UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — INDIAN ARMED FORCES CONTINGENT DEPARTS FOR JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE KAZIND-2026

Q1. KAZIND trains troops for counter-terrorism operations 'under a UN mandate'. With reference to the powers of the UN Security Council under Chapters VI and VII of the UN Charter, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Measures such as the complete or partial interruption of economic relations and the severance of diplomatic relations are enforcement measures under Chapter VII that do not involve the use of armed force.
  2. Recommendations of the Security Council on procedures for settling a dispute under Chapter VI bind member states in the same way as its enforcement decisions under Chapter VII.
  3. The Security Council may authorise action by air, sea or land forces under Chapter VII only after it has first imposed non-military measures and those measures have failed.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q2. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. A permanent member of the UN Security Council that is itself a party to a dispute can still block an enforcement resolution under Chapter VII relating to that dispute.
  2. Under the UN Charter, member states agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q3. Since 2018, Kazakh troops have served under the Indian Battalion in a UN peacekeeping mission. With reference to the basic principles of UN peacekeeping, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Because peacekeepers must be impartial, they are required to remain neutral in carrying out their mandate and cannot act against a party that obstructs it.
  2. Peacekeepers may use force not only in self-defence but also in defence of the mandate.
  3. A mission practising 'robust peacekeeping', which uses force at the tactical level with Security Council authorisation, still operates with the consent of the host nation and/or the main parties.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q4. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. The SCO's Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) functions as a joint military command that directs combined counter-terrorism operations by the armed forces of SCO member states.
  2. RATS is a permanent organ of the SCO that promotes cooperation among member states against terrorism, separatism and extremism.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q5. KAZIND-2026 emphasises the integrated use of Unmanned Aerial Systems and Counter-UAS. Consider the following methods used against a hostile drone: Which of the above are 'soft-kill' methods?

  1. Jamming the radio link between the drone and its operator
  2. Spoofing the satellite navigation signals the drone relies on
  3. Disabling the drone with a high-power laser beam
  4. Destroying the drone with a guided interceptor projectile
  • A. 3 and 4 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3 only

Q6. Consider the following facts: Kazakhstan is India's largest trade and investment partner in Central Asia. India–Kazakhstan bilateral trade in 2023 was about US$ 1 billion. India shares no land border with Central Asia, and India and the Central Asian states have a joint working group on Chabahar port in Iran. Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above?

  1. Kazakhstan accounts for a large share of India's total global trade.
  2. India pursues defence cooperation with Kazakhstan chiefly to make up for weak trade links.
  3. Transit routes through third countries are a factor in India's trade access to Central Asia.
  4. Being the largest partner in a region does not by itself imply a large absolute volume of trade.
  • A. 3 and 4 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1 and 3 only

Q7. With reference to the instruments of India's defence diplomacy with Kazakhstan, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. KAZIND is conducted under the collective defence obligations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
  2. Under the ITEC programme, personnel from partner countries such as Kazakhstan are trained in India.
  3. KAZIND is held only on Indian soil because India hosts dedicated Foreign Training Nodes for joint exercises.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 2 only