UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India-Australia Civil Nuclear Cooperation

Q1. The Agreement between India and Australia on Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy was signed in September 2014 but entered into force only later, alongside its original Administrative Arrangement. Approximately how many months elapsed between the signature of the Agreement and its entry into force?

  • A. About 4 months
  • B. About 14 months
  • C. About 24 months
  • D. About 36 months

Q2. In the context of India–Australia civil nuclear cooperation, the term 'Administrative Arrangement' most precisely refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A subordinate implementing instrument concluded under the bilateral Agreement, setting out the practical procedures through which uranium transfers to India take place under IAEA safeguards
  • B. A treaty that supersedes the 2014 bilateral Agreement and independently governs nuclear trade between the two states
  • C. The safeguards agreement concluded between India and the IAEA covering India's designated civilian facilities
  • D. The waiver granted by the Nuclear Suppliers Group permitting member states to trade in nuclear material with India

Q3. With reference to the safeguards framework governing India's civil nuclear trade, consider the following: 1. India has an India-specific safeguards agreement with the IAEA, approved by the IAEA Board of Governors in 2008. 2. India signed an Additional Protocol with the IAEA in May 2009. 3. Every nuclear facility in India, without exception, is placed under IAEA safeguards. 4. Australian uranium exported to India is to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and under IAEA safeguards. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. India has an India-specific safeguards agreement with the IAEA, approved by the IAEA Board of Governors in 2008.
  2. India signed an Additional Protocol with the IAEA in May 2009.
  3. Every nuclear facility in India, without exception, is placed under IAEA safeguards.
  4. Australian uranium exported to India is to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and under IAEA safeguards.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q4. Following the approval of the India-specific safeguards agreement, the IAEA envisaged bringing how many Indian nuclear reactors under Agency safeguards by 2014?

  • A. 6
  • B. 8
  • C. 14
  • D. 22

Q5. The Administrative Arrangement finalised in 2026 to enable long-term Australian uranium exports to India was concluded under the authority of which one of the following parent instruments?

  • A. The India–Australia Agreement on Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy
  • B. The India–United States 123 Agreement
  • C. The Additional Protocol between India and the IAEA
  • D. The Nuclear Suppliers Group waiver granted to India

Q6. With reference to the outcomes of the Third India–Australia Annual Summit, consider the following: 1. Australia–India Partnership on Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains (PACTS) 2. Australia–Canada–India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership 3. India–Australia Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap 4. The first-ever signing of a bilateral agreement on cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy between India and Australia Which of the above is/are correctly identified as outcomes of that Summit?

  1. Australia–India Partnership on Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains (PACTS)
  2. Australia–Canada–India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership
  3. India–Australia Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap
  4. The first-ever signing of a bilateral agreement on cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy between India and Australia
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 3 and 4

Q7. India has concluded Inter-Governmental Agreements for cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy with how many countries/entities (a group that includes Australia, Canada, Kazakhstan, Namibia and Mongolia)?

  • A. 8
  • B. 12
  • C. 18
  • D. 26

Q8. Among India's overseas uranium suppliers, which one of the following was the first with which India concluded a contractual arrangement for the supply of uranium after the 2008 NSG waiver?

  • A. AREVA of France
  • B. JSC TVEL Corporation of Russia
  • C. NAC Kazatomprom of Kazakhstan
  • D. NMMC of Uzbekistan

Q9. Consider the following statements comparing the present India–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the arrangement that preceded it: 1. The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was an elevation of the Strategic Partnership that the two countries had concluded in 2009. 2. Unlike the earlier arrangement, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership provided for Annual Summits between the two Prime Ministers. 3. The Third Annual Summit under this framework was held in New Delhi. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was an elevation of the Strategic Partnership that the two countries had concluded in 2009.
  2. Unlike the earlier arrangement, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership provided for Annual Summits between the two Prime Ministers.
  3. The Third Annual Summit under this framework was held in New Delhi.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. With reference to the India–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, consider the following: 1. It was arrived at by elevating an existing Strategic Partnership between the two countries. 2. It was announced during a physical visit of the Australian Prime Minister to New Delhi. 3. Cooperation in critical minerals is one of the areas it covers. 4. Under it, Australia has reiterated support for India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It was arrived at by elevating an existing Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
  2. It was announced during a physical visit of the Australian Prime Minister to New Delhi.
  3. Cooperation in critical minerals is one of the areas it covers.
  4. Under it, Australia has reiterated support for India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 2 only

Q11. The 'List of Outcomes' covering the deliverables of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's July 2026 visit to Australia was issued by which authority, and the Summit during that visit was co-chaired with which Australian Prime Minister?

  • A. Issued by the Ministry of External Affairs; co-chaired with Anthony Albanese
  • B. Issued by the Department of Atomic Energy; co-chaired with Anthony Albanese
  • C. Issued by the Ministry of External Affairs; co-chaired with Scott Morrison
  • D. Issued by the NITI Aayog; co-chaired with Tony Abbott

Q12. India's target of achieving 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047, backed by an outlay of Rs 20,000 crore for Small Modular Reactors, was announced under which one of the following?

  • A. The Nuclear Energy Mission announced in the Union Budget 2025-26
  • B. The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, 2025
  • C. The Atomic Energy Act, 1962
  • D. India's Updated Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement