UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Updates on Key Sectors in View of Developments in West Asia

Q1. With reference to the Free Trade LPG (FTL) 5 kg cylinder scheme, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

1. The cylinders are sold through Company Owned retail outlets of Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies.
2. They are sold at the prevailing non-domestic (market) price without any subsidy.
3. They are distributed exclusively by the State Food and Civil Supplies Departments.
4. The scheme targets citizens on the move such as migrant labourers, students and IT professionals.

• A. 1, 2 and 4
• B. 2 and 3
• C. 1, 3 and 4
• D. 3 and 4 only

Q2. During the 2026 West Asia developments, the doubling of daily availability of 5-kg FTL cylinders for migrant workers was carried out under the guidance of which one of the following Union Ministries?

• A. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
• B. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
• C. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
• D. Ministry of Home Affairs

Q3. With reference to India's crude oil imports, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. India meets about 85-88% of its crude oil requirement through imports.
2. Following diversification, about 70% of India's crude imports now come via routes outside the Strait of Hormuz, compared with about 55% earlier.
3. India sources its crude oil imports exclusively from West Asian countries.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1 and 3 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. With reference to India's position in the global petroleum sector, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

1. India imports crude oil from about 40 countries.
2. India is the world's third largest oil refiner.
3. India is the world's fourth largest exporter of petroleum products.
4. India exports petroleum products to fewer than 50 countries.

• A. 1 only
• B. 2 and 3
• C. 4 only
• D. 1 and 4

Q5. With reference to India's evacuation operations, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Operation Ganga evacuated Indian nationals from Ukraine, whereas Operation Sindhu evacuated them from Iran.
2. Operation Kaveri was launched during the Sudan clashes, whereas Operation Ajay was launched in the context of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
3. Operation Raahat was launched to evacuate Indians from Sudan, whereas Operation Kaveri was launched from Yemen.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1 and 3 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. Consider the following pairs of Indian evacuation operations and the country from which nationals were evacuated. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

1. Operation Sindhu — Iran
2. Operation Kaveri — Sudan
3. Operation Ganga — Yemen
4. Operation Ajay — Israel

• A. 1, 2 and 4
• B. 1 and 3 only
• C. 2, 3 and 4
• D. 3 and 4 only

Q7. In the context of India's response to the 2026 West Asia developments, the 'IGoM' on West Asia is best described as which one of the following?

• A. An Inter-Ministerial Group of Ministers constituted to review India's energy stockpile and sectoral resilience amid the West Asia developments
• B. An International Group of Mediators formed under United Nations auspices to negotiate a ceasefire in West Asia
• C. An inter-governmental maritime body coordinating the security of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz
• D. An investment group of Gulf sovereign funds channelling capital into India's energy sector

Q8. The Inter-Ministerial Group of Ministers (IGoM) on West Asia, which reviewed India's crude, natural gas and LPG rolling-stock position, is chaired by which one of the following?

• A. Minister of External Affairs
• B. Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas
• C. Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister)
• D. Cabinet Secretary

Q9. With reference to India's Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) programme, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Phase-I created a storage capacity of 5.33 MMT across three locations, while Phase-II envisages an additional 6.5 MMT.
2. The Phase-II reserves at Chandikhol and Padur are to be developed on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode.
3. All of India's Strategic Petroleum Reserve facilities are located solely in Karnataka.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1 and 3 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. Consider the following statements about the locations of India's Strategic Petroleum Reserve facilities. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

1. Visakhapatnam is a Phase-I Strategic Petroleum Reserve location.
2. Mangaluru is a Phase-I Strategic Petroleum Reserve location.
3. Padur, a reserve location, is situated in Karnataka.
4. Chandikhol, a Phase-II reserve location, is situated in Andhra Pradesh.

• A. 4 only
• B. 1 and 2
• C. 3 only
• D. 2 and 4

Q11. In the context of the 2026 West Asia developments and India's consular response, 'Operation Sindhu' is best described as which one of the following?

• A. An MEA-led operation launched in June 2025 to evacuate Indian nationals from Iran amid escalating Iran-Israel tensions
• B. A naval operation to secure Indian merchant shipping passing through the Strait of Hormuz
• C. An operation to facilitate the departure of Indian nationals from Israel via Egypt and Jordan
• D. A dedicated consular helpline set up for Indian diaspora across the Gulf Cooperation Council states

Q12. With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) as compared with the Free Trade LPG (FTL) scheme, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. PMUY, launched in 2016, provides a deposit-free LPG connection to adult women of poor households.
2. Unlike FTL cylinders, which are sold without subsidy, PMUY connections are supported by a targeted subsidy.
3. PMUY is implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1 and 3 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3