UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Is India tailing the U.S. in its West Asia policy?

Q1. With reference to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), consider the following countries as founding signatories of the Memorandum of Understanding announced at the G20 New Delhi Summit: 1. Saudi Arabia 2. Egypt 3. Italy 4. Turkey Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Saudi Arabia
  2. Egypt
  3. Italy
  4. Turkey
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q2. With reference to changes in India's crude-oil sourcing profile after the 2025 West Asia conflict (as compared with the position before the crisis), consider the following statements: 1. The share of India's crude imports routed outside the Strait of Hormuz has risen from about 55% to about 70%. 2. India now sources crude from about 40 countries, up from 27 in 2006-07. 3. India's strategic petroleum reserve has been reduced from about 6.5 MMT to about 5.3 MMT to release supplies into the domestic market. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The share of India's crude imports routed outside the Strait of Hormuz has risen from about 55% to about 70%.
  2. India now sources crude from about 40 countries, up from 27 in 2006-07.
  3. India's strategic petroleum reserve has been reduced from about 6.5 MMT to about 5.3 MMT to release supplies into the domestic market.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. The 5th Inter-Ministerial Group (IGoM) on West Asia, constituted in 2025 to review India's petroleum stockpiles and contingency measures during the Israel-Iran conflict, was chaired by which one of the following?

  • A. Minister of External Affairs
  • B. Raksha Mantri (Minister of Defence)
  • C. Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas
  • D. National Security Adviser

Q4. As reported by the 5th Inter-Ministerial Group (IGoM) on West Asia in 2025, India's rolling stock of crude oil was assessed at approximately how many days of consumption?

  • A. 30 days
  • B. 45 days
  • C. 60 days
  • D. 90 days
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