UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India getting ready for Xi, Putin visits in September

Q1. Consider the following statements comparing the two most recent rounds of BRICS enlargement: 1. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates became full members of BRICS with effect from 1 January 2024. 2. Indonesia was admitted as a full member of BRICS in January 2025. 3. Kazakhstan and Nigeria were admitted as full members in 2025, while Belarus and Cuba were given only partner-country status. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates became full members of BRICS with effect from 1 January 2024.
  2. Indonesia was admitted as a full member of BRICS in January 2025.
  3. Kazakhstan and Nigeria were admitted as full members in 2025, while Belarus and Cuba were given only partner-country status.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. The special cultural evening for visiting BRICS Sherpas and Sous Sherpas at the National Crafts Museum, New Delhi, was organised by the Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with which one of the following?

  • A. Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) under the Ministry of Textiles
  • B. Office of the Development Commissioner (Handlooms) under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
  • C. Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts under the Ministry of Culture
  • D. National Institute of Design under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Q3. In the BRICS process — including the meeting convened in New Delhi in February 2026 — who exactly are the 'Sherpas and Sous Sherpas'?

  • A. Personal representatives of the leaders who negotiate summit outcome documents through the year
  • B. Resident ambassadors of member states accredited to the country holding the annual chairship
  • C. Central bank deputies who settle the swap terms of the Contingent Reserve Arrangement
  • D. Technical experts nominated by the New Development Bank to appraise member project proposals

Q4. India's 2026 BRICS Chairship theme, 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability', reflects an approach first articulated by the Prime Minister at which summit?

  • A. 17th BRICS Summit, Rio de Janeiro, July 2025
  • B. 16th BRICS Summit, Kazan, October 2024
  • C. 15th BRICS Summit, Johannesburg, August 2023
  • D. 14th BRICS Summit, held in virtual format, June 2022

Q5. With reference to the India-China normalisation track since the Kazan meeting of 2024, consider the following: 1. The Kailash Manasarovar Yatra, organised by the Ministry of External Affairs, resumed in June 2025 after a gap of five years. 2. Direct commercial air services between the two countries resumed in October 2025, with IndiGo operating a Kolkata-Guangzhou flight. 3. Patrolling by the two militaries resumed in Demchok and Depsang after completion of disengagement in those areas. 4. The resumption of the Yatra and of direct flights followed the signing of a boundary settlement treaty at Kazan in 2024. Which of the above is/are NOT correctly stated?

  1. The Kailash Manasarovar Yatra, organised by the Ministry of External Affairs, resumed in June 2025 after a gap of five years.
  2. Direct commercial air services between the two countries resumed in October 2025, with IndiGo operating a Kolkata-Guangzhou flight.
  3. Patrolling by the two militaries resumed in Demchok and Depsang after completion of disengagement in those areas.
  4. The resumption of the Yatra and of direct flights followed the signing of a boundary settlement treaty at Kazan in 2024.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 4 only

Q6. When direct air services between India and China were restored in October 2025, which route was the first to be operated by an Indian carrier?

  • A. Kolkata-Guangzhou, operated by IndiGo
  • B. Delhi-Shanghai, operated by Air India
  • C. Mumbai-Beijing, operated by Air India Express
  • D. Chennai-Guangzhou, operated by IndiGo

Q7. During the Indian Foreign Secretary's July 2026 visit to Beijing, his interlocutor Sun Haiyan held the post of Vice Minister in which organisation?

  • A. International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
  • B. United Front Work Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
  • C. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
  • D. Secretariat of the National People's Congress Standing Committee

Q8. The Indian Foreign Secretary also called on an office-bearer of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. What is this body?

  • A. An advisory body whose National Committee brings together the CPC, non-Communist parties, mass organisations and independents
  • B. China's unicameral national legislature, which enacts statutes and approves the state budget
  • C. The Communist Party's highest organ between national congresses, which elects the Politburo
  • D. The Party's internal supervisory organ, which investigates discipline violations by cadres

Q9. The agreement establishing the New Development Bank and the treaty establishing the BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement were both signed at which BRICS Summit?

  • A. Sixth BRICS Summit, Fortaleza, 2014
  • B. Fifth BRICS Summit, Durban, 2013
  • C. Seventh BRICS Summit, Ufa, 2015
  • D. Eighth BRICS Summit, Goa, 2016

Q10. Who was the first President of the New Development Bank, which was operationalised in 2015 with headquarters at Shanghai?

  • A. K.V. Kamath, formerly head of a major Indian private sector bank
  • B. Y.V. Reddy, formerly Governor of the Reserve Bank of India
  • C. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, formerly Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission
  • D. Duvvuri Subbarao, formerly Finance Secretary in the Union Government

Q11. The first summit of the grouping, then known as BRIC, was held in which city in 2009?

  • A. Yekaterinburg, Russia
  • B. Brasilia, Brazil
  • C. Sanya, China
  • D. Durban, South Africa

Q12. Which body is the lead negotiating authority on the Indian side for the Bilateral Trade Agreement with the United States?

  • A. Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • B. Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance
  • C. Economic Diplomacy Division, Ministry of External Affairs
  • D. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade