UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Japan opens doors to global arms market in a change of its post-war pacifist policy
Q1. Article 9 of the Constitution of Japan (1947) explicitly names a set of armed forces that 'will never be maintained.' How many distinct types of armed forces does it name by term?
- A. Two
- B. Three
- C. Four
- D. Five
Q2. In Article 9, Japan 'forever renounces war as a sovereign right of the nation.' What does this phrase most precisely mean?
- A. Japan gives up war as a legitimate instrument of national policy, i.e. as a sovereign entitlement of statehood
- B. Japan renounces only wars of aggression while retaining a right to wage collective offensive war
- C. Japan transfers its war-making authority permanently to the UN Security Council
- D. Japan renounces nuclear weapons in particular while retaining full conventional forces
Q3. Japan's original Three Principles on Arms Exports, first announced in 1967, were subsequently broadened into a de facto blanket ban on weapons transfers by an amendment in which year?
- A. 1972
- B. 1976
- C. 1983
- D. 2014
Q4. With reference to the evolution of Japan's arms-export restraint, consider the following:
1. The Three Principles on Arms Exports were first announced in 1967.
2. Between 1983 and 2014, some 21 exemptions were carved into the original principles.
3. In 2014 they were replaced by the 'Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology.'
4. The restraint is constitutionally rooted in Article 11 of Japan's Constitution.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- The Three Principles on Arms Exports were first announced in 1967.
- Between 1983 and 2014, some 21 exemptions were carved into the original principles.
- In 2014 they were replaced by the 'Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology.'
- The restraint is constitutionally rooted in Article 11 of Japan's Constitution.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 4
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 2 and 4
Q5. With reference to the 2026 change in Japan's arms-export policy, consider the following:
1. It was approved by the Cabinet under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
2. Newly exportable lethal items include warships and missiles.
3. Buyers of lethal equipment are limited to states that have signed agreements protecting classified information — currently 17, including India and the US.
4. The change was effected by amending Article 9 of the Constitution.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- It was approved by the Cabinet under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
- Newly exportable lethal items include warships and missiles.
- Buyers of lethal equipment are limited to states that have signed agreements protecting classified information — currently 17, including India and the US.
- The change was effected by amending Article 9 of the Constitution.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 1, 3 and 4
- D. 1 and 2 only
Q6. Around the 2026 relaxation, Japan concluded what it described as its first postwar export of lethal war-fighting equipment — a deal to sell advanced warships. To which country was this landmark deal signed?
- A. Australia
- B. United States
- C. United Kingdom
- D. India
Q7. With reference to international reactions to Japan's 2026 arms-export shift, consider the following:
1. The United States welcomed it, with its ambassador terming it a 'historic step.'
2. Australia welcomed the shift.
3. China criticised it, warning against a 'new type of militarism.'
4. China responded by removing Japanese entities from its export-control list.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- The United States welcomed it, with its ambassador terming it a 'historic step.'
- Australia welcomed the shift.
- China criticised it, warning against a 'new type of militarism.'
- China responded by removing Japanese entities from its export-control list.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 4
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q8. Among major powers, which country was the sharpest critic of Japan's 2026 arms-export decision, with its foreign ministry warning that the international community would 'resolutely resist' Japan's moves toward a 'new type of militarism'?
- A. China
- B. Russia
- C. North Korea
- D. South Korea
Q9. Which body constitutes Japan's post-World War II armed forces, established in 1954 under the framework of self-defence?
- A. National Police Reserve
- B. National Safety Force
- C. Self-Defense Forces
- D. Imperial Japanese Army
Q10. The 2020 India-Japan agreement on Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services (ACSA), enabling logistics support between the Indian armed forces and Japan's Self-Defense Forces, was concluded on India's behalf under which Ministry?
- A. Ministry of Defence
- B. Ministry of External Affairs
- C. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- D. Ministry of Home Affairs
Q11. With reference to the Wassenaar Arrangement compared with a legally binding treaty regime, consider the following statements:
1. It is a multilateral export-control regime covering conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies.
2. India became a participating member of the Wassenaar Arrangement in 2017.
3. Membership legally obliges participating states to prohibit exports to non-members.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It is a multilateral export-control regime covering conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies.
- India became a participating member of the Wassenaar Arrangement in 2017.
- Membership legally obliges participating states to prohibit exports to non-members.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q12. Which trilateral security partnership is delivering nuclear-powered submarine technology to Australia within the shifting Indo-Pacific security architecture?
- A. The Quad
- B. AUKUS
- C. ANZUS
- D. Five Eyes