UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Inter-Ministerial Briefing on Recent Developments in West Asia

Q1. The right of 'transit passage' through international straits used for international navigation, such as the Strait of Hormuz, is codified under which one of the following international conventions?

  • A. UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982
  • B. Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone, 1958
  • C. Convention on the High Seas, 1958
  • D. UN Convention on the Continental Shelf, 1964

Q2. In the context of global energy trade, the term 'maritime chokepoint' — as applied to the Strait of Hormuz — most precisely refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A narrow, strategically located shipping passage whose closure or disruption can constrict a disproportionate share of global energy or commodity flows
  • B. The territorial sea belt of 12 nautical miles within which the coastal state exercises full sovereignty over foreign vessels
  • C. An Exclusive Economic Zone where the coastal state holds exclusive rights to living and non-living resources up to 200 nautical miles
  • D. A designated naval exclusion zone declared by a coastal state from which all foreign warships and merchant vessels are barred

Q3. Match List I (Category of energy flow through the Strait of Hormuz) with List II (Approximate share, as cited in PIB/IMF/World Bank briefings of 2026) and select the correct answer using the code given below:

  • A. A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
  • B. A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
  • C. A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4
  • D. A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4

Q4. Which one of the following Union Ministries notified the Natural Gas (Supply Regulation) Order, 2026, that prioritised gas allocation to fertilizer plants amid the West Asia crisis?

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

Q5. Under which one of the following statutes was the Natural Gas (Supply Regulation) Order, 2026 — that mandates allocation of about 70% of past six-month average gas consumption to fertilizer plants — promulgated?

  • A. Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006
  • B. Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948
  • C. Essential Commodities Act, 1955
  • D. Petroleum Act, 1934

Q6. Consider the following sectors with reference to the Natural Gas (Supply Regulation) Order, 2026. Which of them are NOT included in the notified 'Priority Sectors' for natural gas allocation?

  1. Domestic Piped Natural Gas (PNG) supply
  2. Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for transport
  3. Thermal power generation plants
  4. Sponge iron and steel manufacturing units
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 and 4
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 4

Q7. With reference to the Inter-Ministerial Briefing mechanism activated in 2026 on recent developments in West Asia, match List I (Participating Ministry/Department) with List II (Action / Update reported in its name at the National Media Centre briefings) and select the correct answer using the code given below:

  • A. A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4
  • B. A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
  • C. A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4
  • D. A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3

Q8. With reference to the Inter-Ministerial Briefings on Recent Developments in West Asia held at the National Media Centre in 2026, which of the following Ministries did NOT participate as a briefing Ministry?

  1. Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
  2. Ministry of Home Affairs
  3. Ministry of Defence
  4. Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q9. With reference to India's institutional response to the 2026 West Asia situation, match List I (Event) with List II (Date in 2026) in the correct chronological order and select the answer using the code given below:

  • A. A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
  • B. A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
  • C. A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4
  • D. A-1, B-2, C-4, D-3

Q10. With reference to External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar's visit to Mauritius and the UAE (9-12 April 2026), which of the following took place during the visit itself?

  1. Joint inauguration of Mauritius' first dedicated Renal Transplant Unit at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, Port Louis
  2. Handing over of 90 electric buses to the Government of Mauritius
  3. Signing of the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)
  4. Call on the President of the UAE, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi
  • A. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q11. With reference to India's diplomatic response to the West Asia situation in 2026, match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below.

  • A. A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3
  • B. A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3
  • C. A-1, B-4, C-3, D-2
  • D. A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2

Q12. In the context of India-UAE relations reviewed during the External Affairs Minister's April 2026 visit, the term 'CEPA' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
  • B. Common Energy Procurement Arrangement
  • C. Coastal Economic Partnership Area
  • D. Cooperative Expatriate Protection Accord

Q13. With reference to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) supplied for domestic cooking in India, which one of the following best describes its principal chemical composition?

  • A. A mixture of methane and ethane
  • B. A mixture mainly of propane and butane
  • C. Predominantly methane with traces of carbon dioxide
  • D. A mixture of butane and pentane in equal proportion

Q14. With reference to the Government of India's measures (March–April 2026) to safeguard LPG supplies amid the West Asia situation, consider the following: 1. Diversion of propane, butane, propylene and butene streams from refineries and petrochemical units to the LPG pool. 2. Issuance of a Natural Gas Control Order under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. 3. Sale of 5-kg Free Trade LPG (FTL) cylinders through OMC outlets. 4. Imposition of an export duty on domestically produced LPG to deter outflow. Which of the above is/are NOT among the measures actually taken?

  1. Diversion of propane, butane, propylene and butene streams from refineries and petrochemical units to the LPG pool.
  2. Issuance of a Natural Gas Control Order under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
  3. Sale of 5-kg Free Trade LPG (FTL) cylinders through OMC outlets.
  4. Imposition of an export duty on domestically produced LPG to deter outflow.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q15. Match List I (Event in India's LPG / natural-gas policy) with List II (Date) and select the correct chronological pairing using the code given below:

  • A. A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
  • B. A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
  • C. A-1, B-2, C-4, D-3
  • D. A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4

Q16. Match List I (Event relating to seafarer protection / maritime security) with List II (Year) and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:

  • A. A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
  • B. A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
  • C. A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4
  • D. A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3

Q17. With reference to the Indian Navy's Operation Sankalp as originally launched in 2019 vis-à-vis its expanded maritime security deployments since late 2023, consider the following statements: 1. While the 2019 mandate was confined to providing escort to Indian-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, the post-2023 deployments have extended response operations to the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea and waters off the east coast of Somalia. 2. Unlike the 2019 phase, which was essentially a reassurance-and-escort presence, the post-2023 phase has included first-responder action against drone and missile attacks on merchant vessels and hijacking incidents. 3. Both phases are progressed in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Directorate General of Shipping. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. While the 2019 mandate was confined to providing escort to Indian-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, the post-2023 deployments have extended response operations to the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea and waters off the east coast of Somalia.
  2. Unlike the 2019 phase, which was essentially a reassurance-and-escort presence, the post-2023 phase has included first-responder action against drone and missile attacks on merchant vessels and hijacking incidents.
  3. Both phases are progressed in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Directorate General of Shipping.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q18. With reference to mechanisms protecting Indian seafarers and Indian-flagged merchant vessels in the West Asian waters, consider the following pairs: 1. Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 — an International Labour Organization instrument, ratified by India in 2015, prescribing minimum working and living standards for seafarers. 2. Directorate General of Shipping — the agency under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways that has set up a 24x7 Quick Response Team for Indian seafarers in the Persian Gulf. 3. Operation Sankalp — an Indian Navy maritime security operation launched in 2019 to ensure safe passage of Indian-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. 4. Sagarmala Programme — an inter-ministerial framework under which the Indian Navy provides anti-piracy escort to Indian merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden. Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

  1. Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 — an ILO instrument, ratified by India in 2015, prescribing minimum working and living standards for seafarers.
  2. Directorate General of Shipping — agency under MoPSW that has set up a 24x7 Quick Response Team for Indian seafarers in the Persian Gulf.
  3. Operation Sankalp — Indian Navy maritime security operation launched in 2019 to ensure safe passage of Indian-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
  4. Sagarmala Programme — inter-ministerial framework under which the Indian Navy provides anti-piracy escort to Indian merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q19. A crude-oil tanker sails from a port on the United Arab Emirates coast to Rotterdam via the Suez route. Match List I (waterway/strait) with List II (order in which the tanker enters it) and select the correct option.

  • A. A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
  • B. A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
  • C. A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4
  • D. A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3

Q20. How many sovereign countries share a land border with Iran?

  • A. Five
  • B. Six
  • C. Seven
  • D. Eight

Q21. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), whose membership consists exclusively of six Arab monarchies of the Persian Gulf, was formally established by the signing of its Charter in which year?

  • A. 1971
  • B. 1979
  • C. 1981
  • D. 1991

Q22. In 2015, India evacuated its nationals from war-torn Yemen under 'Operation Raahat'. Which one of the following served as the principal staging/transit hub for this evacuation?

  • A. Muscat, Oman
  • B. Djibouti
  • C. Doha, Qatar
  • D. Salalah, Oman

Q23. Match List I (Indian evacuation operation) with List II (Year and theatre) and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:

  • A. A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
  • B. A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
  • C. A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4
  • D. A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4

Q24. With reference to Operation Raahat (2015) and Operation Ganga (2022), consider the following statements: 1. Operation Raahat evacuated only Indian nationals, whereas Operation Ganga additionally evacuated foreign nationals. 2. Operation Ganga involved both Indian Air Force aircraft and chartered civilian airliners, while Operation Raahat involved Indian Navy ships in addition to Indian Air Force aircraft. 3. In Operation Raahat, Djibouti served as the principal transit hub, whereas Operation Ganga routed evacuees through Ukraine's neighbouring countries such as Romania, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Operation Raahat evacuated only Indian nationals, whereas Operation Ganga additionally evacuated foreign nationals.
  2. Operation Ganga involved both Indian Air Force aircraft and chartered civilian airliners, while Operation Raahat involved Indian Navy ships in addition to Indian Air Force aircraft.
  3. In Operation Raahat, Djibouti served as the principal transit hub, whereas Operation Ganga routed evacuees through Ukraine's neighbouring countries such as Romania, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3