UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — CONCLUSION OF INDIA-RUSSIA BILATERAL NAVAL EXERCISE (INDRA 2026)
Q1. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- The Chennai–Vladivostok sea route is longer in distance than the western route through the Suez Canal, but it is faster because it avoids canal congestion.
- The Chennai–Vladivostok (Eastern Maritime) Corridor links India's east coast to ports in Russia's Far East without going around Europe through the Suez Canal.
- 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
Q2. With reference to India's indigenous frigate programmes, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Project 17A frigates are follow-on ships of the Shivalik class and have a reduced radar cross-section compared with their predecessors.
- All Project 17A frigates are being built at a single shipyard, which is why Udaygiri and Himgiri could be commissioned on the same day.
- INS Sahyadri is a different type of warship from the Delhi-class and Kolkata-class ships, which are destroyers.
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 1, 2 and 3
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1 and 2 only
Q3. Consider the following facts: INS Sahyadri belongs to the Eastern Fleet at Visakhapatnam under the Eastern Naval Command. In 2025–26 it called at Kemaman (Malaysia), took part in an activity at Subic Bay (Philippines) and exercised at Vladivostok (Russia). The frigates Udaygiri, built in Mumbai, and Himgiri, built in Kolkata, were commissioned at Visakhapatnam to join the Eastern Fleet. Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above facts?
- The shipyard where a warship is built does not decide the fleet to which it is assigned.
- Ships of the Eastern Fleet can be deployed for engagements far beyond the Bay of Bengal, including the Western Pacific.
- All Shivalik-class frigates are based with the Eastern Fleet.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 1 only
- D. 2 and 3 only
Q4. The Indian Navy's 2026 bilateral exercise with Russia was held at Vladivostok. Strategically, this took an Indian warship into the home waters of which Russian naval formation?
- A. The Black Sea Fleet, operating in south-eastern Europe
- B. The Northern Fleet, operating in the Arctic waters
- C. The Baltic Fleet, operating in north-eastern Europe
- D. The Pacific Fleet, operating in the North-West Pacific
Q5. Consider the following facts: In 2019, India and Russia recognised the requirement of an institutional arrangement for the reciprocal provision of logistic support and services for their armed forces, and agreed to prepare a framework for it. Their 2021 joint statement again said such an arrangement was required. Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above facts?
- As of the 2021 joint statement, the reciprocal logistics arrangement had not yet been concluded.
- Once concluded, such an arrangement would oblige each country to come to the other's defence if attacked.
- Because the framework was first agreed at Vladivostok, the arrangement would cover only ports in Russia's Far East.
- A. 2 and 3 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 1 only
- D. 1 and 2 only
Q6. Suppose India builds in-country repair capability for the Russian-origin aircraft operated by its Navy. Consider the following possible consequences: Which of the consequences given above is/are most likely?
- The Navy would need fewer case-by-case waivers from the Ministry of Defence's embargo on engaging original equipment manufacturers for overseas maintenance.
- The Navy would become less exposed to the risk of a foreign supplier withholding support during a crisis.
- The Navy would no longer need any Russian-origin components for those aircraft.
- A. 1 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 2 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3