UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India’s energy security amid conflicts

Q1. The 5th Inter-Ministerial Group of Ministers (IGoM) on West Asia, constituted in 2025 to review India's energy supply preparedness amid the regional conflict, was chaired by which one of the following?

  • A. Union Minister for External Affairs
  • B. Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas
  • C. Union Minister for Defence (Raksha Mantri)
  • D. Union Minister for Finance

Q2. With reference to India's Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) programme, consider the following locations: 1. Visakhapatnam 2. Mangaluru 3. Padur 4. Chandikhol Which of the above is/are correctly identified as Phase-I SPR sites established under the programme?

  1. Visakhapatnam
  2. Mangaluru
  3. Padur
  4. Chandikhol
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. Among the Phase-I Strategic Petroleum Reserve facilities of India, which one has the largest crude storage capacity?

  • A. Visakhapatnam
  • B. Mangaluru
  • C. Padur
  • D. Chandikhol

Q4. Which of the following operationalises India's Strategic Petroleum Reserve programme as the dedicated Special Purpose Vehicle?

  • A. Oil Industry Development Board (OIDB)
  • B. Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL)
  • C. Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)
  • D. Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC)

Q5. With reference to changes in India's crude oil import profile in the wake of the 2025–26 West Asia conflict, as stated officially by the Government of India, consider the following statements: 1. India's crude sourcing has expanded from about 27 countries in 2006-07 to about 40 countries at present. 2. The share of India's crude imports moving via non-Hormuz routes has risen from about 55 per cent earlier to about 70 per cent. 3. The aggregate capacity of India's Phase-I Strategic Petroleum Reserves has been more than doubled since 2024 to over 10 MMT. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. India's crude sourcing has expanded from about 27 countries in 2006-07 to about 40 countries at present.
  2. The share of India's crude imports moving via non-Hormuz routes has risen from about 55 per cent earlier to about 70 per cent.
  3. The aggregate capacity of India's Phase-I Strategic Petroleum Reserves has been more than doubled since 2024 to over 10 MMT.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3