UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — China opposes U.S. sanctions Bill; Russia says it could hinder peace
Q1. Within the United Nations human rights machinery, which one of the following is the lead mandate-holder whose thematic reporting has covered secondary sanctions, penalties for circumvention of sanctions regimes, and overcompliance by business entities?
- A. Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on international trade and development
- B. Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations on the enjoyment of human rights
- C. Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights
- D. Special Rapporteur on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order
Q2. Consider the following statements about India's oil import profile as reported for 2026:
1. India meets about 88 per cent of its oil requirement through petroleum imports.
2. Russian crude accounted for about 56 per cent of India's total crude imports in July 2026, a record month.
3. India's strategic petroleum reserves are equivalent to roughly 90-100 days of its net crude imports.
4. More than 85 per cent of India's crude imports are sourced from just six countries.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- India meets about 88 per cent of its oil requirement through petroleum imports.
- Russian crude accounted for about 56 per cent of India's total crude imports in July 2026, a record month.
- India's strategic petroleum reserves are equivalent to roughly 90-100 days of its net crude imports.
- More than 85 per cent of India's crude imports are sourced from just six countries.
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 2, 3 and 4
- C. 1 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2 and 4
Q3. In the legislative process of the United States, the expression 'pocket veto' denotes which one of the following?
- A. The President's authority to strike out individual items of a measure while approving the rest of it, a power available in respect of all appropriations legislation
- B. The power of the Senate to hold up any bill passed by the House indefinitely by declining to refer it to a standing committee, a refusal that is final in every instance
- C. The President's return of a measure to the originating chamber along with a statement of objections, which permanently bars its reconsideration by either chamber
- D. The President's simple failure to sign a measure within the prescribed period where Congress has adjourned in the meantime, so that the measure lapses and cannot be overridden
Q4. The requirement that every bill passed by both chambers be presented to the President, and the procedure by which a disapproved bill may nevertheless be enacted on reconsideration by a two-thirds vote of each chamber, are laid down in which one of the following provisions of the Constitution of the United States?
- A. Article I, Section 8, Clause 3
- B. Article II, Section 2, Clause 2
- C. Article I, Section 7, Clause 2
- D. Article I, Section 9, Clause 7
Q5. Consider the following statements about the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, 2026:
1. It was cleared by the United States Senate on 7 August 2026 before being taken up in the House of Representatives.
2. It extends the expiry date of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 by ten years, that is, up to 2036.
3. Its secondary tariff authority is capped at up to 100 per cent, in place of the blanket 500 per cent figure canvassed in earlier drafts.
4. It exempts countries that import less than 15 per cent of their natural gas from Russia and are taking steps to reduce those imports.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It was cleared by the United States Senate on 7 August 2026 before being taken up in the House of Representatives.
- It extends the expiry date of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 by ten years, that is, up to 2036.
- Its secondary tariff authority is capped at up to 100 per cent, in place of the blanket 500 per cent figure canvassed in earlier drafts.
- It exempts countries that import less than 15 per cent of their natural gas from Russia and are taking steps to reduce those imports.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1, 3 and 4
- C. 2 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q6. Consider the following statements comparing the version of the Russia sanctions legislation finally passed by the United States Congress in 2026 with the earlier draft introduced in the Senate:
1. The earlier draft proposed a blanket tariff of 500 per cent on goods from countries buying Russian oil and gas, whereas the version finally passed caps the tariff at up to 100 per cent.
2. The measure was renamed to bring Iran within its scope, becoming the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, 2026.
3. Unlike the earlier draft, the version finally passed makes the imposition of the tariffs automatic upon enactment, removing presidential discretion in the matter.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The earlier draft proposed a blanket tariff of 500 per cent on goods from countries buying Russian oil and gas, whereas the version finally passed caps the tariff at up to 100 per cent.
- The measure was renamed to bring Iran within its scope, becoming the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, 2026.
- Unlike the earlier draft, the version finally passed makes the imposition of the tariffs automatic upon enactment, removing presidential discretion in the matter.
- A. 1 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 2 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q7. In June 2026, the resumed Eleventh Emergency Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted a text demanding an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine. How many Member States abstained in the recorded vote on that text?
Q8. The three-day ceasefire between Ukraine and the Russian Federation observed from 9 to 11 May 2026, along with the accompanying large-scale exchange of prisoners, was welcomed by the UN Secretary-General, who commended the facilitation of that agreement principally by which one of the following?
- A. Turkiye
- B. The United States
- C. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
- D. The International Committee of the Red Cross
Q9. With reference to the position articulated by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the United States sanctions legislation of 2026, consider the following:
1. China opposes long-arm jurisdiction that lacks a basis in international law and is not authorised by the United Nations Security Council.
2. China holds that its economic and trade cooperation with other countries neither targets any third party nor is subject to interference or coercion from any third party.
3. China announced that it would, as its immediate response, refer the legislation to the Dispute Settlement Body of the World Trade Organization for adjudication.
4. China has on earlier occasions invoked its Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law in response to United States blacklisting of Chinese oil companies.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- China opposes long-arm jurisdiction that lacks a basis in international law and is not authorised by the United Nations Security Council.
- China holds that its economic and trade cooperation with other countries neither targets any third party nor is subject to interference or coercion from any third party.
- China announced that it would, as its immediate response, refer the legislation to the Dispute Settlement Body of the World Trade Organization for adjudication.
- China has on earlier occasions invoked its Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law in response to United States blacklisting of Chinese oil companies.
- A. 1 only
- B. 3 only
- C. 3 and 4 only
- D. 2 and 3 only
Q10. With reference to the sanctions architecture of the United Nations Security Council, consider the following:
1. A sanctions committee is a subsidiary organ of the Council composed of all fifteen of its members.
2. Each sanctions regime is administered by a committee chaired by a member of the Security Council.
3. A decision of the Council on a non-procedural matter requires an affirmative vote of nine members including the concurring votes of the permanent members.
4. Every sanctions committee is supported by its own dedicated panel or group of experts.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- A sanctions committee is a subsidiary organ of the Council composed of all fifteen of its members.
- Each sanctions regime is administered by a committee chaired by a member of the Security Council.
- A decision of the Council on a non-procedural matter requires an affirmative vote of nine members including the concurring votes of the permanent members.
- Every sanctions committee is supported by its own dedicated panel or group of experts.
- A. 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 4 only
- D. 4 only