UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India to host BRICS Heads of Anti-Drug Agencies meeting on 6–7 July 2026 in Guwahati
Q1. With reference to the intergovernmental grouping BRICS, which one of the following correctly describes the origin and evolution of its name?
- A. The acronym 'BRIC' was coined by a Goldman Sachs economist, and the group became 'BRICS' only after South Africa joined in 2011.
- B. 'BRICS' was the name adopted at the very first summit, which all five founding members attended together at inception.
- C. The 'S' in 'BRICS' has always denoted a bloc of Southeast Asian states admitted when the group was formed.
- D. 'BRICS' is the name given in a founding charter signed as a legally binding treaty in 2006.
Q2. The addition of the letter 'S' to convert 'BRIC' into 'BRICS' followed the admission of which country, and in which year?
- A. South Africa, in 2011
- B. Saudi Arabia, in 2024
- C. South Africa, in 2006
- D. Singapore, in 2010
Q3. Consider the following statements regarding India's BRICS Chairmanship for the year 2026:
1. India holds the BRICS Chairmanship for 2026 under the theme 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability'.
2. The BRICS India 2026 logo, theme and website were unveiled by the Union Minister of Home Affairs.
3. The 2026 Chairmanship coincides with the twentieth year of BRICS-level engagement, marked as 'BRICS@20'.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- India holds the BRICS Chairmanship for 2026 under the theme 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability'.
- The BRICS India 2026 logo, theme and website were unveiled by the Union Minister of Home Affairs.
- The 2026 Chairmanship coincides with the twentieth year of BRICS-level engagement, marked as 'BRICS@20'.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q4. Which one of the following is the official flagship theme adopted for India's BRICS Chairmanship in 2026?
- A. Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability
- B. Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security
- C. BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development and Inclusive Multilateralism
- D. BRICS Partnership for Global Stability, Shared Security and Innovative Growth
Q5. Consider the following statements about the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB):
1. It was created in 1986 under a provision of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
2. It functions under the overall supervision of the Ministry of Home Affairs and is the nodal agency for drug law enforcement in India.
3. The NDPS Act, 1985 under which it was set up itself replaced and consolidated the earlier United Nations drug-control conventions into a single instrument.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It was created in 1986 under a provision of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
- It functions under the overall supervision of the Ministry of Home Affairs and is the nodal agency for drug law enforcement in India.
- The NDPS Act, 1985 under which it was set up itself replaced and consolidated the earlier United Nations drug-control conventions into a single instrument.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q6. As part of India's international anti-narcotics cooperation cited by the Government, India has signed bilateral agreements for combating illicit drug trafficking with how many countries?
Q7. Consider the following statements about the BRICS Heads of Anti-Drug Agencies Meeting of 2026:
1. It is the first meeting held at the level of Heads of Anti-Drug Agencies, elevating the earlier working-group-level engagement.
2. It is being hosted by the Narcotics Control Bureau and is scheduled for 6–7 July 2026 at Guwahati, Assam.
3. Unlike the earlier BRICS Anti-Drug Working Group sessions, it is expected to conclude with a legally binding treaty ratified by all member states.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It is the first meeting held at the level of Heads of Anti-Drug Agencies, elevating the earlier working-group-level engagement.
- It is being hosted by the Narcotics Control Bureau and is scheduled for 6–7 July 2026 at Guwahati, Assam.
- Unlike the earlier BRICS Anti-Drug Working Group sessions, it is expected to conclude with a legally binding treaty ratified by all member states.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q8. In the context of the 2026 Guwahati meeting, the anticipated 'Joint Declaration' is best described as which one of the following?
- A. A non-binding, consensus outcome document reflecting the shared commitments of BRICS anti-drug agencies
- B. A legally binding multilateral treaty registered with the United Nations
- C. A domestic notification issued by India under the NDPS Act, 1985
- D. A bilateral memorandum of understanding signed only between India and Russia
Q9. The 4th Session of the BRICS Anti-Drug Working Group was held in August 2020. Consider the following countries:
1. Brazil
2. Iran
3. South Africa
4. China
Which of the above were members of BRICS at the time of that 2020 session and correctly identified as such?
- Brazil
- Iran
- South Africa
- China
- A. 1, 2 and 3 only
- B. 1, 3 and 4 only
- C. 2 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q10. Which one of the following is the earliest and foundational instrument of the international drug-control framework, which consolidated earlier multilateral treaties into a single instrument and gave rise to the International Narcotics Control Board?
- A. Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961
- B. Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971
- C. UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988
- D. Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985