UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — A West Asia security rethink amid America’s role

Question 1

India's strategic and rolling petroleum stocks that provide a buffer of about 60 days of crude oil against a Strait of Hormuz disruption are maintained primarily under which Union ministry?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas

Answer

Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Answer

Ministry of External Affairs

Answer

Ministry of Shipping (Ports, Shipping and Waterways)

Question 2

Which United States unified combatant command is responsible for directing US military operations across the Gulf and the wider West Asia region?

Accepted Answer

United States Central Command (CENTCOM)

Answer

United States Africa Command (AFRICOM)

Answer

United States European Command (EUCOM)

Answer

United States Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM)

Question 3

The term 'Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)', central to the US bilateral security architecture in West Asia, is best described as:

Accepted Answer

A political and economic alliance of six Persian Gulf Arab states established at Riyadh in 1981

Answer

A collective defence treaty binding all members of the Arab League

Answer

A United Nations regional body administering the Strait of Hormuz

Answer

An OPEC sub-group set up in 2015 to coordinate Gulf oil pricing

Question 4

Approximately how large is the Indian diaspora resident in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, as cited in recent Indian government briefings on West Asia?

Accepted Answer

About 1 crore (10 million)

Answer

About 10 lakh (1 million)

Answer

About 50 lakh (5 million)

Answer

About 2.5 crore (25 million)

Question 5

The following are claimed to be Arab/African states that normalised relations with Israel under the 2020 Abraham Accords. Which one is NOT correctly identified as a 2020 Abraham Accords normaliser?

Accepted Answer

4 only

Answer

1 only

Answer

2 and 3

Answer

1 and 4

Question 6

Which country was the first Arab state to sign a normalisation agreement with Israel under the 2020 Abraham Accords?

Accepted Answer

United Arab Emirates

Answer

Bahrain

Answer

Sudan

Answer

Morocco

Question 7

The Suez Canal route, disrupted by Houthi attacks, normally carries approximately what share of global trade?

Accepted Answer

About 12%

Answer

About 3%

Answer

About 25%

Answer

About 40%

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — A West Asia security rethink amid America’s role

Q1. India's strategic and rolling petroleum stocks that provide a buffer of about 60 days of crude oil against a Strait of Hormuz disruption are maintained primarily under which Union ministry?

Q2. Which United States unified combatant command is responsible for directing US military operations across the Gulf and the wider West Asia region?

Q3. The term 'Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)', central to the US bilateral security architecture in West Asia, is best described as:

Q4. Approximately how large is the Indian diaspora resident in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, as cited in recent Indian government briefings on West Asia?

Q5. The following are claimed to be Arab/African states that normalised relations with Israel under the 2020 Abraham Accords. Which one is NOT correctly identified as a 2020 Abraham Accords normaliser?

Q6. Which country was the first Arab state to sign a normalisation agreement with Israel under the 2020 Abraham Accords?

Q7. The Suez Canal route, disrupted by Houthi attacks, normally carries approximately what share of global trade?