UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Decoding Russia’s reliance on Indian petroleum products

Q1. Following the imposition of Western sanctions on Russia, by approximately what percentage did India's crude oil imports from Russia increase between 2021-22 and 2022-23?

  • A. About 62 per cent
  • B. About 112 per cent
  • C. About 162 per cent
  • D. About 212 per cent

Q2. With reference to the impact of Ukrainian drone strikes on Russia's refining sector in July-August 2026, consider the following statements: 1. The refineries affected had a combined processing capacity of more than 83 million tonnes per year. 2. The affected refineries accounted for roughly one-quarter of Russia's total oil refining capacity. 3. The affected refineries together produced more than 30 per cent of Russia's gasoline. 4. Russian oil refining runs rose to a 20-year high of 3.9 million barrels per day in July 2026. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The refineries affected had a combined processing capacity of more than 83 million tonnes per year.
  2. The affected refineries accounted for roughly one-quarter of Russia's total oil refining capacity.
  3. The affected refineries together produced more than 30 per cent of Russia's gasoline.
  4. Russian oil refining runs rose to a 20-year high of 3.9 million barrels per day in July 2026.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q3. Reports on the 2026 Russian fuel crunch noted that Russian 'refinery runs' fell to about 3.9 million barrels per day. In petroleum statistics, refinery runs refer to which one of the following?

  • A. The volume of crude oil actually processed by refineries in a given period
  • B. The installed nameplate capacity of refineries available for processing crude
  • C. The volume of refined petroleum products shipped out of refineries by sea
  • D. The number of continuous operating cycles between two scheduled refinery shutdowns

Q4. In August 2026, Russia's seaborne gasoline imports surged to a record level of approximately how many barrels per day?

  • A. 60,000 barrels per day
  • B. 125,000 barrels per day
  • C. 250,000 barrels per day
  • D. 400,000 barrels per day

Q5. Which Indian private refining company, in which Russia's Rosneft holds a major stake, emerged in 2026 as the source of gasoline cargoes shipped to Russia?

  • A. Reliance Industries Limited, operator of the Jamnagar refinery complex in Gujarat
  • B. HPCL-Mittal Energy Limited, operator of the Guru Gobind Singh refinery at Bathinda, Punjab
  • C. Nayara Energy Limited, operator of a 400,000 barrels-per-day refinery in Gujarat
  • D. Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited, operator of the Manali refinery in Tamil Nadu

Q6. The Government of India has set a target of raising the country's crude oil refining capacity to about 450 million metric tonnes per annum by which year?

  • A. 2028
  • B. 2030
  • C. 2035
  • D. 2040

Q7. With reference to India's petroleum refining sector, consider the following statements: 1. India is the world's fourth largest refiner, with installed capacity of about 258 million tonnes per annum. 2. India's refineries comprise nineteen public-sector, three private-sector and one joint-venture refinery. 3. India's petroleum product exports in FY 2025-26 exceeded its domestic petroleum consumption in that year. 4. India's petroleum product exports in FY 2025-26 were of the order of 61.5 million tonnes. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. India is the world's fourth largest refiner, with installed capacity of about 258 million tonnes per annum.
  2. India's refineries comprise nineteen public-sector, three private-sector and one joint-venture refinery.
  3. India's petroleum product exports in FY 2025-26 exceeded its domestic petroleum consumption in that year.
  4. India's petroleum product exports in FY 2025-26 were of the order of 61.5 million tonnes.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q8. The additional 25 per cent duty on Indian goods over India's purchases of Russian crude, which took the total United States tariff on Indian goods to 50 per cent from 27 August 2025, was imposed through which one of the following instruments?

  • A. A determination by the Office of the United States Trade Representative under Section 301 of the Trade Act
  • B. An executive order signed by the President of the United States
  • C. A rule notified by the Bureau of Industry and Security of the US Department of Commerce
  • D. A joint resolution passed by both chambers of the United States Congress

Q9. Which one of the following statements regarding India's Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) programme is correct?

  • A. The Phase-II reserves approved in July 2021 at Chandikhol and Padur are to be developed on a public-private partnership basis
  • B. All strategic petroleum reserve caverns are owned and operated directly by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas itself
  • C. The existing strategic reserves alone meet the entire national requirement of 74 days of crude oil and petroleum product storage
  • D. Strategic petroleum reserve facilities have been located exclusively along India's eastern coastline for reasons of import logistics

Q10. Data used to assess the asymmetry between India's crude oil imports and its refined petroleum product exports, including forecasting and evaluation of petroleum import and export trends, is maintained by which one of the following bodies?

  • A. The Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • B. The National Statistical Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
  • C. The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
  • D. The Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas