UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PM chairs CCS Meeting to review measures being taken in the context of ongoing West Asia Conflict

Q1. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), which reviewed India's mitigation measures during the West Asia conflict, is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. The apex executive body, chaired by the Prime Minister, that takes final decisions on national security, defence, foreign affairs and atomic energy matters
  • B. A statutory body constituted under the National Security Act to coordinate the intelligence agencies
  • C. A standing committee of Parliament that scrutinises the defence budget and senior military appointments
  • D. An advisory council headed by the National Security Advisor comprising the three service chiefs

Q2. Consider the following pairs of India's overseas evacuation operations and their contexts: Which one of the above pairs is NOT correctly matched?

  1. Operation Ganga — Russia–Ukraine war
  2. Operation Kaveri — clashes between rival factions in Sudan
  3. Operation Ajay — Israel–Hamas conflict
  4. Operation Sindhu — Yemen civil war
  • A. 1
  • B. 2
  • C. 3
  • D. 4

Q3. With reference to Operation Sindhu (2025), consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. It was launched on 18 June 2025 to evacuate Indian nationals from Iran and Israel.
  2. Indian nationals were moved out of Iran through land borders to Armenia before being flown home.
  3. The Ministry of Defence functioned as the nodal ministry coordinating the operation.
  4. Alongside Indian nationals, some Nepali and Sri Lankan nationals were also evacuated.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q4. With reference to the Strait of Hormuz and India's energy imports, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Strait of Hormuz lies between Iran and Oman, whereas Chabahar port lies outside the Strait, opening directly towards the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
  2. A larger share of India's LPG imports than of its crude oil imports transits the Strait of Hormuz.
  3. India depends on the Strait of Hormuz for all of its natural gas (LNG) imports.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. Chabahar port, which offers India a maritime route bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, is operated under a 10-year agreement signed in 2024 by which one of the following Indian entities?

  • A. India Ports Global Limited (IPGL)
  • B. Shipping Corporation of India
  • C. Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority
  • D. Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone

Q6. In the context of the 2025 West Asia conflict, 'Operation Rising Lion' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. The Israeli military operation launched on 13 June 2025 striking Iran's military and nuclear facilities
  • B. The United States' strikes on Iran's Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites
  • C. Iran's retaliatory ballistic-missile and drone campaign against Israel
  • D. India's operation to evacuate its nationals from Iran and Israel

Q7. With reference to the 2025 Israel–Iran 'Twelve-Day War', consider the following statements: Which one of the statements given above is NOT correct?

  1. The war between Israel and Iran was fought in June 2025.
  2. The United States struck Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
  3. Iran launched missiles towards the Al Udeid air base in Qatar.
  4. The ceasefire that ended the conflict took effect in September 2025.
  • A. 1
  • B. 2
  • C. 3
  • D. 4

Q8. The Essential Commodities Act, 1955, invoked during the CCS review of West Asia-linked supply risks, primarily empowers the government to do which one of the following?

  • A. Regulate or prohibit the production, supply, distribution and pricing of notified essential commodities to check hoarding and black-marketing
  • B. Fix the minimum support prices (MSP) at which the government procures agricultural produce
  • C. Levy customs and anti-dumping duties on imported essential goods
  • D. Acquire private agricultural land for public foodgrain storage under eminent domain

Q9. As part of diversifying LPG sourcing away from the Gulf amid the West Asia conflict, India concluded its first-ever major LPG import deal in 2025 with which one of the following countries?

  • A. United States
  • B. Norway
  • C. Canada
  • D. Russia

Q10. Comparing India's Ministry of External Affairs-led evacuation operations, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Operation Sindhu (2025) evacuated Indian nationals from Iran and Israel, whereas Operation Kaveri (2023) evacuated them from Sudan.
  2. Both Operation Ganga (2022) and Operation Sindhu (2025) were coordinated by the Ministry of External Affairs through Indian missions abroad.
  3. Unlike earlier operations, Operation Sindhu evacuated only Indian passport-holders and no foreign nationals.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q11. In the context of India's engagement with West Asia, the minilateral grouping 'I2U2' consists of which one of the following sets of countries?

  • A. India, Israel, the United States and the United Arab Emirates
  • B. India, Iran, the United States and the United Kingdom
  • C. India, Israel, the United States and the United Kingdom
  • D. India, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and the United States