UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — CIA activities: MPs’ fears allayed

Q1. The U.S. Senate committee popularly known as the 'Church Committee', constituted in 1975 to investigate abuses by American intelligence agencies, took its informal name from its chairman, who was which one of the following?

  • A. Senator Frank Church of Idaho
  • B. Senator Sam Ervin of North Carolina
  • C. Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas
  • D. Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona

Q2. The Church Committee (1975) was constituted to investigate alleged abuses by the principal U.S. federal agencies. Of the following three agencies — the FBI, the CIA and the NSA — how many fell within the scope of its investigation?

  • A. Only one
  • B. Only two
  • C. All three
  • D. None; it examined only state police forces

Q3. In the Lok Sabha, a 'Half-an-Hour Discussion' can be raised only with the permission of which one of the following?

  • A. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
  • B. The President of India
  • C. The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
  • D. The Leader of the House

Q4. On how many sitting days in a week are Half-an-Hour Discussions generally held in the Lok Sabha?

  • A. Two days
  • B. Three days
  • C. Four days
  • D. Five days

Q5. With reference to the 1976 Lok Sabha episode in which the Government responded to concerns over CIA activities in India, consider the following statements: 1. The matter was raised in the House through a Half-an-Hour Discussion. 2. The Government stated that it had found no proof of CIA links with the organisations named by members. 3. The Government's reply was given by a Minister in the Ministry of Home Affairs. 4. The Government confirmed that the named organisations were established fronts of the CIA. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. The matter was raised in the House through a Half-an-Hour Discussion.
  2. The Government stated that it had found no proof of CIA links with the organisations named by members.
  3. The Government's reply was given by a Minister in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
  4. The Government confirmed that the named organisations were established fronts of the CIA.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q6. The Government's reply in the 1976 Lok Sabha discussion on CIA activities was delivered primarily by the holder of an office in which one of the following ministries/departments, reflecting its lead role in internal security and vigilance?

  • A. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • B. Ministry of External Affairs
  • C. Ministry of Defence
  • D. Cabinet Secretariat

Q7. During the Cold War, the collection of foreign intelligence abroad and the conduct of covert operations outside India — functions comparable to those of the U.S. CIA — were entrusted to which one of the following Indian agencies?

  • A. The Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW)
  • B. The Intelligence Bureau (IB)
  • C. The National Investigation Agency (NIA)
  • D. The National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO)

Q8. With reference to India's foreign-policy posture during the Cold War, consider the following statements: 1. The first conference of the Non-Aligned Movement was held in 1961. 2. Jawaharlal Nehru was among the founding leaders of the Non-Aligned Movement. 3. By 1965 the Soviet Union had become one of India's major arms suppliers. 4. India was a formal member of a Western collective-defence military alliance. Which of the statements given above are correctly stated?

  1. The first conference of the Non-Aligned Movement was held in 1961.
  2. Jawaharlal Nehru was among the founding leaders of the Non-Aligned Movement.
  3. By 1965 the Soviet Union had become one of India's major arms suppliers.
  4. India was a formal member of a Western collective-defence military alliance.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q9. A private member's bill seeking statutory parliamentary oversight of India's intelligence agencies proposes, as its apex oversight body, the creation of which one of the following?

  • A. A National Intelligence and Security Oversight Committee
  • B. A National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID)
  • C. A National Security Council Secretariat
  • D. A Multi-Agency Centre

Q10. The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 amends the parent law that regulates the receipt of foreign contributions by associations in India. The FCRA is administered by which one of the following as its nodal ministry?

  • A. The Ministry of Home Affairs
  • B. The Ministry of External Affairs
  • C. The Ministry of Finance
  • D. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs

Q11. With reference to the institutional legacy of the Church Committee, consider the following statements: 1. Its recommendations led to the creation of a permanent congressional committee to oversee intelligence activities, in contrast to its own temporary select-committee character. 2. Its recommendations were accompanied by an executive order banning assassinations. 3. The Church Committee was itself a permanent standing committee of the U.S. Senate. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. Its recommendations led to the creation of a permanent congressional committee to oversee intelligence activities, in contrast to its own temporary select-committee character.
  2. Its recommendations were accompanied by an executive order banning assassinations.
  3. The Church Committee was itself a permanent standing committee of the U.S. Senate.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3