UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Doval heads to China with eyes on Xi’s visit

Q1. Up to and including the round of the India-China Special Representatives' dialogue on the Boundary Question held in New Delhi on 19 August 2025, how many rounds of this dialogue had been held?

  • A. 18
  • B. 21
  • C. 24
  • D. 27

Q2. With reference to the Special Representatives (SR) mechanism on the India-China Boundary Question, consider the following: 1. The mechanism was established in 2003. 2. India is represented in it by the National Security Adviser. 3. China was represented in the round held in August 2025 by its Politburo member and Foreign Minister. 4. The round of talks immediately preceding the August 2025 round was held in New Delhi in December 2024. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The mechanism was established in 2003.
  2. India is represented in it by the National Security Adviser.
  3. China was represented in the round held in August 2025 by its Politburo member and Foreign Minister.
  4. The round of talks immediately preceding the August 2025 round was held in New Delhi in December 2024.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q3. In the agreed three-stage approach to settling the India-China boundary question, the second stage consists of which one of the following?

  • A. Working out the political parameters and guiding principles that are to govern a settlement
  • B. Working out a mutually acceptable framework for settlement of the boundary question
  • C. Delimitation and demarcation of the boundary on maps and on the ground
  • D. Sector-by-sector clarification and mutual verification of the alignment of the LAC

Q4. Which one of the following India-China agreements was signed in 2005?

  • A. Agreement on Confidence-Building Measures in the Military Field along the Line of Actual Control
  • B. Agreement on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility along the Line of Actual Control
  • C. Agreement on Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for Settlement of the Boundary Question
  • D. Agreement between the two Governments on Border Defence Cooperation in the border areas

Q5. Which one of the following best describes the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC)?

  • A. A channel of ground commanders of the two armies that meets at designated points along the Line of Actual Control
  • B. A mechanism of officials of the two foreign ministries that reviews the situation along the Line of Actual Control
  • C. A leader-designated political channel in which the two sides negotiate an overall settlement of the boundary question
  • D. A dedicated hotline between the military headquarters of the two countries for managing incidents in real time

Q6. The Expert Group constituted in August 2025 to explore an 'Early Harvest' in boundary delimitation in the India-China border areas functions under which one of the following?

  • A. The Special Representatives mechanism on the India-China Boundary Question
  • B. The General Level Mechanism operating in the Western Sector of the border
  • C. The Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on Border Affairs
  • D. The Annual Defence Dialogue between the defence ministries of the two countries

Q7. Following the decisions taken at the Special Representatives' round of August 2025, General Level Mechanisms on the India-China border exist in how many sectors?

  • A. One
  • B. Two
  • C. Three
  • D. Four

Q8. Consider the following outcomes attributed to the Special Representatives' round on the India-China Boundary Question held on 19 August 2025: 1. Creation of a General Level Mechanism in the Eastern Sector. 2. Creation of a General Level Mechanism in the Western Sector. 3. Creation of a General Level Mechanism in the Middle Sector. 4. Conclusion of a fresh Border Defence Cooperation Agreement superseding the earlier one. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Creation of a General Level Mechanism in the Eastern Sector.
  2. Creation of a General Level Mechanism in the Western Sector.
  3. Creation of a General Level Mechanism in the Middle Sector.
  4. Conclusion of a fresh Border Defence Cooperation Agreement superseding the earlier one.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. At the bilateral meeting between the Prime Minister of India and the President of China on the sidelines of the SCO Summit at Tianjin in 2025, the two sides reaffirmed their relationship in which one of the following terms?

  • A. That they are development partners and not rivals, and that their differences should not turn into disputes
  • B. That their strategic and cooperative partnership for peace and prosperity would be upgraded into an alliance
  • C. That their closer developmental partnership requires settling the boundary question within a fixed time frame
  • D. That they constitute a community with a shared future, the LAC being converted into a formal boundary

Q10. Consider the following pairs of States/Union Territory on the India-China border and the sector in which their boundary lies: 1. Ladakh — Western Sector 2. Himachal Pradesh — Middle Sector 3. Sikkim — Middle Sector 4. Arunachal Pradesh — Eastern Sector Which of the above pairs is/are NOT correctly matched?

  1. Ladakh — Western Sector
  2. Himachal Pradesh — Middle Sector
  3. Sikkim — Middle Sector
  4. Arunachal Pradesh — Eastern Sector
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q11. Under which one of the following India-China agreements is border defence cooperation to be implemented through flag meetings or border personnel meetings at designated places along the Line of Actual Control, with provision also for a hotline between the military headquarters of the two countries?

  • A. The Agreement on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility along the LAC, 1993
  • B. The Agreement on Confidence-Building Measures in the Military Field, 1996
  • C. The Political Parameters and Guiding Principles Agreement, 2005
  • D. The Border Defence Cooperation Agreement, 2013

Q12. With reference to the National Security Council (NSC) of India and the National Security Adviser (NSA), consider the following: 1. The NSA functions as the Secretary of the National Security Council. 2. The Strategic Policy Group is one of the tiers of the National Security Council. 3. The National Security Advisory Board is composed exclusively of serving officers of the armed forces and the intelligence agencies. 4. The National Security Council Secretariat is one of the tiers of the National Security Council. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The NSA functions as the Secretary of the National Security Council.
  2. The Strategic Policy Group is one of the tiers of the National Security Council.
  3. The National Security Advisory Board is composed exclusively of serving officers of the armed forces and the intelligence agencies.
  4. The National Security Council Secretariat is one of the tiers of the National Security Council.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 4 only