UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — U.S. announces civilian nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia

Q1. Consider the following statements about how a Section 123 agreement under the US Atomic Energy Act differs from an ordinary executive agreement: 1. Unlike an ordinary executive agreement, a Section 123 agreement is subject to a mandatory Congressional review period of 90 days of continuous session. 2. A Section 123 agreement can enter into force only if both Houses of Congress affirmatively pass a joint resolution approving it. 3. Section 123 requires the partner state to obtain US consent before enriching or reprocessing nuclear material obtained under the agreement. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Unlike an ordinary executive agreement, a Section 123 agreement is subject to a mandatory Congressional review period of 90 days of continuous session.
  2. A Section 123 agreement can enter into force only if both Houses of Congress affirmatively pass a joint resolution approving it.
  3. Section 123 requires the partner state to obtain US consent before enriching or reprocessing nuclear material obtained under the agreement.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. Consider the following statements about the sequence of the US-Saudi civil nuclear cooperation process: 1. In November 2025, during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Washington visit, the two sides signed a 'Joint Declaration on the Completion of Negotiations on Civil Nuclear Energy Cooperation.' 2. The formal Section 123 Agreement was signed on 22 July 2026 by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman. 3. The 22 July 2026 Section 123 Agreement was signed alongside an accompanying bilateral safeguards agreement. 4. Once signed on 22 July 2026, the Section 123 Agreement entered into force immediately and required no further legislative review whatsoever. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. In November 2025, during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Washington visit, the two sides signed a 'Joint Declaration on the Completion of Negotiations on Civil Nuclear Energy Cooperation.'
  2. The formal Section 123 Agreement was signed on 22 July 2026 by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman.
  3. The 22 July 2026 Section 123 Agreement was signed alongside an accompanying bilateral safeguards agreement.
  4. Once signed on 22 July 2026, the Section 123 Agreement entered into force immediately and required no further legislative review whatsoever.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. In the US-Saudi nuclear process, what did the November 2025 'Joint Declaration on the Completion of Negotiations on Civil Nuclear Energy Cooperation' actually accomplish?

  • A. It set out the legal foundation and confirmed the US as Saudi Arabia's civil nuclear partner of choice, but was not itself the binding Section 123 agreement.
  • B. It was the final, binding Section 123 Agreement subsequently submitted to the US Congress for review.
  • C. It brought Saudi Arabia under the IAEA Additional Protocol and a full safeguards inspection regime.
  • D. It was the instrument that designated Saudi Arabia a major non-NATO ally of the United States.

Q4. How many Arab states normalized relations with Israel by signing the Abraham Accords declarations during 2020–2021?

  • A. Three
  • B. Four
  • C. Five
  • D. Six

Q5. Consider the following statements about Saudi Arabia's nuclear safeguards standing: 1. Saudi Arabia acceded to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1988 and has had a Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement with the IAEA since 2009. 2. In 2024, Saudi Arabia rescinded its Small Quantities Protocol with the IAEA. 3. Saudi Arabia has concluded the IAEA Additional Protocol, granting inspectors enhanced access to detect undeclared activities. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Saudi Arabia acceded to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1988 and has had a Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement with the IAEA since 2009.
  2. In 2024, Saudi Arabia rescinded its Small Quantities Protocol with the IAEA.
  3. Saudi Arabia has concluded the IAEA Additional Protocol, granting inspectors enhanced access to detect undeclared activities.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. Consider the following statements about the nonproliferation debate around the US-Saudi nuclear deal: 1. Saudi Arabia has argued that, as an NPT signatory, it has the same right as other members to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes. 2. The drafted Section 123 agreement reportedly does not require Saudi Arabia to adopt the IAEA Additional Protocol. 3. Critics and some US lawmakers warn that granting enrichment rights could trigger a regional nuclear/arms race in the Gulf. 4. Like the UAE precedent, the Saudi deal legally binds Riyadh to forgo all domestic uranium enrichment. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Saudi Arabia has argued that, as an NPT signatory, it has the same right as other members to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.
  2. The drafted Section 123 agreement reportedly does not require Saudi Arabia to adopt the IAEA Additional Protocol.
  3. Critics and some US lawmakers warn that granting enrichment rights could trigger a regional nuclear/arms race in the Gulf.
  4. Like the UAE precedent, the Saudi deal legally binds Riyadh to forgo all domestic uranium enrichment.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. Consider the following statements comparing the US-UAE 123 Agreement with the proposed US-Saudi arrangement: 1. The US-UAE 123 Agreement entered into force in 2009. 2. The UAE committed to forgo both domestic uranium enrichment and reprocessing of spent fuel, unlike the terms reportedly offered to Saudi Arabia. 3. The UAE model is commonly cited as the nonproliferation 'silver standard.' Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The US-UAE 123 Agreement entered into force in 2009.
  2. The UAE committed to forgo both domestic uranium enrichment and reprocessing of spent fuel, unlike the terms reportedly offered to Saudi Arabia.
  3. The UAE model is commonly cited as the nonproliferation 'silver standard.'
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. In civil nuclear cooperation, the nonproliferation 'gold standard' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A partner state's binding commitment to forgo domestic uranium enrichment and reprocessing of spent fuel.
  • B. A partner state's commitment to place all of its enrichment capacity under joint US-IAEA ownership and operation.
  • C. A requirement that a partner's reactors run only on US-supplied low-enriched uranium fuel for their entire operating life.
  • D. The IAEA-defined purity threshold at which enriched uranium is classified as weapons-grade fissile material.

Q9. Regarding Saudi Arabia's designation as a major non-NATO ally (MNNA) in November 2025, which one of the following statements is correct?

  • A. It was made by the US President and creates no mutual-defense treaty obligation.
  • B. It automatically obliges the United States to militarily defend Saudi Arabia against any external attack, like NATO's Article 5.
  • C. It makes Saudi Arabia a full member of NATO's collective self-defense framework and command structure.
  • D. It grants Saudi Arabia a permanent veto over all future US arms sales elsewhere in the region.

Q10. Consider the following statements about India-Saudi Arabia relations: 1. India and Saudi Arabia co-chair a Strategic Partnership Council established in 2019. 2. During PM Modi's April 2025 Jeddah visit, the two sides advanced a West Coast Refinery project involving Saudi Aramco. 3. Saudi Arabia is among India's largest sources of crude oil imports. 4. India is a member of the Abraham Accords alongside Saudi Arabia. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. India and Saudi Arabia co-chair a Strategic Partnership Council established in 2019.
  2. During PM Modi's April 2025 Jeddah visit, the two sides advanced a West Coast Refinery project involving Saudi Aramco.
  3. Saudi Arabia is among India's largest sources of crude oil imports.
  4. India is a member of the Abraham Accords alongside Saudi Arabia.
  • A. 4 only
  • B. 3 and 4 only
  • C. 2 only
  • D. 1 and 4 only