UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India, Egypt discuss plan to boost bilateral defence cooperation in Cairo meet
Q1. With reference to the 11th India–Egypt Joint Defence Committee (JDC) meeting held in April 2026, the 'Navy-to-Navy Staff Talks' inaugurated on its sidelines are best described as:
- A. A newly instituted forum for structured staff-level dialogue between the Indian Navy and the Egyptian Navy on maritime cooperation
- B. A joint naval combat exercise conducted by the two navies in the Red Sea
- C. The sole apex body that always overrides the JDC on every maritime matter
- D. A United Nations-mandated joint naval anti-piracy patrol in the Indian Ocean
Q2. Consider the following statements regarding the 11th India–Egypt Joint Defence Committee (JDC) meeting:
1. The 11th India–Egypt JDC meeting was held in Cairo, whereas the 12th India–UAE Joint Defence Cooperation Committee meeting was held in Abu Dhabi.
2. The 11th JDC finalised a bilateral defence cooperation plan for 2026–27 and held the first-ever India–Egypt Navy-to-Navy Staff Talks.
3. The Indian delegation to the 11th JDC was led by the Defence Secretary.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The 11th India–Egypt JDC meeting was held in Cairo, whereas the 12th India–UAE Joint Defence Cooperation Committee meeting was held in Abu Dhabi.
- The 11th JDC finalised a bilateral defence cooperation plan for 2026–27 and held the first-ever India–Egypt Navy-to-Navy Staff Talks.
- The Indian delegation to the 11th JDC was led by the Defence Secretary.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. The India–Egypt relationship was elevated to the level of a 'Strategic Partnership' during the visit of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as Chief Guest at India's Republic Day celebrations in which year?
- A. 2023
- B. 2016
- C. 2019
- D. 2024
Q4. Consider the following statements regarding the India–Egypt Strategic Partnership:
1. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi was the Chief Guest at India's Republic Day parade in 2023, when bilateral ties were elevated to a Strategic Partnership.
2. The year 2023 also marked 75 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Egypt.
3. Egypt was admitted as a full member of BRICS at the very summit where the India–Egypt Strategic Partnership was announced.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi was the Chief Guest at India's Republic Day parade in 2023, when bilateral ties were elevated to a Strategic Partnership.
- The year 2023 also marked 75 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Egypt.
- Egypt was admitted as a full member of BRICS at the very summit where the India–Egypt Strategic Partnership was announced.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q5. Exercise 'Cyclone', conducted periodically between India and Egypt, is best described as a:
- A. Joint Special Forces exercise
- B. Joint naval fleet exercise
- C. Joint air combat exercise
- D. Joint humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercise
Q6. The inaugural edition (Cyclone-I) of the India–Egypt Joint Special Forces Exercise commenced at which one of the following locations?
- A. Jaisalmer, Rajasthan (India)
- B. Anshas, Egypt
- C. Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan (India)
- D. Cairo, Egypt
Q7. Consider the following pairs of country and the corresponding India-linked bilateral defence-dialogue mechanism:
1. Egypt — Joint Defence Committee (JDC)
2. UAE — Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC)
3. Oman — Joint Military Cooperation Committee (JMCC)
4. Italy — Joint Naval Staff Talks
Which of the above pairs are correctly matched?
- Egypt — Joint Defence Committee (JDC)
- UAE — Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC)
- Oman — Joint Military Cooperation Committee (JMCC)
- Italy — Joint Naval Staff Talks
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1, 2 and 3
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q8. Consider the following pairs of a bilateral defence-dialogue meeting and its host venue:
1. 12th India–UAE JDCC — Abu Dhabi
2. 11th India–Egypt JDC — Cairo
3. 13th India–UAE JDCC — Dubai
4. 11th India–Oman JMCC — Muscat
Which of the above pairs are NOT correctly matched?
- 12th India–UAE JDCC — Abu Dhabi
- 11th India–Egypt JDC — Cairo
- 13th India–UAE JDCC — Dubai
- 11th India–Oman JMCC — Muscat
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 3 and 4
- C. 2 and 4
- D. 1 and 3
Q9. Consider the following statements regarding India's defence exports:
1. India's defence exports rose to a record of about Rs 23,622 crore in FY 2024-25, a growth of roughly 12% over FY 2023-24.
2. In FY 2024-25, the private sector contributed a larger share of defence exports than the Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).
3. The Government's stated target is to raise defence exports to Rs 50,000 crore by 2025.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- India's defence exports rose to a record of about Rs 23,622 crore in FY 2024-25, a growth of roughly 12% over FY 2023-24.
- In FY 2024-25, the private sector contributed a larger share of defence exports than the Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).
- The Government's stated target is to raise defence exports to Rs 50,000 crore by 2025.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q10. The Suez Canal, which underpins Egypt's strategic significance for maritime trade linked to the Indian Ocean Region, directly connects which two water bodies?
- A. The Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea
- B. The Red Sea and the Persian Gulf
- C. The Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea
- D. The Red Sea and the Arabian Sea
Q11. The Indian delegation to the 11th India–Egypt JDC was led by the Joint Secretary (International Cooperation). Within the Union Ministry of Defence, this function falls under the department that alone deals with defence policy and bilateral defence cooperation, namely the:
- A. Department of Defence (DoD)
- B. Department of Defence Production (DDP)
- C. Department of Military Affairs (DMA)
- D. Department of Defence Research and Development (DRDO)