UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — NATO enters a new strategic era of transformation

Question 1

The Brussels Treaty of 1948, often described as a forerunner of the North Atlantic Treaty, is best described as which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

A mutual defence pact among Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom

Answer

A collective defence pact among Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Portugal

Answer

An economic recovery compact among France, Italy, the Netherlands and the United States

Answer

A naval basing agreement among Denmark, Iceland, Norway and the United Kingdom

Question 2

The North Atlantic Treaty, which brought the alliance into existence, was signed in Washington, D.C. on which one of the following dates?

Accepted Answer

4 April 1949

Answer

17 March 1948

Answer

18 December 1950

Answer

1 October 1954

Question 3

Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty has been invoked on only one occasion in the alliance's history. That invocation followed which one of the following events?

Accepted Answer

The terrorist attacks on the United States of September 2001

Answer

The violation of Polish airspace by Russian drones in September 2025

Answer

The accession of Finland and Sweden to the alliance in 2023-24

Answer

The naming of the first Supreme Allied Commander Europe in December 1950

Question 4

In September 2025, following the entry of Russian drones into its airspace, Poland formally sought consultations among allies under which provision of the North Atlantic Treaty?

Accepted Answer

Article 4

Answer

Article 5

Answer

Article 3

Answer

Article 10

Question 5

With reference to NATO's enlargement, consider the following statements:
1. Finland became the alliance's 31st member in April 2023.
2. Sweden's accession was held up by objections from Turkey and Hungary and was completed in March 2024, taking the membership to 32.
3. Iceland was admitted to the alliance only after the end of the Cold War.
4. Admission of a new member requires unanimous approval, and any existing member may refuse to sign the accession protocols for any reason.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 4

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 3

Answer

3 and 4 only

Question 6

After accession talks and a letter of intent from an applicant state, the decisive step that actually brings that state into NATO is which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

Signature and ratification of the accession protocols by every existing member state, followed by ratification in the applicant's own legislature

Answer

Adoption of an admission resolution by a two-thirds majority of the North Atlantic Council, followed by ratification in the applicant's own legislature

Answer

Endorsement of the applicant by the United Nations Security Council, followed by certification by the alliance's Secretary-General

Answer

Certification of the applicant's forces by the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, followed by an order of the Allied Command Operations at SHAPE

Question 7

With reference to the defence spending goal endorsed by NATO at its June 2025 summit, consider the following statements:
1. Of the headline target, 3.5% of GDP is earmarked for core defence, that is, troops and weapons.
2. The remaining 1.5% of GDP covers broader defence-related measures such as cyber security, protection of pipelines, and adapting roads and bridges to carry heavy military vehicles.
3. Spain declared that it does not need to meet the goal.
4. The summit that endorsed the goal was held at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 3

Answer

1 and 4 only

Answer

2, 3 and 4

Answer

3 and 4 only

Question 8

The 5% of GDP defence spending goal endorsed by NATO at The Hague is to be attained by which one of the following target years?

Accepted Answer

2035

Answer

2030

Answer

2032

Answer

2028

Question 9

The Defence Investment Pledge adopted by NATO members at the 2014 Wales Summit is best described as which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

A commitment to a defence budget of 2% of GDP, with a fifth of it going to equipment and research and development

Answer

A commitment to a defence budget of 2% of GDP, with a fifth of it going to civil resilience and infrastructure hardening

Answer

A commitment to a defence budget of 3.5% of GDP, with the balance going to cyber security and pipeline protection

Answer

A commitment to pool a fifth of each member's defence budget in a common alliance procurement fund

Question 10

In the United States National Security Strategy of November 2025, the goal described as 'burden sharing and burden shifting' rests on which one of the following propositions?

Accepted Answer

Wealthy, sophisticated nations must assume primary responsibility for their own regions

Answer

Wealthy, sophisticated nations must transfer a fixed share of their defence budgets to allied procurement pools

Answer

Wealthy, sophisticated nations must place their conventional forces under allied command in peacetime

Answer

Wealthy, sophisticated nations must extend their nuclear guarantees to smaller partners in their regions

Question 11

India and the European Union concluded a Security and Defence Partnership covering maritime security, cyber security and cyber defence, and counter-terrorism. This was concluded on the occasion of which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

The 16th India-EU Summit held in New Delhi in January 2026

Answer

The second ministerial meeting of the EU-India Trade and Technology Council held in February 2025

Answer

The 5th India-EU Summit held at The Hague in 2004, which upgraded ties to a Strategic Partnership

Answer

The first India-EU Summit held at Lisbon in June 2000, which institutionalised annual summits

Question 12

The North Atlantic Council, composed of ministerial representatives of member states and chaired by the Secretary-General, is required to meet at ministerial level at least how many times in a year?

Accepted Answer

Two

Answer

One

Answer

Four

Answer

Six

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — NATO enters a new strategic era of transformation

Q1. The Brussels Treaty of 1948, often described as a forerunner of the North Atlantic Treaty, is best described as which one of the following?

Q2. The North Atlantic Treaty, which brought the alliance into existence, was signed in Washington, D.C. on which one of the following dates?

Q3. Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty has been invoked on only one occasion in the alliance's history. That invocation followed which one of the following events?

Q4. In September 2025, following the entry of Russian drones into its airspace, Poland formally sought consultations among allies under which provision of the North Atlantic Treaty?

Q6. After accession talks and a letter of intent from an applicant state, the decisive step that actually brings that state into NATO is which one of the following?

Q8. The 5% of GDP defence spending goal endorsed by NATO at The Hague is to be attained by which one of the following target years?

Q9. The Defence Investment Pledge adopted by NATO members at the 2014 Wales Summit is best described as which one of the following?

Q10. In the United States National Security Strategy of November 2025, the goal described as 'burden sharing and burden shifting' rests on which one of the following propositions?

Q11. India and the European Union concluded a Security and Defence Partnership covering maritime security, cyber security and cyber defence, and counter-terrorism. This was concluded on the occasion of which one of the following?

Q12. The North Atlantic Council, composed of ministerial representatives of member states and chaired by the Secretary-General, is required to meet at ministerial level at least how many times in a year?