UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Do not surrender to China, do not depend on the U.S.
Q1. Taking effect on 27 August 2025, the additional United States penalty duty imposed on Indian goods specifically over India's purchase of Russian crude oil raised the total US ad valorem tariff on the affected Indian exports to what level?
- A. 25%
- B. 50%
- C. 100%
- D. 500%
Q2. On the Indian side, the formulation of India's official response to the 2025 US tariffs and the negotiation of tariff concessions with the United States is led primarily by which of the following?
- A. The Ministry of External Affairs
- B. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- C. The Ministry of Finance
- D. NITI Aayog
Q3. Which one of the following correctly describes the USD 100,000 charge on H-1B visas introduced by the United States in September 2025?
- A. A one-time fee applicable only to new H-1B petitions, effective 21 September 2025 and in force for 12 months unless extended
- B. An annually recurring fee levied on all existing and new H-1B visa holders alike
- C. A one-time fee that also applies to H-1B renewals and extensions filed after 21 September 2025
- D. A permanent charge replacing the earlier USD 4,500 fee across every H-1B category
Q4. Consider the following statements regarding the 2025 US H-1B visa changes and their bearing on India:
1. Indian nationals accounted for about 71% of approved H-1B visas in recent years, per US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
2. The application fee prevailing before the September 2025 hike was about USD 4,500.
3. The new USD 100,000 charge is levied annually on every existing H-1B visa holder.
4. India's information technology sector, the cohort most affected, is valued at roughly USD 283 billion.
Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?
- Indian nationals accounted for about 71% of approved H-1B visas in recent years, per US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
- The application fee prevailing before the September 2025 hike was about USD 4,500.
- The new USD 100,000 charge is levied annually on every existing H-1B visa holder.
- India's information technology sector, the cohort most affected, is valued at roughly USD 283 billion.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2, 3 and 4
- C. 1, 2 and 4
- D. 1 and 4 only
Q5. In the context of the February 2025 Modi-Trump discussions, 'Mission 500' refers to which one of the following?
- A. A target to raise India-US bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030
- B. A commitment to attract USD 500 billion of US foreign direct investment into India by 2030
- C. An Indian plan to import USD 500 billion of US energy products over five years
- D. A goal of taking India's merchandise exports to the United States to USD 500 billion by 2030
Q6. Consider the following statements about the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA):
1. The BTA negotiations were launched by PM Modi and President Trump on 13 February 2025.
2. Alongside it, the two sides announced 'Mission 500' to double bilateral trade to USD 1 trillion by 2030.
3. The BTA is envisaged to cover both goods and services.
4. The first tranche of the BTA was targeted for conclusion by Fall 2025.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- The BTA negotiations were launched by PM Modi and President Trump on 13 February 2025.
- Alongside it, the two sides announced 'Mission 500' to double bilateral trade to USD 1 trillion by 2030.
- The BTA is envisaged to cover both goods and services.
- The first tranche of the BTA was targeted for conclusion by Fall 2025.
- A. 2 only
- B. 1 and 2
- C. 2 and 4
- D. 3 only
Q7. Consider the following statements regarding India's doctrine of strategic autonomy:
1. S. Jaishankar has characterised the 1946-62 period as the era of 'optimistic non-alignment'.
2. Strategic autonomy is argued to be fundamentally a capability doctrine, since freedom of judgement depends on the external pressure a country can withstand.
3. India pursues its engagement with the Quad, BRICS and SCO concurrently, consistent with multi-alignment.
4. Strategic autonomy requires India to formally join a military alliance bloc for binding security guarantees.
Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?
- S. Jaishankar has characterised the 1946-62 period as the era of 'optimistic non-alignment'.
- Strategic autonomy is argued to be fundamentally a capability doctrine, since freedom of judgement depends on the external pressure a country can withstand.
- India pursues its engagement with the Quad, BRICS and SCO concurrently, consistent with multi-alignment.
- Strategic autonomy requires India to formally join a military alliance bloc for binding security guarantees.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1, 2 and 3
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q8. Consistent with multi-alignment, India participates in several groupings. Consider the following statements:
1. India is a member of BRICS.
2. India is a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
3. India is a member of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad).
4. India is a member of the G7.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- India is a member of BRICS.
- India is a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
- India is a member of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad).
- India is a member of the G7.
- A. 1 and 4
- B. 4 only
- C. 2 and 3
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q9. Consider the following statements about the October 2024 India-China border understanding:
1. The patrolling agreement of 21 October 2024 covered the remaining friction points of Depsang and Demchok.
2. PM Modi and President Xi Jinping endorsed the agreement on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit at Kazan, Russia.
3. The June 2020 clash that had triggered the standoff occurred in the Galwan Valley.
4. The October 2024 breakthrough concerned the friction points of Pangong Tso and Gogra-Hot Springs.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- The patrolling agreement of 21 October 2024 covered the remaining friction points of Depsang and Demchok.
- PM Modi and President Xi Jinping endorsed the agreement on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit at Kazan, Russia.
- The June 2020 clash that had triggered the standoff occurred in the Galwan Valley.
- The October 2024 breakthrough concerned the friction points of Pangong Tso and Gogra-Hot Springs.
- A. 4 only
- B. 1 and 4
- C. 3 only
- D. 2 and 4
Q10. In the context of the 2024 India-China agreement, the term 'disengagement' most precisely refers to which one of the following?
- A. The pulling back of frontline troops from close proximity at friction points to reduce the risk of clashes
- B. The mutual, phased reduction of overall troop strength and military infrastructure across the entire theatre
- C. The permanent demarcation of the Line of Actual Control by a joint India-China boundary commission
- D. The resumption of border trade and pilgrim routes across the passes along the LAC
Q11. Which one of the following correctly describes India's merchandise trade position in the financial year 2024-25?
- A. The United States was India's largest trading partner, and India ran a trade surplus of about USD 41 billion with it
- B. China was India's largest trading partner, and India ran a trade surplus with it
- C. The United States was India's largest trading partner, but India ran a trade deficit with it
- D. India ran a trade surplus of about USD 99 billion with China
Q12. Consider the following statements about India's Russian crude oil trade:
1. Russia became India's single largest supplier of crude oil following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
2. In October 2025 the United States sanctioned Russia's two biggest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil.
3. India and China are the two biggest buyers of Russian crude oil.
4. Since 2022, Russian crude has entirely displaced all Gulf and Middle-Eastern suppliers from India's oil import basket.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- Russia became India's single largest supplier of crude oil following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
- In October 2025 the United States sanctioned Russia's two biggest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil.
- India and China are the two biggest buyers of Russian crude oil.
- Since 2022, Russian crude has entirely displaced all Gulf and Middle-Eastern suppliers from India's oil import basket.
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 3 and 4
- C. 4 only
- D. 2, 3 and 4