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

Q1. Operation Sindhu, launched on 18 June 2025 to evacuate Indian nationals from the Iran–Israel conflict zone, was officially announced and coordinated by which one of the following?

  • A. Ministry of External Affairs
  • B. Ministry of Defence
  • C. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • D. Ministry of Civil Aviation

Q2. Which one of the following ministries is the lead convening ministry of the Inter-Ministerial Briefings on Recent Developments in West Asia held at the National Media Centre in 2026?

  • A. Ministry of External Affairs
  • B. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
  • C. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
  • D. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

Q3. With reference to the Strait of Hormuz, consider the following statements: 1. It connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman. 2. It lies between Iran to the north and the Musandam Peninsula of Oman to the south. 3. It is the primary maritime export route for crude oil shipped from Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. 4. About 90 per cent of India's crude oil imports transit through this strait. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.
  2. It lies between Iran to the north and the Musandam Peninsula of Oman to the south.
  3. It is the primary maritime export route for crude oil shipped from Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
  4. About 90 per cent of India's crude oil imports transit through this strait.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q4. At the Inter-Ministerial Briefings on Recent Developments in West Asia, the assessment of risks to India's crude and LPG imports transiting the Strait of Hormuz and the coordination of domestic energy supply continuity is led by which one of the following?

  • A. Ministry of External Affairs
  • B. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
  • C. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
  • D. Ministry of Civil Aviation

Q5. With reference to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries that host large Indian diaspora populations, consider the following countries: 1. Oman 2. Bahrain 3. Iraq 4. Jordan Which of the above are correctly identified as member states of the GCC?

  1. Oman
  2. Bahrain
  3. Iraq
  4. Jordan
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q6. According to the World Bank's data on remittance flows for 2024, India retained its position as the world's largest recipient of remittances. Approximately how much did India receive in remittance inflows in 2024?

  • A. USD 89 billion
  • B. USD 109 billion
  • C. USD 129 billion
  • D. USD 149 billion

Q7. With reference to the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Memorandum of Understanding signed during the G20 New Delhi Summit, 2023, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1. Saudi Arabia is among the original signatories of the IMEC MoU.
  2. 2. Egypt was one of the eight founding signatories of the IMEC MoU at the G20 New Delhi Summit.
  3. 3. Germany is a signatory to the IMEC MoU.
  4. 4. Israel is the only West Asian country that is an original signatory of the IMEC MoU.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. In the context of India's connectivity engagement with Iran, the term 'Shahid Beheshti terminal', frequently mentioned in official briefings, most appropriately refers to:

  • A. The container and freight terminal at Chabahar Port whose operation was entrusted to India Ports Global Ltd (IPGL) under a 10-year long-term contract signed with Iran in May 2024.
  • B. The Iranian rail-head at Bandar Abbas through which Indian cargo enters the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
  • C. A dry port near Zahedan developed by Indian Railways to link Chabahar with the Afghan border at Zaranj.
  • D. The crude-oil offshore terminal in the Persian Gulf where Indian refiners lifted discounted Iranian crude under the 2012 rupee-rial arrangement.

Q9. With reference to recent Indian evacuation operations conducted by the Ministry of External Affairs, consider the following pairings of the operation with the country from which Indian nationals were evacuated: Which of the above pairings are correctly matched?

  1. Operation Ganga (2022) — Indians evacuated from Ukraine through transit hubs in Romania, Hungary, Poland, Moldova and Slovakia.
  2. Operation Kaveri (2023) — Indians evacuated from Sudan via Port Sudan and Jeddah using IAF sorties and Indian Navy ships.
  3. Operation Ajay (2023) — Indians evacuated from Iran during the Israel–Hamas hostilities.
  4. Operation Raahat (2015) — Indians evacuated from Yemen, with the operation coordinated from Djibouti.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q10. Operation Raahat (April 2015), India's evacuation mission from war-torn Yemen, was personally led on the ground from Djibouti by which one of the following then-serving Union Ministers?

  • A. Smt. Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs
  • B. Gen. (Retd.) V.K. Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs
  • C. Shri M.J. Akbar, Minister of State for External Affairs
  • D. Shri Gen. (Retd.) V.K. Singh, Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways

Q11. In the context of the 2026 incident off the Oman coast in which Indian seafarers aboard a foreign-flagged merchant vessel had to be rescued, which one of the following served as the nodal Union Ministry that, through the Directorate General of Shipping, coordinated the repatriation of Indian seafarers from the Gulf region?

  • A. Ministry of External Affairs
  • B. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
  • C. Ministry of Defence
  • D. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas

Q12. With reference to India's response to the 2025 Iran–Israel conflict (Operation Sindhu) as compared with the response to the 2026 attack on a merchant vessel carrying Indian seafarers off the Oman coast, consider the following statements: 1. Operation Sindhu (2025) evacuated more than 4,400 Indian nationals from Iran and Israel using special flights, including Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft, whereas the 2026 Oman-coast rescue relied primarily on at-sea coordination between the Indian Coast Guard's Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre and Omani authorities. 2. Both Operation Sindhu (2025) and the 2026 seafarer rescue were conducted solely by the Ministry of Defence, with no civilian ministry playing a coordinating role. 3. Under Operation Sindhu, Indian nationals stranded in Israel were brought out through land corridors via Jordan and Egypt, with onward flights from Amman and Sharm el-Sheikh. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Operation Sindhu (2025) evacuated more than 4,400 Indian nationals from Iran and Israel using special flights, including Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft, whereas the 2026 Oman-coast rescue relied primarily on at-sea coordination between the Indian Coast Guard's Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre and Omani authorities.
  2. Both Operation Sindhu (2025) and the 2026 seafarer rescue were conducted solely by the Ministry of Defence, with no civilian ministry playing a coordinating role.
  3. Under Operation Sindhu, Indian nationals stranded in Israel were brought out through land corridors via Jordan and Egypt, with onward flights from Amman and Sharm el-Sheikh.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q13. Which one of the following entities is directly responsible for the construction, operation and maintenance of India's underground crude oil Strategic Petroleum Reserves?

  • A. Petronet LNG Limited
  • B. Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Oil Industry Development Board
  • C. Engineers India Limited, under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
  • D. Indian Oil Corporation Limited, through its Pipelines Division
  • NRAA-Funded Wild Rice Conservation Project Secures Major Milestone in Assam
    NRAA-Funded Wild Rice Conservation Project Secures Major Milestone in Assam

    The notification of Borjuli site in Sonitpur, Assam as a Biodiversity Heritage Site under an NRAA-funded wild rice conservation project is a named, verifiable fact. Biodiversity Heritage Sites and wild crop genetic resource conservation are tested Prelims topics.

  • India Advances Global Green Hydrogen Leadership under National Green Hydrogen Mission

    Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), a landmark commercial deal for green ammonia and methanol export to Japan (IHI Corporation named) is a concrete outcome. India's green hydrogen ambitions and NGHM are recurring Prelims themes; this adds a factual export-deal hook.

  • NITI Aayog launches report on "Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global"
    NITI Aayog launches report on "Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global"

    A named NITI Aayog report on Ayurveda's global expansion is testable as a policy document. NITI Aayog reports, AYUSH sector initiatives, and traditional medicine diplomacy are recurring Prelims themes; the report's launch date and authoring body are clean factual hooks.

  • INDIAN NAVAL SHIP TRIKAND RESPONDS TO PIRACY ATTEMPT ON MV GOLDEN ARSENAL IN THE GULF OF ADEN

    A named Indian Navy anti-piracy operation with specific ship (INS Trikand — identified as a stealth frigate), vessel flag state (St. Vincent and the Grenadines), and location (Gulf of Aden) offers testable facts. India's maritime security operations are plausible Prelims hooks but appear occasionally, not frequently.

  • Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan launches nationwide ‘Viksit Bharat – G-Ram G Act’ from Andhra Pradesh with Chief Minister Shri Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Shri Pawan Kalyan

    A newly named nationwide scheme launched by the Rural Development ministry that explicitly positions itself as moving 'beyond MGNREGA' is potentially testable. However, the excerpt lacks concrete numbers or statutory grounding, keeping it at 3 rather than 4.

  • MANAS: A Digital Shield Against Drugs

    MANAS is a named government digital initiative (national narcotics helpline) with a specific mandate under Nasha Mukt Bharat. Named government portals/helplines with specific functions are tested in Prelims, though this release is a backgrounder without new launch data.

  • VB-G RAM G Act comes into force across the country from today; “A historic day for rural India”: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

    The VB-G RAM G Act (likely a renamed/revised MGNREGA or rural employment guarantee framework) came into force across India from July 1, 2026. Key facts: national launch in Tirupati on July 2; revised wage rates notified with no daily wage below ₹300; national average wage increased by over 10%. A new central Act coming into force with specific wage figures is high-priority Prelims material.

  • India Achieves Major Milestone with Approval of Country’s First PinS Instrument Approach Procedure for Helicopter Operations

    DGCA approved India's first Private Point-in-Space (PinS) Instrument Approach Procedure for helicopter operations, implemented at Undavalli Heliport (developed by AAI). This is a named first in Indian aviation with a specific location and implementing body — classic Prelims material for science/tech and aviation sections.

  • 11 Years of Digital India: Better Healthcare & Digital Markets Making Lives Easier

    This release contains high-quality testable data: Greece is named as the 10th country to adopt UPI; every second real-time digital transaction globally is processed via India's UPI; 13 lakh Anganwadi workers connected via Poshan Tracker covering 9 crore beneficiaries. Multiple concrete facts that are prime Prelims material.

  • India, EU Advance Cooperation on Sustainable Ship Recycling; Three Indian Yards Ready for EU Recognition

    India has a 35.4% global market share in sustainable ship recycling. Three Indian ship-recycling yards are ready for EU recognition. India committed $8 billion to strengthen shipbuilding and recycling, with a target of recycling 16,000 ships. These are specific, verifiable figures in a sector where India leads globally — strong Prelims material on maritime/shipping sector.

  • GAGAN: Navigating India’s Skies with Precision

    Detailed backgrounder on GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation), India's Satellite-Based Augmentation System developed jointly by ISRO and Airports Authority of India (AAI). It enhances GPS accuracy for aviation, is certified to international standards, and supports satellite-based landing approaches. GAGAN is a recurring Prelims topic and this backgrounder consolidates key testable facts about its developers, purpose, and certification status.

  • The Hindu

    Latest PIB

    Latest from The Hindu

    Explore

  • NRAA-Funded Wild Rice Conservation Project Secures Major Milestone in Assam
    NRAA-Funded Wild Rice Conservation Project Secures Major Milestone in Assam

    The notification of Borjuli site in Sonitpur, Assam as a Biodiversity Heritage Site under an NRAA-funded wild rice conservation project is a named, verifiable fact. Biodiversity Heritage Sites and wild crop genetic resource conservation are tested Prelims topics.

  • India Advances Global Green Hydrogen Leadership under National Green Hydrogen Mission

    Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), a landmark commercial deal for green ammonia and methanol export to Japan (IHI Corporation named) is a concrete outcome. India's green hydrogen ambitions and NGHM are recurring Prelims themes; this adds a factual export-deal hook.

  • NITI Aayog launches report on "Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global"
    NITI Aayog launches report on "Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global"

    A named NITI Aayog report on Ayurveda's global expansion is testable as a policy document. NITI Aayog reports, AYUSH sector initiatives, and traditional medicine diplomacy are recurring Prelims themes; the report's launch date and authoring body are clean factual hooks.

  • INDIAN NAVAL SHIP TRIKAND RESPONDS TO PIRACY ATTEMPT ON MV GOLDEN ARSENAL IN THE GULF OF ADEN

    A named Indian Navy anti-piracy operation with specific ship (INS Trikand — identified as a stealth frigate), vessel flag state (St. Vincent and the Grenadines), and location (Gulf of Aden) offers testable facts. India's maritime security operations are plausible Prelims hooks but appear occasionally, not frequently.

  • Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan launches nationwide ‘Viksit Bharat – G-Ram G Act’ from Andhra Pradesh with Chief Minister Shri Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Shri Pawan Kalyan

    A newly named nationwide scheme launched by the Rural Development ministry that explicitly positions itself as moving 'beyond MGNREGA' is potentially testable. However, the excerpt lacks concrete numbers or statutory grounding, keeping it at 3 rather than 4.

  • MANAS: A Digital Shield Against Drugs

    MANAS is a named government digital initiative (national narcotics helpline) with a specific mandate under Nasha Mukt Bharat. Named government portals/helplines with specific functions are tested in Prelims, though this release is a backgrounder without new launch data.

  • VB-G RAM G Act comes into force across the country from today; “A historic day for rural India”: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

    The VB-G RAM G Act (likely a renamed/revised MGNREGA or rural employment guarantee framework) came into force across India from July 1, 2026. Key facts: national launch in Tirupati on July 2; revised wage rates notified with no daily wage below ₹300; national average wage increased by over 10%. A new central Act coming into force with specific wage figures is high-priority Prelims material.

  • India Achieves Major Milestone with Approval of Country’s First PinS Instrument Approach Procedure for Helicopter Operations

    DGCA approved India's first Private Point-in-Space (PinS) Instrument Approach Procedure for helicopter operations, implemented at Undavalli Heliport (developed by AAI). This is a named first in Indian aviation with a specific location and implementing body — classic Prelims material for science/tech and aviation sections.

  • 11 Years of Digital India: Better Healthcare & Digital Markets Making Lives Easier

    This release contains high-quality testable data: Greece is named as the 10th country to adopt UPI; every second real-time digital transaction globally is processed via India's UPI; 13 lakh Anganwadi workers connected via Poshan Tracker covering 9 crore beneficiaries. Multiple concrete facts that are prime Prelims material.

  • India, EU Advance Cooperation on Sustainable Ship Recycling; Three Indian Yards Ready for EU Recognition

    India has a 35.4% global market share in sustainable ship recycling. Three Indian ship-recycling yards are ready for EU recognition. India committed $8 billion to strengthen shipbuilding and recycling, with a target of recycling 16,000 ships. These are specific, verifiable figures in a sector where India leads globally — strong Prelims material on maritime/shipping sector.

  • GAGAN: Navigating India’s Skies with Precision

    Detailed backgrounder on GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation), India's Satellite-Based Augmentation System developed jointly by ISRO and Airports Authority of India (AAI). It enhances GPS accuracy for aviation, is certified to international standards, and supports satellite-based landing approaches. GAGAN is a recurring Prelims topic and this backgrounder consolidates key testable facts about its developers, purpose, and certification status.

  • The Hindu

    Latest PIB

    Latest from The Hindu

    Explore