UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Centre warns Indian seafarers about jobs in ‘volatile’ Black Sea

Q1. With reference to the statutory framework governing the emigration of Indian workers (including seafarers) for overseas employment, which one of the following statements is correct?

  • A. The Emigration Act, 1983 replaced the Emigration Act of 1952 and is administered by the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
  • B. The Emigration Act, 1983 is administered by the Ministry of External Affairs through the Protector General of Emigrants.
  • C. Emigration clearance is required for Indians taking up employment in all foreign countries.
  • D. The Protector of Emigrants issues the Recruitment and Placement Services Licence (RPSL) to overseas manning agencies.

Q2. In the context of overseas employment of Indian nationals, 'emigration clearance' obtained from the office of the Protector of Emigrants is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. Customs clearance of an emigrant's personal belongings at the port of departure.
  • B. A tax-clearance certificate from the Income Tax Department for persons leaving India.
  • C. A permission that specified categories of Indian workers must obtain before taking up employment in certain notified countries.
  • D. A police-verification certificate required before a passport can be issued.

Q3. With reference to the regime governing passage through the straits connecting the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, which one of the following statements is correct?

  • A. Under the Montreux Convention of 1936, passage through the straits is administered jointly by all Black Sea littoral states.
  • B. The straits are treated as international waters open to warships of all nations without restriction under UNCLOS.
  • C. Türkiye may close the straits to merchant ships of all nations even in peacetime.
  • D. Under the Montreux Convention of 1936, Türkiye controls the passage of vessels through the Bosporus and the Dardanelles.

Q4. Which one of the following water bodies, linked to the Black Sea by the Kerch Strait, is regarded as the world's shallowest sea?

  • A. Sea of Marmara
  • B. Aegean Sea
  • C. Sea of Azov
  • D. Caspian Sea

Q5. Which one of the following best describes the Black Sea Grain Initiative?

  • A. An agreement brokered by the United Nations and Türkiye in 2022 to permit the safe export of grain from designated Ukrainian ports.
  • B. A NATO naval operation to escort grain-carrying ships across the Black Sea.
  • C. An arrangement for Russia to supply subsidised grain to Ukraine during the conflict.
  • D. A European Union scheme to subsidise grain imports from Russia and Ukraine.

Q6. Consider the following statements regarding the Black Sea Grain Initiative: 1. It was signed at Istanbul in July 2022. 2. Odesa was among the Ukrainian ports designated under the Initiative. 3. The Joint Coordination Centre set up to oversee the Initiative was located in Geneva. 4. Russia terminated its participation in the Initiative in July 2023. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. It was signed at Istanbul in July 2022.
  2. Odesa was among the Ukrainian ports designated under the Initiative.
  3. The Joint Coordination Centre set up to oversee the Initiative was located in Geneva.
  4. Russia terminated its participation in the Initiative in July 2023.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q7. Consider the following statements regarding India's seafaring workforce: 1. India is currently the world's largest supplier of seafarers, ahead of the Philippines. 2. The Recruitment and Placement Services Licence (RPSL) is mandatory for agencies recruiting Indian seafarers and is issued by the Directorate General of Shipping. 3. India had about 3.2 lakh registered seafarers as of June 2025, nearly three times the 2014 figure. 4. Indian seafarers now constitute roughly one in five of the global seafaring workforce. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. India is currently the world's largest supplier of seafarers, ahead of the Philippines.
  2. The Recruitment and Placement Services Licence (RPSL) is mandatory for agencies recruiting Indian seafarers and is issued by the Directorate General of Shipping.
  3. India had about 3.2 lakh registered seafarers as of June 2025, nearly three times the 2014 figure.
  4. Indian seafarers now constitute roughly one in five of the global seafaring workforce.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q8. Consider the following statements comparing two regulatory bodies concerned with Indian workers going abroad: 1. The RPSL for manning agencies is granted by the Directorate General of Shipping, whereas emigration clearance for certain overseas workers is granted by the Protector of Emigrants. 2. The Directorate General of Shipping functions under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, whereas the Protector of Emigrants functions under the Ministry of External Affairs. 3. The Directorate General of Shipping was established under the Emigration Act, 1983, whereas the Protector of Emigrants was created under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The RPSL for manning agencies is granted by the Directorate General of Shipping, whereas emigration clearance for certain overseas workers is granted by the Protector of Emigrants.
  2. The Directorate General of Shipping functions under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, whereas the Protector of Emigrants functions under the Ministry of External Affairs.
  3. The Directorate General of Shipping was established under the Emigration Act, 1983, whereas the Protector of Emigrants was created under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. Consider the following statements about India's overseas operations: 1. Operation Ganga was launched to evacuate Indian nationals from Ukraine in 2022. 2. Operation Kaveri was launched to evacuate Indian nationals from Sudan in 2023. 3. Operation Ajay was launched to evacuate Indian nationals from Israel. 4. Operation Sankalp was launched to evacuate Indian nationals from Yemen. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Operation Ganga was launched to evacuate Indian nationals from Ukraine in 2022.
  2. Operation Kaveri was launched to evacuate Indian nationals from Sudan in 2023.
  3. Operation Ajay was launched to evacuate Indian nationals from Israel.
  4. Operation Sankalp was launched to evacuate Indian nationals from Yemen.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 3 and 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4 only

Q10. Among the following overseas evacuation operations conducted by India, which one brought back the largest number of Indian nationals?

  • A. Operation Ajay
  • B. Operation Kaveri
  • C. Operation Ganga
  • D. Operation Devi Shakti