated in the 13th BRICS Urbanisation Forum held in New Delhi in June 2026 under India's BRICS Chairship?

  • A. Eight
  • B. Nine
  • C. Ten
  • D. Eleven

Q10. With reference to BRICS sectoral and ministerial tracks under India's 2026 Chairship, consider the following statements: 1. The First Meeting of the BRICS Sherpas under India's 2026 Chairship was held in New Delhi in February 2026. 2. The 13th BRICS Urbanisation Forum (June 2026) is hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs as the nodal ministry. 3. BRICS cooperation, as reaffirmed by its Foreign Ministers in 2025, is organised around three pillars — political and security; economy and finance; and cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The First Meeting of the BRICS Sherpas under India's 2026 Chairship was held in New Delhi in February 2026.
  2. The 13th BRICS Urbanisation Forum (June 2026) is hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs as the nodal ministry.
  3. BRICS cooperation, as reaffirmed by its Foreign Ministers in 2025, is organised around three pillars — political and security; economy and finance; and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3