UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India-Australia Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation
Q1. At the 2026 India-Australia Defence Ministers' Dialogue, the renewal and strengthening of the Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation was carried forward under the overarching aegis of which of the following bilateral frameworks?
- A. The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2020
- B. The Strategic Partnership concluded in 2009
- C. The 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue
- D. The Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement
Q2. With reference to India-Australia defence instruments, consider the following statements:
1. The Joint Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap is a mechanism taken forward at the 2025-26 Defence Ministers' Dialogues rather than an outcome of the 2020 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
2. The Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement was among the defence outcomes concluded at the 2020 elevation of ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
3. The Memorandum of Understanding on the Provision of Defence Articles and Defence Services was signed at the June 2020 virtual summit.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The Joint Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap is a mechanism taken forward at the 2025-26 Defence Ministers' Dialogues rather than an outcome of the 2020 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
- The Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement was among the defence outcomes concluded at the 2020 elevation of ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
- The Memorandum of Understanding on the Provision of Defence Articles and Defence Services was signed at the June 2020 virtual summit.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. Regarding the evolution of the India-Australia partnership, consider the following statements:
1. India and Australia first established a Strategic Partnership in 2009.
2. The June 2020 virtual summit elevated the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
3. The 2020 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was concluded between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- India and Australia first established a Strategic Partnership in 2009.
- The June 2020 virtual summit elevated the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
- The 2020 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was concluded between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q4. In the context of the 2020 India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement primarily provides for which one of the following?
- A. Reciprocal access to each other's military facilities for refuelling, replenishment and logistics support
- B. A binding mutual defence guarantee obliging each side to come to the other's military aid
- C. Joint co-development and co-production of a new class of fighter aircraft
- D. Visa-free permanent movement of defence-industry personnel between the two countries
Q5. With reference to the second India-Australia Defence Ministers' Dialogue, consider the following:
1. It was the second edition of the Defence Ministers' Dialogue.
2. It was co-chaired by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles.
3. It was held in New Delhi.
4. Its inaugural edition had been held in Canberra in 2024.
Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?
- It was the second edition of the Defence Ministers' Dialogue.
- It was co-chaired by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles.
- It was held in New Delhi.
- Its inaugural edition had been held in Canberra in 2024.
- A. 1, 2 and 3 only
- B. 1, 3 and 4 only
- C. 2 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q6. The second India-Australia Defence Ministers' Dialogue held in 2026 was co-chaired, on the Australian side, by which one of the following office-holders?
- A. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence
- B. The Minister for Foreign Affairs
- C. The Prime Minister
- D. The Minister for Home Affairs
Q7. Which of the following were among the landmark agreements/MoUs delivered at the June 2020 elevation of India-Australia ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership?
1. Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement
2. Framework arrangement on Cyber and Cyber-Enabled Critical Technology cooperation
3. MoU on Water Resources Management
4. Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement
- Framework arrangement on Cyber and Cyber-Enabled Critical Technology cooperation
- MoU on Water Resources Management
- Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement
- A. 1, 2 and 3 only
- B. 2 and 4 only
- C. 1 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q8. Among the following Indo-Pacific groupings/arrangements involving Australia, which one is the sole plurilateral grouping of which India is itself a member alongside Australia, Japan and the United States?
- A. The Quad
- B. AUKUS
- C. The Five Power Defence Arrangements
- D. The ANZUS Treaty
Q9. Which of the following are member countries of the Quad?
1. India
2. Australia
3. Japan
4. United Kingdom
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- India
- Australia
- Japan
- United Kingdom
- A. 1, 2 and 3 only
- B. 1, 2 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q10. With reference to the India-Australia Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement (MMPA), consider the following statements:
1. It was signed in 2023 during the first India-Australia Annual Summit.
2. It was concluded for a four-year period with provision for automatic renewal.
3. It entirely replaced the 2020 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as the governing framework of bilateral ties.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It was signed in 2023 during the first India-Australia Annual Summit.
- It was concluded for a four-year period with provision for automatic renewal.
- It entirely replaced the 2020 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as the governing framework of bilateral ties.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q11. The Royal Australian Navy became a regular participant in the multilateral Exercise Malabar — making it a four-nation exercise with India, the United States and Japan — beginning in which year?
- A. 2020
- B. 2015
- C. 1992
- D. 2007