UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Raksha Mantri & his French counterpart co-chair 6th Annual Defence Dialogue in Bengaluru
Q1. Catherine Vautrin, the French co-chair of the 6th India-France Annual Defence Dialogue, holds which one of the following portfolios in the French government?
- A. Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs
- B. Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs
- C. Minister of the Interior
- D. Delegate Minister for the Armament (Direction Générale de l'Armement)
Q2. On the Indian side, the India-France Annual Defence Dialogue is steered by which one of the following ministries?
- A. Ministry of Defence
- B. Ministry of External Affairs
- C. Prime Minister's Office
- D. Ministry of Home Affairs
Q3. With reference to the 6th India-France Annual Defence Dialogue, consider the following statements:
1. It was held on 17 February 2026.
2. It was held in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
3. The immediately preceding (5th) edition had been held in Paris.
4. The 6th edition was the first India-France Annual Defence Dialogue to be hosted outside New Delhi.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- It was held on 17 February 2026.
- It was held in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
- The immediately preceding (5th) edition had been held in Paris.
- The 6th edition was the first India-France Annual Defence Dialogue to be hosted outside New Delhi.
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 3 only
- C. 4 only
- D. 2 and 4
Q4. At the 6th Annual Defence Dialogue, the India-France Defence Cooperation Agreement was renewed for another ten years. On the Indian side, this agreement was signed by which one of the following?
- A. Defence Secretary
- B. Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister)
- C. Chief of Defence Staff
- D. Chairman and Managing Director, Bharat Electronics Limited
Q5. Among the outcomes of the 6th Annual Defence Dialogue was the 'reciprocal deployment of officers'. In this context, the term refers to which one of the following?
- A. Posting of Indian Army officers at French Land Forces establishments and of French officers at Indian Army establishments
- B. Exchange of defence attachés between the two countries' embassies
- C. Joint deployment of Indian and French officers on United Nations peacekeeping missions
- D. Embedding of French officers aboard Indian Navy warships during Exercise Varuna
Q6. Consider the following statements about the India-France Strategic Partnership:
1. It was established in 1998.
2. The Horizon 2047 roadmap, adopted in 2023, marked the 25th anniversary of this Strategic Partnership.
3. France was the first European country, though not the first country overall, with which India concluded a Strategic Partnership.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It was established in 1998.
- The Horizon 2047 roadmap, adopted in 2023, marked the 25th anniversary of this Strategic Partnership.
- France was the first European country, though not the first country overall, with which India concluded a Strategic Partnership.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q7. Which one of the following countries was the first with which India established a Strategic Partnership?
- A. France
- B. Russia
- C. United States
- D. United Kingdom
Q8. Consider the following statements about the Horizon 2047 roadmap:
1. It was adopted in 2023.
2. It sets out a long-term vision extending to the year 2047, which will mark the centenary of India's independence.
3. It was the first-ever bilateral cooperation roadmap concluded between India and France.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It was adopted in 2023.
- It sets out a long-term vision extending to the year 2047, which will mark the centenary of India's independence.
- It was the first-ever bilateral cooperation roadmap concluded between India and France.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q9. The HAMMER precision-guided air-to-ground weapon is to be manufactured in India through a joint venture between France's Safran Electronics & Defence and which one of the following Indian public sector undertakings?
- A. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
- B. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
- C. Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL)
- D. Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML)
Q10. With reference to the institutional mechanisms of India-France cooperation, consider the following statements:
1. The India-France Annual Defence Dialogue is conducted at the level of the two countries' Defence Ministers.
2. On the Indian side, the Annual Defence Dialogue falls under the Ministry of Defence, whereas the India-France Strategic Dialogue is handled by the Ministry of External Affairs.
3. The 38th India-France Strategic Dialogue was held in January 2026.
4. The India-France Strategic Partnership, which both dialogues serve, dates back to 1998.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- The India-France Annual Defence Dialogue is conducted at the level of the two countries' Defence Ministers.
- On the Indian side, the Annual Defence Dialogue falls under the Ministry of Defence, whereas the India-France Strategic Dialogue is handled by the Ministry of External Affairs.
- The 38th India-France Strategic Dialogue was held in January 2026.
- The India-France Strategic Partnership, which both dialogues serve, dates back to 1998.
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 2 and 4 only
- C. 1, 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q11. India conducts dedicated, named bilateral military exercises with France. With how many of India's three armed services (Army, Navy and Air Force) does France hold such a dedicated bilateral exercise?
- A. One
- B. Two
- C. Three
- D. None