UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Fragile ceasefire takes hold between U.S., Iran

Q1. Approximately what share of the world's total maritime oil trade transits the Strait of Hormuz?

  • A. About 15 per cent
  • B. About 20 per cent
  • C. About 25 per cent
  • D. About 33 per cent

Q2. The 2026 roadmap committing the United States and Iran to reach a final peace agreement within a fixed 60-day window was formalised under which instrument?

  • A. The Geneva Framework Accord
  • B. The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding
  • C. The Doha Declaration
  • D. The Muscat Protocol

Q3. Who was the principal figure leading Pakistan's mediation of the 2026 U.S.-Iran ceasefire?

  • A. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
  • B. Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir
  • C. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar
  • D. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi

Q4. The renewed (second) Israel–Hezbollah war of 2026 is generally dated to which immediate precipitating event?

  • A. The killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei
  • B. The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz
  • C. The signing of the Islamabad Memorandum
  • D. The assassination of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah

Q5. With reference to the Israel–Lebanon–Hezbollah dimension of the 2026 conflict, consider the following statements: 1. Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon escalated from 2 March 2026. 2. On 16 April 2026 a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was announced. 3. The U.S.-hosted meeting of 14 April 2026 was the highest-level Israel–Lebanon engagement since 1993. 4. The renewed war followed the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah. Which of the above are correctly identified?

  1. Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon escalated from 2 March 2026.
  2. On 16 April 2026 a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was announced.
  3. The U.S.-hosted meeting of 14 April 2026 was the highest-level Israel–Lebanon engagement since 1993.
  4. The renewed war followed the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q6. With reference to how India's crude-import profile shifted during the 2026 Strait of Hormuz disruption, consider the following statements: 1. Before the closure, more than half of India's crude oil imports transited the Strait of Hormuz. 2. India now routes about 70 per cent of its crude imports outside the Strait of Hormuz, up from about 55 per cent earlier. 3. The share of West Asian oil in India's crude imports fell to a record-low 26.3 per cent in March 2026. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Before the closure, more than half of India's crude oil imports transited the Strait of Hormuz.
  2. India now routes about 70 per cent of its crude imports outside the Strait of Hormuz, up from about 55 per cent earlier.
  3. The share of West Asian oil in India's crude imports fell to a record-low 26.3 per cent in March 2026.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. Following its post-2026 diversification drive, India now sources crude oil from approximately how many countries?

  • A. About 20
  • B. About 30
  • C. About 40
  • D. About 50

Q8. The two-week U.S.-Iran ceasefire of April 2026, contingent on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, was publicly announced by which leader?

  • A. U.S. President Donald Trump
  • B. UN Secretary-General António Guterres
  • C. Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif
  • D. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi

Q9. Which of the following crude-oil export routes enables Gulf producers to move oil to market while bypassing the Strait of Hormuz?

  • A. The Habshan–Fujairah (Abu Dhabi Crude Oil) pipeline
  • B. The Suez Canal, which alone can reroute all Gulf crude away from Hormuz
  • C. The SUMED pipeline in Egypt
  • D. The Bab-el-Mandeb strait