UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — 139 Indians released from Russian military service, Centre tells SC

Q1. As per the Union Government's submission to the Supreme Court (May 2026), of the 217 Indian nationals who had joined the Russian Armed Forces, how many were reported to have been released from their contractual military service following diplomatic engagement?

  • A. 49
  • B. 78
  • C. 139
  • D. 168

Q2. In the Centre's submission, describing 139 Indians as having been 'released' from the Russian Armed Forces most precisely means which one of the following?

  • A. They were discharged from the contractual military engagement they had signed
  • B. They were acquitted by a Russian military court of desertion charges
  • C. They were granted Russian citizenship exempting them from further service
  • D. They had physically returned to and arrived back in India

Q3. The consular follow-up on the 26 Indian nationals named in the Supreme Court petition — ascertaining their whereabouts, securing release, and handling mortal remains abroad — is operationalised primarily by which one of the following?

  • A. Ministry of External Affairs, through the Indian Embassy in Moscow
  • B. Ministry of Home Affairs, through the Bureau of Immigration
  • C. Ministry of Defence, through the Directorate of Military Intelligence
  • D. Ministry of Labour and Employment, through the Protector General of Emigrants

Q4. Among the financial inducements allegedly used to recruit Indian youths into the Russian Armed Forces, which one was reportedly the largest single sum offered?

  • A. About USD 168,000 as compensation payable in the event of death
  • B. About USD 5,000 as a signing bonus on enlistment
  • C. About USD 2,500 as monthly salary
  • D. About USD 50,000 as a one-time relocation allowance

Q5. In India's criminal law as it stands after 1 July 2024, the offence of 'trafficking of person' — central to allegations of luring Indians into foreign military service — is defined under which one of the following provisions?

  • A. Section 143 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
  • B. Section 370 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860
  • C. Section 143 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
  • D. Section 8 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956

Q6. In the guarantee under Article 21 — 'No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law' — the expression 'procedure established by law' is most accurately understood, in present-day constitutional interpretation, as:

  • A. A procedure laid down by a validly enacted law which, following the Maneka Gandhi ruling, must also be just, fair and reasonable
  • B. Any procedure actually followed by the executive, whether or not backed by a statute
  • C. The American doctrine of substantive due process expressly written into the Constitution
  • D. A procedure that need only be prescribed by the government of the day through executive order

Q7. Apart from those reported as released, dead, or confirmed missing, the Centre informed the Supreme Court that the status of how many of the 217 Indian nationals remained unascertained?

  • A. 6
  • B. 14
  • C. 23
  • D. 49

Q8. The release of Indian nationals from Russian military contracts followed sustained diplomatic engagement. At the highest political level on the Indian side, the matter was taken up by which one of the following?

  • A. The External Affairs Minister, with his Russian counterpart, including during his August 2025 visit to Russia
  • B. The Protector General of Emigrants, with the Russian labour ministry
  • C. The defence attaché of the Indian Embassy, with the Russian Defence Ministry alone
  • D. The National Human Rights Commission, with the Russian ombudsman

Q9. In the Supreme Court proceedings, the Union Government was represented by an Additional Solicitor-General. Within India's system of law officers, the Additional Solicitor-General is best described as:

  • A. A law officer of the Union who assists the Attorney-General in representing the Government of India before the courts
  • B. The seniormost law officer of a State Government who appears for that State
  • C. A judge of the Supreme Court specially designated to hear government matters
  • D. An officer of the Supreme Court Registry who represents the Court in administrative matters