UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Indian refiners are procuring Iranian crude, says Centre

Question 1

Which Union ministry publicly confirmed in 2026 that Indian refiners have resumed procuring Iranian crude oil and stated that there is 'no payment hurdle' to such imports?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas

Answer

Ministry of External Affairs

Answer

Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Answer

Ministry of Finance

Question 2

In which year did India completely halt imports of Iranian crude oil after the United States terminated its sanctions waivers under the 'maximum pressure' campaign on Tehran?

Accepted Answer

2019

Answer

2015

Answer

2018

Answer

2020

Question 3

With reference to the 2026 US 'General License X' concerning Iranian oil, which one of the following statements best describes its nature?

Accepted Answer

A 60-day general licence temporarily authorising the production, export and sale of Iranian oil and associated payments

Answer

A permanent repeal of all US primary and secondary sanctions on Iran's energy sector

Answer

A United Nations Security Council resolution lifting the arms and oil embargo on Iran

Answer

A bilateral India-Iran currency-swap arrangement bypassing US law

Question 4

General License X, the 2026 waiver permitting Iranian oil exports and associated dollar payments, was issued under the authority of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The US Department of the Treasury

Answer

The US Department of State

Answer

The United Nations Security Council

Answer

The US Department of Energy

Question 5

Which agency, functioning as the data backbone of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, is designated to collect and analyse India's crude oil import and export statistics?

Accepted Answer

Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC)

Answer

Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB)

Answer

Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH)

Answer

Oil Industry Development Board (OIDB)

Question 6

Consider the following statements comparing India's current crude oil import basket with its earlier profile:
1. Russia has become India's single largest crude oil supplier, whereas its share was only around 1% in 2017.
2. Iraq is currently India's second-largest crude oil supplier, contributing roughly one-fifth of imports.
3. India's overall crude oil import dependency has fallen below 50% in 2025-26.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 7

Transit of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is primarily governed by which international legal framework?

Accepted Answer

The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

Answer

The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)

Answer

The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)

Answer

The Montreux Convention

Question 8

The main navigable shipping lanes used by oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz lie primarily within the territorial waters of which one of the following countries?

Accepted Answer

Oman

Answer

Entirely within Iran

Answer

United Arab Emirates

Answer

Qatar

Question 9

In which year was Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL), the special purpose vehicle mandated to build India's strategic crude oil reserves, established?

Accepted Answer

2004

Answer

1998

Answer

2008

Answer

2015

Question 10

In the context of US restrictions on Iranian oil trade, the term 'secondary sanctions' most precisely refers to which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

Penalties imposed on third-country persons and financial institutions that transact with the sanctioned country

Answer

Penalties imposed directly on the sanctioned country's government and its state oil company

Answer

Tariffs levied on goods imported from the sanctioned country into the United States

Answer

A secondary or lower tier of United Nations sanctions requiring Security Council renewal

Question 11

With reference to India's Strategic Petroleum Reserve programme, consider the following as Phase-I strategic storage locations with their States:
1. Visakhapatnam - Andhra Pradesh
2. Mangaluru - Karnataka
3. Padur - Karnataka
4. Chandikhol - Odisha
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as Phase-I SPR sites?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 4 only

Answer

2, 3 and 4 only

Answer

1, 2, 3 and 4

Question 12

The Vadinar refinery in Gujarat, cited as a destination for Iranian crude cargoes, is owned and operated by which one of the following companies?

Accepted Answer

Nayara Energy Limited

Answer

Reliance Industries Limited

Answer

Indian Oil Corporation Limited

Answer

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Indian refiners are procuring Iranian crude, says Centre

Q1. Which Union ministry publicly confirmed in 2026 that Indian refiners have resumed procuring Iranian crude oil and stated that there is 'no payment hurdle' to such imports?

Q2. In which year did India completely halt imports of Iranian crude oil after the United States terminated its sanctions waivers under the 'maximum pressure' campaign on Tehran?

Q3. With reference to the 2026 US 'General License X' concerning Iranian oil, which one of the following statements best describes its nature?

Q4. General License X, the 2026 waiver permitting Iranian oil exports and associated dollar payments, was issued under the authority of which of the following?

Q5. Which agency, functioning as the data backbone of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, is designated to collect and analyse India's crude oil import and export statistics?

Q7. Transit of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is primarily governed by which international legal framework?

Q8. The main navigable shipping lanes used by oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz lie primarily within the territorial waters of which one of the following countries?

Q9. In which year was Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL), the special purpose vehicle mandated to build India's strategic crude oil reserves, established?

Q10. In the context of US restrictions on Iranian oil trade, the term 'secondary sanctions' most precisely refers to which one of the following?

Q12. The Vadinar refinery in Gujarat, cited as a destination for Iranian crude cargoes, is owned and operated by which one of the following companies?