UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — RM-led IGoM on West Asia reviews availability of essential commodities & supply chain resilience in India amid the ongoing crisis
Q1. The Informal Group of Ministers (IGoM) on West Asia, constituted in 2026 to monitor the availability of essential commodities and supply-chain resilience, functions under the chairship of which Union Minister?
- A. Minister of External Affairs
- B. Minister of Defence (Raksha Mantri)
- C. Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas
- D. Minister of Home Affairs
Q2. In the context of the mechanism reviewing India's supply-chain resilience during the West Asia crisis, the term 'Informal Group of Ministers (IGoM)' is best described as:
- A. A statutory authority constituted under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, with binding powers over State Governments
- B. A temporary, issue-specific ministerial group that coordinates and advises but does not by itself exercise formal decision-making power unless expressly empowered
- C. A permanent Cabinet Committee with fixed membership that takes final Cabinet decisions
- D. A group of secretaries empowered to take final decisions on behalf of the Union Cabinet
Q3. The assessment that India holds 60 days of crude oil, 60 days of natural gas and 45 days of LPG rolling stock, with no shortage of any petroleum product, was reviewed at the fifth meeting of which of the following?
- A. The Cabinet Committee on Security
- B. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
- C. The Raksha Mantri-led Informal Group of Ministers on West Asia
- D. The Empowered Group of Secretaries on Petroleum
Q4. With reference to India's energy stock position as reviewed during the West Asia crisis, consider the following statements:
1. India holds about 60 days of crude oil rolling stock.
2. India holds about 45 days of natural gas rolling stock.
3. India holds about 45 days of LPG rolling stock.
4. India's Strategic Petroleum Reserves are managed by Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve Limited (ISPRL).
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- India holds about 60 days of crude oil rolling stock.
- India holds about 45 days of natural gas rolling stock.
- India holds about 45 days of LPG rolling stock.
- India's Strategic Petroleum Reserves are managed by Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve Limited (ISPRL).
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 2 and 4 only
- C. 1, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q5. The construction, maintenance and management of India's underground Strategic Petroleum Reserves at Visakhapatnam, Mangalore and Padur is the responsibility of which of the following?
- A. Oil Industry Development Board (OIDB)
- B. Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve Limited (ISPRL)
- C. Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell (PPAC)
- D. Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)
Q6. The Strait of Hormuz, through which a large share of India's LPG imports transits, connects the Persian Gulf to which of the following?
- A. The Red Sea
- B. The Gulf of Oman, opening onto the Arabian Sea
- C. The Mediterranean Sea
- D. The Gulf of Aden
Q7. The IGoM on West Asia, which held its first meeting in March 2026 and its sixth in May 2026, is chaired by the Union Minister heading which ministry?
- A. Ministry of External Affairs
- B. Ministry of Home Affairs
- C. Ministry of Defence
- D. Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
Q8. With reference to the sequence of RM-led IGoM meetings on West Asia in 2026, consider the following statements:
1. The first IGoM meeting was chaired by the Raksha Mantri.
2. The fifth IGoM meeting concluded that there was no shortage of any petroleum product.
3. The sixth IGoM meeting broadened its review to the availability of essential commodities and supply-chain resilience.
4. The first IGoM meeting was held at the Reserve Bank of India headquarters in Mumbai.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The first IGoM meeting was chaired by the Raksha Mantri.
- The fifth IGoM meeting concluded that there was no shortage of any petroleum product.
- The sixth IGoM meeting broadened its review to the availability of essential commodities and supply-chain resilience.
- The first IGoM meeting was held at the Reserve Bank of India headquarters in Mumbai.
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 2 and 4 only
- C. 1, 2 and 3
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q9. Which one of the following is the principal Central legislation empowering the Government to control the production, supply and distribution of essential commodities in India?
- A. The Consumer Protection Act, 2019
- B. The Essential Commodities Act, 1955
- C. The Prevention of Black-marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980
- D. The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
Q10. With reference to the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, consider the following statements:
1. It provides for the control of the production, supply and distribution of essential commodities.
2. Powers to issue Control Orders under the Act have been delegated to the State Governments.
3. The Act was enacted in the year 1980.
4. It is complemented by the Prevention of Black-marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- It provides for the control of the production, supply and distribution of essential commodities.
- Powers to issue Control Orders under the Act have been delegated to the State Governments.
- The Act was enacted in the year 1980.
- It is complemented by the Prevention of Black-marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980.
- A. 1 only
- B. 3 only
- C. 2 and 4
- D. 1 and 3
Q11. Under the long-term agreement concluded with Saudi Arabia's Ma'aden, Indian companies (IPL, KRIBHCO and CIL) are to receive approximately how many million metric tonnes (MMT) of Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) annually for five years from FY 2025-26?
- A. 1.5 MMT
- B. 3.1 MMT
- C. 6.5 MMT
- D. 8.6 MMT