UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Rationalising Iran’s nuclear capability

Question 1

Under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), a 'nuclear-weapon State' is defined as one that manufactured and exploded a nuclear weapon or other nuclear explosive device before which date?

Accepted Answer

1 January 1967

Answer

1 July 1968

Answer

1 January 1970

Answer

5 March 1970

Question 2

With reference to the five nuclear-weapon States (NWS) recognised under the NPT, consider the following:
1. France
2. India
3. China
4. Israel
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as an NPT-recognised nuclear-weapon State?

Accepted Answer

1 and 3

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Answer

2 and 4

Answer

1, 3 and 4

Question 3

Which international body is mandated to verify, through safeguards inspections, that Iran's enriched-uranium stockpile is not diverted to nuclear-weapon use?

Accepted Answer

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Answer

Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

Answer

Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO)

Answer

UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA)

Question 4

Iran's uranium enrichment was capped at 3.67% U-235 under which instrument, and in what year was that instrument concluded?

Accepted Answer

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), 2015

Answer

The NPT, 1968

Answer

The IAEA Model Additional Protocol, 1997

Answer

UN Security Council Resolution 1737, 2006

Question 5

Consider the following statements about the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA):
1. It was endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2231.
2. The United States withdrew from it in 2018.
3. It was concluded in 2015.
4. India was one of its negotiating parties.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2, 3 and 4 only

Answer

1, 3 and 4 only

Question 6

The 'snapback' reimposition of UN sanctions on Iran in 2025 was formally triggered by which group of states?

Accepted Answer

France, Germany and the United Kingdom (the E3)

Answer

The United States and Israel

Answer

Russia and China

Answer

The IAEA Board of Governors

Question 7

The snapback mechanism that led to the automatic reimposition of UN sanctions on Iran in September 2025 is embedded in which UN Security Council resolution?

Accepted Answer

Resolution 2231 (2015)

Answer

Resolution 1737 (2006)

Answer

Resolution 598 (1987)

Answer

Resolution 2200 (2015)

Question 8

Within the International Atomic Energy Agency, resolutions finding Iran in non-compliance with its safeguards obligations, and instruments such as the Model Additional Protocol, are adopted by which principal policy organ?

Accepted Answer

The Board of Governors

Answer

The General Conference

Answer

The Secretariat

Answer

The UN Security Council

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Rationalising Iran’s nuclear capability

Q1. Under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), a 'nuclear-weapon State' is defined as one that manufactured and exploded a nuclear weapon or other nuclear explosive device before which date?

Q2. With reference to the five nuclear-weapon States (NWS) recognised under the NPT, consider the following: 1. France 2. India 3. China 4. Israel Which of the above is/are correctly identified as an NPT-recognised nuclear-weapon State?

Q3. Which international body is mandated to verify, through safeguards inspections, that Iran's enriched-uranium stockpile is not diverted to nuclear-weapon use?

Q4. Iran's uranium enrichment was capped at 3.67% U-235 under which instrument, and in what year was that instrument concluded?

Q6. The 'snapback' reimposition of UN sanctions on Iran in 2025 was formally triggered by which group of states?

Q7. The snapback mechanism that led to the automatic reimposition of UN sanctions on Iran in September 2025 is embedded in which UN Security Council resolution?

Q8. Within the International Atomic Energy Agency, resolutions finding Iran in non-compliance with its safeguards obligations, and instruments such as the Model Additional Protocol, are adopted by which principal policy organ?