UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Australia-India Partnership on Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains (PACTS)

Q1. Under the Australia-India Partnership on Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains (PACTS), the Indian lead agency for Pillar 1 (Supply Chain Resilience) and Pillar 2 (Critical Technology) is exclusively which one of the following?

  • A. National Security Council Secretariat
  • B. Ministry of External Affairs
  • C. Ministry of Defence
  • D. Ministry of Mines

Q2. The 2020 Framework Arrangement on Cyber and Cyber-Enabled Critical Technology Cooperation was concluded at the June 2020 event that was the first-ever standalone bilateral virtual summit hosted by an Indian Prime Minister. That summit elevated India-Australia ties to which one of the following?

  • A. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
  • B. Special Strategic and Global Partnership
  • C. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership
  • D. Strategic Partnership

Q3. The India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was established in which year and by which pair of leaders?

  • A. 2020, by Narendra Modi and Scott Morrison
  • B. 2020, by Narendra Modi and Anthony Albanese
  • C. 2022, by Narendra Modi and Scott Morrison
  • D. 2014, by Narendra Modi and Tony Abbott

Q4. At the 4 June 2020 virtual summit that established the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, several agreements were concluded. Which of the following are correctly identified as outcomes of that summit?

  1. A Framework Arrangement on Cyber and Cyber-Enabled Critical Technology Cooperation
  2. A Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement between the two defence establishments
  3. An MoU on cooperation in mining and processing of critical and strategic minerals
  4. The entry into force of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), covering all traded goods
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q5. The Indian delegation to the 3rd India-Australia Cyber Dialogue (New Delhi, 2019) was led solely by an official holding which one of the following positions?

  • A. Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs
  • B. Deputy National Security Advisor
  • C. Foreign Secretary
  • D. National Cyber Security Coordinator

Q6. Regarding the institutional arrangements of PACTS as announced in 2026, which of the following are correctly identified?

  1. On the Indian side, PACTS is co-chaired by the Deputy National Security Advisor.
  2. On the Australian side, PACTS is co-chaired by the Deputy Secretary (International and Security).
  3. Pillar 3 (Cybersecurity) is led on the Indian side by the Ministry of External Affairs.
  4. Pillar 5 (Defence Research) is led on the Indian side by the National Security Council Secretariat.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. PACTS was formally launched on which date and through which channel?

  • A. 9 July 2026, via a PMO press release issued through the Press Information Bureau
  • B. 4 June 2026, via a Ministry of External Affairs treaty notification
  • C. 9 July 2026, via a stand-alone Ministry of External Affairs joint statement
  • D. 21 March 2026, via a Prime Minister's Office release at a virtual summit

Q8. With reference to India's critical minerals and technology partnerships, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Under the India-Australia Critical Minerals Investment Partnership, five target projects — two lithium and three cobalt — were identified for detailed due diligence.
  2. KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Ltd) is the Indian public-sector entity engaged in critical-mineral off-take arrangements with Australia.
  3. Australia is the world's largest producer of lithium.
  4. India's National Critical Mineral Mission was launched in the year 2015.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 3

Q9. With reference to Indo-Pacific technology and supply-chain mechanisms relevant to PACTS, consider the following pairs. Which of the following are correctly identified?

  1. Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) — a trilateral of India, Australia and the United States
  2. Quad — a grouping of India, Australia, Japan and the United States
  3. India-Australia Centre of Excellence for Critical and Emerging Technology Policy — located at Bengaluru
  4. PACTS Pillar 4 (Digital Resilience) — envisages extending Digital Public Infrastructure solutions across the Indo-Pacific
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4