UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India, Algeria hold first joint defence commission meet
Q1. With reference to the India-Algeria Joint Commission on Defence Cooperation meeting held in New Delhi in May 2026, which one of the following correctly describes its status?
- A. Second edition, following an inaugural meeting held in Algiers in 2024
- B. First-ever (inaugural) meeting under the bilateral defence cooperation framework
- C. Fifth edition, the first to be hosted in New Delhi
- D. A revived mechanism, last convened in 1973 on the sidelines of the NAM Summit
Q2. The Rules of Procedure for the India-Algeria Joint Commission on Defence Cooperation, signed in May 2026, are administered on the Indian side by which one of the following?
- A. Ministry of External Affairs, through the Development Partnership Administration
- B. Ministry of Defence, through the Department of Defence (International Cooperation wing)
- C. National Security Council Secretariat under the Prime Minister's Office
- D. Ministry of Home Affairs, through the Bureau of Police Research and Development
Q3. With reference to India-Algeria relations and the May 2026 Joint Commission on Defence Cooperation as compared with India's earlier defence engagements with African states, consider the following statements:
1. Prior to the May 2026 meeting, India had already institutionalised Joint Defence mechanisms with countries such as Egypt, South Africa and Nigeria.
2. India established diplomatic relations with Algeria in 1962, the year of Algeria's independence from France.
3. The May 2026 New Delhi meeting was the second sitting of the India-Algeria Joint Commission, the first having been held in Algiers.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Prior to the May 2026 meeting, India had already institutionalised Joint Defence mechanisms with countries such as Egypt, South Africa and Nigeria.
- India established diplomatic relations with Algeria in 1962, the year of Algeria's independence from France.
- The May 2026 New Delhi meeting was the second sitting of the India-Algeria Joint Commission, the first having been held in Algiers.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q4. At the inaugural India-Algeria Joint Commission meeting on defence cooperation held in New Delhi in May 2026, the two sides identified specific areas of mutual interest. Which of the following were among those identified areas?
1. Training
2. Joint Military Exercises
3. Counter-terrorism Intelligence Sharing
4. Defence Industry Engagement
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- Training
- Joint Military Exercises
- Counter-terrorism Intelligence Sharing
- Defence Industry Engagement
- A. 1, 2 and 4 only
- B. 2, 3 and 4 only
- C. 1, 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4