UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India- Republic of Korea Joint Statement on Energy Resource Security

Q1. During President Lee Jae Myung's April 2026 State Visit to India, several parallel joint statements were adopted. Which one served as the overarching framework document setting the strategic direction, within which the energy and sustainability statements were nested?

  • A. Joint Strategic Vision for the India–ROK Special Strategic Partnership
  • B. Joint Statement on Energy Resource Security
  • C. Joint Statement on Sustainability
  • D. Joint Statement on Naphtha Supply Chain Cooperation

Q2. Under the India–ROK Joint Statement on Energy Resource Security, AI-based mapping and exploration of critical minerals is to be pursued by linking the two countries' geological survey organizations. Which body is India's designated national geological survey organization for this purpose?

  • A. Geological Survey of India
  • B. Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited
  • C. Indian Bureau of Mines
  • D. Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research

Q3. The India–ROK Joint Statement envisages recovering critical minerals from 'mine tailings'. In this context, mine tailings are best described as:

  • A. The residual waste material left after the valuable fraction has been separated from ore during processing
  • B. Low-grade ore deliberately left unexcavated in the ground as future reserves
  • C. The overburden of soil and rock removed before the ore body is reached
  • D. The refined metal concentrate held in storage awaiting export

Q4. The India–ROK Joint Statement identifies naphtha as a key commodity that India supplies to the ROK. Naphtha is best described as:

  • A. A liquid hydrocarbon mixture obtained from refining crude oil, used chiefly as a petrochemical feedstock
  • B. Natural gas cooled to about −162°C to a liquid state for shipment
  • C. A heavy residual oil used mainly as bunker fuel for ships
  • D. A refined base oil used as the principal input in manufacturing lubricants

Q5. In terms of its legal character, the India–ROK Joint Statement on Energy Resource Security is best classified as:

  • A. A non-binding executive instrument that expresses political commitment without creating legally enforceable obligations
  • B. A treaty that requires ratification by Parliament before it can take effect
  • C. A binding bilateral convention with a self-executing dispute-settlement clause
  • D. An international agreement that must be registered with the UN Secretariat to be valid

Q6. Under the circularity thrust of the India–ROK Joint Statement, recovery of critical minerals from secondary sources such as e-waste and mine tailings is operationalised on the Indian side principally through which Ministry?

  • A. Ministry of Mines
  • B. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
  • C. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
  • D. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas