UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — U.S. passes Bill targeting Russian energy sector

Q1. The legislation that became the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 was built as a bipartisan measure, with a late Republican Senator as its principal author. Who was the lead Democratic co-sponsor who steered the measure alongside him?

  • A. Charles Schumer, Senator from New York
  • B. Richard Blumenthal, Senator from Connecticut
  • C. Christopher Coons, Senator from Delaware
  • D. Jeanne Shaheen, Senator from New Hampshire

Q2. With reference to how the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 differs from the earlier version of the sanctions Bill first proposed in 2025, consider the following statements: 1. The earlier version had sought tariffs of up to 500 per cent on goods and services imported from any country that knowingly purchased Russian oil, natural gas, uranium or other petroleum products. 2. The enacted version lowered the maximum tariff to 100 per cent but widened its reach to every importer of Russian energy, irrespective of the volume such a country imports. 3. The enacted version exempts countries that source less than 15 per cent of their natural gas imports from Russia and are taking steps to further reduce that dependence. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The earlier version had sought tariffs of up to 500 per cent on goods and services imported from any country that knowingly purchased Russian oil, natural gas, uranium or other petroleum products.
  2. The enacted version lowered the maximum tariff to 100 per cent but widened its reach to every importer of Russian energy, irrespective of the volume such a country imports.
  3. The enacted version exempts countries that source less than 15 per cent of their natural gas imports from Russia and are taking steps to further reduce that dependence.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. Following the additional US tariff imposed on Indian goods in 2025 over purchases of Russian crude, India's imports of Russian crude oil in December 2025 stood at approximately what level?

  • A. About 1.24 million barrels per day
  • B. About 1.58 million barrels per day
  • C. About 0.94 million barrels per day
  • D. About 2.10 million barrels per day

Q4. The additional 25 per cent duty imposed on Indian goods in August 2025 was widely described as a 'secondary tariff'. In trade and sanctions practice, the expression denotes:

  • A. A duty that applies without any exception to all goods of a country once the primary duty schedule has been exhausted
  • B. A duty levied exclusively on goods that are re-exported after value addition in an intermediary country
  • C. A duty imposed on a third country's exports as a penalty for that country's continued trade with a sanctioned nation
  • D. A duty applied automatically by the WTO on every member that trades with a state under UN sanctions

Q5. India's contemporary insistence on strategic autonomy draws on the Non-Aligned Movement, which was formally launched at its first summit conference in Belgrade. How many countries were the founding members of the Movement at that conference?

  • A. 17
  • B. 25
  • C. 29
  • D. 47

Q6. Consider the following statements comparing the two conferences that shaped India's non-aligned tradition: 1. The Asian-African Conference at Bandung, which urged abstention from collective defence arrangements serving the particular interests of the big powers, was held in 1955. 2. The first summit conference of the Non-Aligned Movement was held at Belgrade in 1964. 3. It was at the Belgrade conference that Panchsheel was accepted as the principled core of the Non-Aligned Movement. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Asian-African Conference at Bandung, which urged abstention from collective defence arrangements serving the particular interests of the big powers, was held in 1955.
  2. The first summit conference of the Non-Aligned Movement was held at Belgrade in 1964.
  3. It was at the Belgrade conference that Panchsheel was accepted as the principled core of the Non-Aligned Movement.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q7. With reference to India's Strategic Petroleum Reserve facilities established through the Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited, consider the following location-capacity pairs: 1. Visakhapatnam — 1.33 MMT under Phase I 2. Mangaluru — 2.5 MMT under Phase I 3. Padur — 2.5 MMT under Phase I 4. Chandikhol, Odisha — 4 MMT under Phase II Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Visakhapatnam — 1.33 MMT under Phase I
  2. Mangaluru — 2.5 MMT under Phase I
  3. Padur — 2.5 MMT under Phase I
  4. Chandikhol, Odisha — 4 MMT under Phase II
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q8. As per import data for April 2026, with Russia still at the top of the table, which country ranked as India's second-largest supplier of crude oil?

  • A. Iraq
  • B. Saudi Arabia
  • C. United Arab Emirates
  • D. Brazil

Q9. When enforcement of oil-related sanctions was paused for cargoes already at sea before 11 March 2026 because of the disruption caused by the West Asia conflict, the relief was granted by the US agency that administers the country's economic and trade sanctions programmes. Which one of the following is that agency?

  • A. The Office of the United States Trade Representative, Executive Office of the President
  • B. The Department of the Treasury, through its Office of Foreign Assets Control
  • C. The Bureau of Industry and Security under the Department of Commerce
  • D. The Department of Energy, through its Office of Fossil Energy

Q10. With reference to the energy-market effects of the conflict that began in West Asia on 28 February 2026, consider the following: 1. Brent crude, which had traded at $70-75 a barrel in the second half of February 2026, was pushed above $100 a barrel in March 2026. 2. Before the conflict began, the Strait of Hormuz handled about one-fifth of global daily oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. 3. India's crude imports from Iraq fell by roughly 75 per cent to about 240,000 barrels per day by end-March 2026, from about 969,000 barrels per day in February. 4. Saudi Arabian crude supplies to India rose by about 43 per cent in March 2026 over the February level. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Brent crude, which had traded at $70-75 a barrel in the second half of February 2026, was pushed above $100 a barrel in March 2026.
  2. Before the conflict began, the Strait of Hormuz handled about one-fifth of global daily oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.
  3. India's crude imports from Iraq fell by roughly 75 per cent to about 240,000 barrels per day by end-March 2026, from about 969,000 barrels per day in February.
  4. Saudi Arabian crude supplies to India rose by about 43 per cent in March 2026 over the February level.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 3 and 4

Q11. Consider the following statements comparing the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) with the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026: 1. CAATSA, brought in 2017, provides for sanctions on significant transactions with Russia's defence and intelligence sectors under its Section 231, whereas the 2026 Act reaches purchasers of Russian oil and natural gas under its Section 113. 2. CAATSA carries a country-specific waiver provision written into the law that exempts India, and this was the basis on which the S-400 purchase escaped sanctions. 3. In October 2018 India signed a contract worth about USD 5 billion with Russia for five units of the S-400 air defence missile system. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. CAATSA, brought in 2017, provides for sanctions on significant transactions with Russia's defence and intelligence sectors under its Section 231, whereas the 2026 Act reaches purchasers of Russian oil and natural gas under its Section 113.
  2. CAATSA carries a country-specific waiver provision written into the law that exempts India, and this was the basis on which the S-400 purchase escaped sanctions.
  3. In October 2018 India signed a contract worth about USD 5 billion with Russia for five units of the S-400 air defence missile system.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q12. When the Ministry of External Affairs issued its response, the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act had been approved by both chambers of the US Congress but had not yet acquired the force of law. In US legislative procedure, what precisely is the stage a measure occupies at that point?

  • A. It stands referred to a conference committee constituted to reconcile the differing House and Senate texts
  • B. It has been engrossed by the House of Representatives and awaits a concurrence vote in the Senate
  • C. It has been vetoed and returned to Congress, which may override the veto by a two-thirds majority
  • D. It has been enrolled and presented to the President, who may sign it into law or withhold assent