UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — ‘The U.S. govt. policy is to systematically cut off any source of income to Cuba’

Q1. With reference to the UN General Assembly resolution titled 'Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba', consider the following statements comparing the 2024 and 2025 votes: 1. In the 2025 vote, the United States and Israel were the only two Member States that voted against the resolution. 2. The 2025 resolution marked the 33rd consecutive year in which the General Assembly has adopted such a resolution. 3. Cuba reported that the blockade caused damages of about USD 7.5 billion between March 2024 and February 2025. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. In the 2025 vote, the United States and Israel were the only two Member States that voted against the resolution.
  2. The 2025 resolution marked the 33rd consecutive year in which the General Assembly has adopted such a resolution.
  3. Cuba reported that the blockade caused damages of about USD 7.5 billion between March 2024 and February 2025.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. How many UN Member States voted AGAINST the General Assembly resolution calling for an end to the U.S. economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba in October 2025?

  • A. 2
  • B. 5
  • C. 7
  • D. 12

Q3. In the context of U.S. sanctions on Cuba, 'Title III' of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD/Helms-Burton) Act, 1996 specifically refers to which one of the following provisions?

  • A. It permits U.S. nationals to file civil lawsuits in U.S. federal courts against foreign persons who 'traffic' in property confiscated by the Cuban government after 1959.
  • B. It authorises the U.S. President to designate Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, triggering automatic financial sanctions.
  • C. It prohibits foreign subsidiaries of U.S. corporations from engaging in any trade with Cuba.
  • D. It mandates annual reporting by the U.S. Treasury to the UN General Assembly on the humanitarian impact of the embargo.

Q4. Following the reinstatement of Cuba in January 2025, which one of the following is the U.S. State Department's current list of countries designated as 'State Sponsors of Terrorism'?

  • A. Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria
  • B. Cuba, Iran, Venezuela and North Korea
  • C. Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria
  • D. Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Russia

Q5. The U.S. economic embargo on Cuba was codified into statute — making it impossible for a U.S. President to lift the embargo unilaterally without congressional action — under which one of the following enactments?

  • A. The Trading with the Enemy Act, 1917
  • B. The Cuban Democracy Act, 1992
  • C. The Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act, 1996
  • D. The International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 1977