UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal Arrives in Bhutan; Reaffirms India–Bhutan Partnership on Clean Energy and Sustainable Development

Q1. The commissioning of which one of the following India–Bhutan joint hydroelectric projects raised Bhutan's total installed generation capacity by the single largest margin—about 40%, to over 3,500 MW?

  • A. Tala Hydroelectric Project
  • B. Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Project
  • C. Chukha Hydroelectric Project
  • D. Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project

Q2. The Punatsangchhu-II HEP is described as a 'run-of-the-river' hydroelectric project. Which one of the following best describes a run-of-the-river project?

  • A. A project that stores large volumes of water in a big reservoir behind a high dam to regulate seasonal flow
  • B. A project that generates electricity largely from the natural flow of the river with little or no large storage reservoir
  • C. A project that pumps water back up to an upper reservoir during off-peak hours for reuse during peak demand
  • D. A project that diverts sea water through tidal barrages to drive turbines

Q3. With reference to the hydroelectric projects jointly developed by India and Bhutan under intergovernmental (government-to-government) agreements, consider the following four projects. Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as such a project?

  1. Chukha Hydroelectric Project (336 MW)
  2. Tala Hydroelectric Project (1020 MW)
  3. Dagachhu Hydroelectric Project (126 MW)
  4. Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Project (720 MW)
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 1 and 4
  • D. 2 and 3

Q4. As of 2026, how many hydroelectric projects have been fully commissioned in Bhutan under the India–Bhutan intergovernmental (government-to-government) cooperation model?

  • A. 3
  • B. 4
  • C. 5
  • D. 6

Q5. With reference to the revised India–Bhutan Treaty of Friendship, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The 2007 Treaty of Friendship replaced the earlier India–Bhutan Treaty of Friendship of 1949.
  2. Under the 2007 Treaty, Bhutan agreed to be 'guided by' the Government of India in regard to its external relations.
  3. The Treaty provides that neither Government shall allow the use of its territory for activities harmful to the national security and interest of the other.
  4. The revised Treaty came into force in 2007 following the exchange of instruments of ratification.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 3 and 4
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q6. The revised India–Bhutan Treaty of Friendship—which notably dropped the earlier provision requiring Bhutan to be 'guided by' India in its foreign relations—was signed in which year?

  • A. 1949
  • B. 1968
  • C. 2007
  • D. 2014

Q7. During Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal's April 2026 visit to Bhutan, exactly how many bilateral instruments were signed for the power/energy sector?

  • A. 1
  • B. 2
  • C. 3
  • D. 4

Q8. With reference to the outcomes of Union Minister Manohar Lal's April 2026 visit to Bhutan, consider the following. Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as an outcome that occurred only during this visit?

  1. Signing of the Export Tariff Protocol for the Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project.
  2. Signing of a Methodology for Reactive Energy Accounting for cross-border power exchange.
  3. Signing of the Joint Vision Statement on India–Bhutan Energy Partnership.
  4. Establishment of an enhanced bilateral institutional framework mechanism for the power sector.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 2

Q9. Under the 2024 Joint Vision Statement on India–Bhutan Energy Partnership, which one of the following was reaffirmed as the principal anchor of bilateral energy and economic cooperation?

  • A. Rooftop solar mini-grids
  • B. Green hydrogen exports
  • C. Hydropower
  • D. Cross-border oil pipelines

Q10. The Punatsangchhu river, harnessed by the Punatsangchhu-II project, flows southward into India (where it is known as the Sankosh) and ultimately drains into which one of the following river systems?

  • A. Ganga
  • B. Brahmaputra
  • C. Barak
  • D. Teesta

Q11. Cross-border electricity trade arising from India–Bhutan hydropower projects such as Punatsangchhu-II is coordinated on the Indian side principally by which one of the following?

  • A. Ministry of External Affairs
  • B. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
  • C. Ministry of Power
  • D. NITI Aayog

Q12. India's overall development-assistance engagement with Bhutan under the 'Neighbourhood First' policy is coordinated, as the nodal agency, exclusively by which one of the following?

  • A. Ministry of Power
  • B. Ministry of External Affairs
  • C. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • D. NITI Aayog