UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Structures outside Pakistan embassy pulled down in Delhi

Q1. Matters relating to the privileges and immunities of all foreign diplomatic missions in India, and the coordination of delivery of court summons to such missions, are dealt with by which one of the following?

  • A. The Foreigners Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs, headed by a Joint Secretary
  • B. The Consular, Passport and Visa Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, headed by a Joint Secretary
  • C. The Protocol Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, headed by the Chief of Protocol
  • D. The Diplomatic Security Wing of the Delhi Police, under the Ministry of Home Affairs

Q2. In the context of reciprocal measures taken between India and Pakistan against each other's missions, the term 'persona non grata' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A decision of the sending State to withdraw one of its diplomats before the receiving State formally objects to the appointment
  • B. The prior consent of the receiving State to a proposed head of mission, obtained before the appointment is announced
  • C. A notification by the receiving State that a member of a mission is unacceptable, obliging the sending State to recall the person or terminate their functions
  • D. A formal written protest handed over by the receiving State to a mission regarding conduct inconsistent with its functions

Q3. The text finalised at the United Nations Conference on Diplomatic Intercourse and Immunities was based on draft articles prepared by which one of the following bodies?

  • A. The Sixth (Legal) Committee of the United Nations General Assembly
  • B. The International Law Commission
  • C. The Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague
  • D. The United Nations Economic and Social Council

Q4. How many articles does the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961, contain?

  • A. 22
  • B. 46
  • C. 53
  • D. 79

Q5. A High Commissioner exchanged between two Commonwealth members corresponds in rank to which one of the following classes of heads of mission recognised under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961?

  • A. Envoys, ministers and internuncios accredited to Heads of State
  • B. Chargés d'affaires accredited to Ministers for Foreign Affairs
  • C. Counsellors placed in charge of a mission and accredited to Heads of Government
  • D. Ambassadors and nuncios accredited to Heads of State

Q6. The official listing of India's overseas missions — designating those in Commonwealth capitals differently from those in non-Commonwealth capitals — is maintained by which one of the following?

  • A. The Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
  • B. The Commonwealth Secretariat at Marlborough House, London
  • C. The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India
  • D. The Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Q7. Consider the following statements comparing the measures announced by India against Pakistan in June 2020 with those announced after the Cabinet Committee on Security's decision of April 2025: 1. The April 2025 decision capped the strength of the High Commissions at 30, down from 55, whereas the June 2020 measure had sought a 50 per cent reduction in the strength of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. 2. Placing the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 in abeyance was part of the April 2025 package but not of the June 2020 measures. 3. In April 2025 India expelled two Pakistani officials on charges of espionage, while in June 2020 it declared the Defence, Naval and Air Advisors of the Pakistan High Commission persona non grata. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The April 2025 decision capped the strength of the High Commissions at 30, down from 55, whereas the June 2020 measure had sought a 50 per cent reduction in the strength of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
  2. Placing the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 in abeyance was part of the April 2025 package but not of the June 2020 measures.
  3. In April 2025 India expelled two Pakistani officials on charges of espionage, while in June 2020 it declared the Defence, Naval and Air Advisors of the Pakistan High Commission persona non grata.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. Access to which of the following was denied to Pakistani nationals in April 2025 — the 'SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme' being correctly described as which one of the following?

  • A. An arrangement under which nationals of member states may enter any other member state without a visa for stays not exceeding thirty days
  • B. An arrangement under which specified categories of dignitaries of member states are issued special stickers exempting them from visa requirements for regional travel
  • C. An arrangement granting visa-on-arrival at designated international airports to businesspersons of member states
  • D. An arrangement exempting nationals of member states from registration with local police authorities during their stay in the region

Q9. The New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994, under which the civic body for the Chanakyapuri area is constituted, is administered by which one of the following?

  • A. The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India
  • B. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India
  • C. The Urban Development Department, Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi
  • D. The Secretariat of the Lieutenant Governor of the National Capital Territory of Delhi

Q10. With reference to the areas served by the New Delhi Municipal Council, consider the following: 1. Diplomatic Enclave, Chanakyapuri 2. Willingdon Camp 3. Sector 24, Dwarka 4. Bapu Dham Which of the above is/are correctly identified as falling within the area served by the New Delhi Municipal Council?

  1. Diplomatic Enclave, Chanakyapuri
  2. Willingdon Camp
  3. Sector 24, Dwarka
  4. Bapu Dham
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q11. Which one of the following areas of Delhi has been earmarked as the site of the country's second diplomatic enclave, coming after the original enclave at Chanakyapuri?

  • A. Vasant Kunj Institutional Area
  • B. An extension along Sardar Patel Marg adjoining the existing enclave
  • C. Sector 21, Dwarka
  • D. Sector 24, Dwarka

Q12. Allotment and management of Central Government land in Delhi, including plots given to foreign missions in the Diplomatic Enclave, is carried out by which one of the following?

  • A. The Directorate of Estates under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
  • B. The Land and Development Office under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
  • C. The Delhi Development Authority under the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi
  • D. The Protocol Division under the Ministry of External Affairs