UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Bangladesh, U.S. sign MoU on strategic civil nuclear cooperation

Q1. In September 2026, Bangladesh and the United States signed a document in New York on nuclear energy. Which one of the following correctly describes the legal character of this document?

  • A. A memorandum of understanding on strategic civil nuclear cooperation for peaceful uses of nuclear energy
  • B. A legally binding Agreement for Cooperation concluded under Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act of 1954
  • C. An intergovernmental agreement for the construction of Bangladesh's first nuclear power plant at Rooppur
  • D. A tripartite cooperation memorandum with Rosatom on implementing the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant

Q2. The Bangladesh–U.S. civil nuclear MoU of 2026 requires all cooperation under it to meet the 'highest standards' in a specified set of domains. How many such domains does it name?

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

Q3. Consider the following statements regarding the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh: 1. It is being built about 160 km west of Dhaka. 2. It will be equipped with two reactor units of 1,200 MW each. 3. Its cost under the main contract, around $12.65 billion, excludes nuclear fuel entirely. 4. Its second reactor is expected to become fully operational before the first, by the start of 2027. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It is being built about 160 km west of Dhaka.
  2. It will be equipped with two reactor units of 1,200 MW each.
  3. Its cost under the main contract, around $12.65 billion, excludes nuclear fuel entirely.
  4. Its second reactor is expected to become fully operational before the first, by the start of 2027.
  • A. 3 only
  • B. 1 and 3
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 2, 3 and 4

Q4. Which one of the following holds the main contract for building Bangladesh's first nuclear power plant at Rooppur?

  • A. A joint venture led by Hindustan Construction Company
  • B. The Department of Atomic Energy of India
  • C. Rosatom, Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation
  • D. Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI)

Q5. In the India–U.S. civil nuclear deal, which one of the following was the principal instrument that gave the accord its legal shape by setting out terms binding on both governments?

  • A. The India-specific Safeguards Agreement approved by the 35-member IAEA Board of Governors
  • B. The Separation Plan dividing India's nuclear facilities into civilian and military streams
  • C. The waiver granted to India in 2008 by the Nuclear Suppliers Group
  • D. The bilateral Agreement for Cooperation under Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act

Q6. Consider the following statements comparing the safeguards arrangements linked to the India–U.S. 123 Agreement with the standard IAEA safeguards regime: 1. Under the India–U.S. arrangement, IAEA safeguards apply to every Indian nuclear facility, civilian and military alike. 2. The Additional Protocol India agreed to negotiate with the IAEA applies to the civilian facilities India has designated. 3. India's safeguards are of the same variety that the IAEA applies to the five nuclear-weapon States recognised by the NPT. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Under the India–U.S. arrangement, IAEA safeguards apply to every Indian nuclear facility, civilian and military alike.
  2. The Additional Protocol India agreed to negotiate with the IAEA applies to the civilian facilities India has designated.
  3. India's safeguards are of the same variety that the IAEA applies to the five nuclear-weapon States recognised by the NPT.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. In the IAEA safeguards system, a Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (INFCIRC/153) is one under which safeguards are applied to:

  • A. only those civilian facilities that the State voluntarily designates, keeping military facilities outside
  • B. all source or special fissionable material in all peaceful nuclear activities of the State
  • C. all source or special fissionable material in both the peaceful and military activities of the State
  • D. additional information and inspector access that give assurance of no undeclared material or activity

Q8. Consider the following pairs of nuclear safeguards instruments and associated facts: 1. INFCIRC/153 — Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement 2. India-specific Safeguards Agreement — approved by the IAEA Board of Governors in May 1997 3. INFCIRC/540 — Model Additional Protocol 4. Model Additional Protocol — approved by the IAEA Board of Governors in August 2008 Which of the pairs given above is/are NOT correctly matched?

  1. INFCIRC/153 — Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement
  2. India-specific Safeguards Agreement — approved by the IAEA Board of Governors in May 1997
  3. INFCIRC/540 — Model Additional Protocol
  4. Model Additional Protocol — approved by the IAEA Board of Governors in August 2008
  • A. 2 only
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1 and 3
  • D. 4 only

Q9. The entry into force in 2009 of which nuclear-weapon-free zone treaty was the final step that brought the entire network of such zones across the southern hemisphere into force?

  • A. Treaty of Pelindaba
  • B. Treaty of Rarotonga
  • C. Treaty of Semipalatinsk
  • D. Treaty of Tlatelolco

Q10. Under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), entry into force depends on ratification by which of the following?

  • A. All five nuclear-weapon States recognised under the NPT
  • B. Two-thirds of the 191 States parties to the NPT
  • C. All 44 specific States listed in Annex 2 of the Treaty
  • D. All 35 States represented on the IAEA Board of Governors

Q11. Consider the following statements regarding India's role in the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project: 1. The trilateral MoU on implementing the plant was signed in Moscow in March 2018. 2. India was represented in the trilateral MoU by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited. 3. Bangladesh was represented in the trilateral MoU by its Ministry of Science and Technology. 4. A joint venture led by an Indian construction company won a contract worth about $110 million for the plant in 2018. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The trilateral MoU on implementing the plant was signed in Moscow in March 2018.
  2. India was represented in the trilateral MoU by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited.
  3. Bangladesh was represented in the trilateral MoU by its Ministry of Science and Technology.
  4. A joint venture led by an Indian construction company won a contract worth about $110 million for the plant in 2018.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 2 only

Q12. Consider the following pairs of Indian reactor designs and their features: 1. Bharat Small Reactor — 220 MW Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor 2. SMR-55 — high-temperature gas-cooled reactor of up to 5 MWth 3. Bharat Small Modular Reactor — 55 MWe 4. Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor, Kalpakkam — 500 MWe, built by BHAVINI Which of the pairs given above is/are NOT correctly matched?

  1. Bharat Small Reactor — 220 MW Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor
  2. SMR-55 — high-temperature gas-cooled reactor of up to 5 MWth
  3. Bharat Small Modular Reactor — 55 MWe
  4. Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor, Kalpakkam — 500 MWe, built by BHAVINI
  • A. 2 only
  • B. 3 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 2 and 3