UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India upgrades bilateral ties with the Netherlands
Q1. Under the India–Netherlands Strategic Partnership Roadmap (2026–2030) adopted in May 2026, a standing mechanism was instituted at the level of the two countries' Foreign Ministers. What is its defined function?
- A. To hold annual meetings to take stock of the progress of the Roadmap
- B. To arbitrate bilateral trade disputes on a quarterly basis
- C. To operate a joint naval command in the Indian Ocean
- D. To administer a mutual visa-free travel regime
Q2. Consider the following statements about the India–Netherlands relationship as of the May 2026 visit:
1. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1947.
2. The 2026 visit elevated the relationship, for the first time, to a formal Strategic Partnership tier.
3. The bilateral Strategic Partnership on Water was launched for the first time during the 2026 visit.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1947.
- The 2026 visit elevated the relationship, for the first time, to a formal Strategic Partnership tier.
- The bilateral Strategic Partnership on Water was launched for the first time during the 2026 visit.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. Which ministry of the Government of India is the nodal ministry for the conduct of India–Netherlands bilateral relations, including their commercial and trade engagement?
- A. Ministry of External Affairs
- B. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- C. Ministry of Finance
- D. NITI Aayog
Q4. With reference to India–Netherlands trade and investment figures, consider the following statements:
1. The Netherlands is India's 11th largest trading partner globally.
2. The Netherlands is India's 3rd largest export destination for goods globally.
3. The Netherlands is India's largest export destination within Europe.
4. India–Netherlands merchandise trade in FY2024-25 stood at USD 55.6 billion.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- The Netherlands is India's 11th largest trading partner globally.
- The Netherlands is India's 3rd largest export destination for goods globally.
- The Netherlands is India's largest export destination within Europe.
- India–Netherlands merchandise trade in FY2024-25 stood at USD 55.6 billion.
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 2 only
- C. 4 only
- D. 3 and 4 only
Q5. Fiscal and programmatic support for the Dholera semiconductor fabrication facility linked to the Tata Electronics–ASML cooperation is anchored under which body?
- A. India Semiconductor Mission under the Ministry of Electronics and IT
- B. Ministry of Mines
- C. Defence Research and Development Organisation
- D. Department of Science and Technology
Q6. The Tata Electronics semiconductor fab at Dholera, Gujarat — supported by the ASML cooperation announced during the 2026 visit — has a planned production capacity of how many wafer starts per month (WSPM)?
- A. 25,000 WSPM
- B. 50,000 WSPM
- C. 75,000 WSPM
- D. 100,000 WSPM
Q7. How many agreements/MoUs in total were signed between India and the Netherlands during PM Modi's May 2026 visit that elevated ties to a Strategic Partnership?
Q8. With reference to the pacts/outcomes of the May 2026 India–Netherlands visit, consider the following:
1. A critical minerals MoU signed between India's Ministry of Mines and the Netherlands' Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
2. Launch of an India–Netherlands Roadmap on Green Hydrogen.
3. An MoU between Tata Electronics and ASML supporting semiconductor fabrication at Dholera.
4. A bilateral civil nuclear cooperation agreement for a power reactor in Gujarat.
Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as an outcome of the visit?
- A critical minerals MoU signed between India's Ministry of Mines and the Netherlands' Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Launch of an India–Netherlands Roadmap on Green Hydrogen.
- An MoU between Tata Electronics and ASML supporting semiconductor fabrication at Dholera.
- A bilateral civil nuclear cooperation agreement for a power reactor in Gujarat.
- A. 4 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 3 and 4 only
- D. 2 only
Q9. The India–Netherlands Joint Working Group on Water Cooperation, elevated to Ministerial level under the Strategic Partnership on Water, is steered on the Indian side by which ministry?
- A. Ministry of Jal Shakti
- B. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- C. Ministry of Earth Sciences
- D. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
Q10. With reference to the history of India–Netherlands relations, consider the following statements:
1. The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1947.
2. PM Modi paid a working visit to the Netherlands on 27 June 2017 and met PM Mark Rutte.
3. The India–Netherlands Strategic Partnership on Water was launched in 2021.
4. Mark Rutte never made a visit to India during his premiership.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1947.
- PM Modi paid a working visit to the Netherlands on 27 June 2017 and met PM Mark Rutte.
- The India–Netherlands Strategic Partnership on Water was launched in 2021.
- Mark Rutte never made a visit to India during his premiership.
- A. 4 only
- B. 3 only
- C. 2 and 4 only
- D. 1 and 3 only
Q11. With reference to India's Strategic Partnerships with European partners, consider the following:
1. India–EU Strategic Partnership was established in 2004 at the 5th India-EU Summit in The Hague.
2. India–Italy relations were elevated to a Strategic Partnership in March 2023.
3. India–Poland relations were elevated to a Strategic Partnership in August 2024.
4. India–Netherlands relations were elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2004.
Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified?
- India–EU Strategic Partnership was established in 2004 at the 5th India-EU Summit in The Hague.
- India–Italy relations were elevated to a Strategic Partnership in March 2023.
- India–Poland relations were elevated to a Strategic Partnership in August 2024.
- India–Netherlands relations were elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2004.
- A. 4 only
- B. 1 and 4 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 3 only
Q12. During PM Modi's five-nation tour of May 15–20, 2026 (UAE, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Italy), which country formed the first leg of the tour?
- A. United Arab Emirates
- B. Netherlands
- C. Norway
- D. Italy