UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Compromised PM cannot protect sons of India: Rahul

Q1. Which Union Ministry officially confirmed the deaths of the three Indian seafarers aboard MT Settebello in June 2026 and directed the disbursement of ex-gratia through the Seamen Welfare Fund Society?

  • A. Ministry of External Affairs
  • B. Ministry of Labour and Employment
  • C. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
  • D. Ministry of Defence

Q2. In the context of India summoning the senior-most American diplomat in New Delhi over the Gulf of Oman strikes, the term 'Chargé d'Affaires' precisely refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A military attaché accredited to a foreign embassy to handle defence cooperation
  • B. The head of a diplomatic mission acting in the absence of, or in lieu of, an accredited ambassador
  • C. An honorary consul appointed from among nationals of the receiving state
  • D. The protocol officer of a foreign mission responsible for receiving heads of state

Q3. With reference to the US naval strikes on commercial tankers carrying Indian seafarers in the Gulf of Oman in June 2026, consider the following statements: 1. MV Marivex was a Palau-flagged tanker with 24 Indian crew, disabled on 8 June 2026 with all crew rescued. 2. MT Settebello was a Palau-flagged tanker on which three Indian seafarers were killed on 10 June 2026. 3. MT Jalveer was a Guinea-Bissau-flagged tanker with 20 Indians on board, struck on 11 June 2026. 4. MT Liaki Freedom was confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs as the fourth tanker struck by US forces, with two Indian crew killed. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. MV Marivex was a Palau-flagged tanker with 24 Indian crew, disabled on 8 June 2026 with all crew rescued.
  2. MT Settebello was a Palau-flagged tanker on which three Indian seafarers were killed on 10 June 2026.
  3. MT Jalveer was a Guinea-Bissau-flagged tanker with 20 Indians on board, struck on 11 June 2026.
  4. MT Liaki Freedom was confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs as the fourth tanker struck by US forces, with two Indian crew killed.
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q4. Among the commercial tankers carrying Indian crew that were hit by US naval forces in the Gulf of Oman in June 2026, which one accounted for the highest number of Indian seafarer fatalities?

  • A. MV Marivex
  • B. MT Settebello
  • C. MT Jalveer
  • D. MT Liaki Freedom

Q5. The June 2026 disabling strikes on the tankers Marivex, Settebello and Jalveer in the Gulf of Oman were claimed and justified by which one of the following US unified combatant commands as enforcement of its naval blockade against Iran?

  • A. US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM)
  • B. US Africa Command (USAFRICOM)
  • C. US Central Command (USCENTCOM)
  • D. US European Command (USEUCOM)