UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — INAUGURAL BIMSTEC MARITIME SECURITY EXERCISE

Q1. With reference to the membership of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. BIMSTEC brings together some states that are members of SAARC and some states that are not.
  2. BIMSTEC includes every member of SAARC except Pakistan.
  3. Both South-East Asian members of BIMSTEC share a land border with India.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q2. Under the reorganisation endorsed at the 5th BIMSTEC Summit (2022), how is responsibility for BIMSTEC's areas of cooperation arranged?

  • A. Areas are grouped into pillars, with the two largest members co-leading every pillar
  • B. Areas are grouped into pillars, with a single member state leading each pillar
  • C. Areas are grouped into pillars, with the Dhaka Secretariat leading each pillar
  • D. Areas are grouped into pillars, with leadership rotating along with the Summit chair

Q3. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. The BIMSTEC Charter was adopted by the leaders at the 2022 Colombo Summit, but it entered into force only later.
  2. A multilateral charter generally becomes binding only once the conditions it lays down, such as the deposit of a required number of ratifications, have been met.
  • 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

Q4. With reference to maritime domain awareness (MDA) and India's arrangements for it, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. MDA covers threats such as piracy, trafficking and illegal fishing, not only the movement of hostile warships.
  2. The Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) builds MDA by sharing information on vessels of interest with partner nations and hosting their liaison officers.
  3. Collaborative MDA among countries requires the partner states to place their navies under a common operational command.
  4. IFC-IOR serves as a regional information-sharing hub, while the Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC) is the national centre that collects and analyses shipping data.
  • A. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4 only

Q5. With reference to frameworks for maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) is a forum of the foreign ministries of the Indian Ocean littoral states.
  2. The Colombo Security Conclave began as a trilateral maritime security grouping of India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
  3. The Maldives, a founding member of the Colombo Security Conclave, is also a member of BIMSTEC.
  4. MAHASAGAR is India's policy vision extending the earlier SAGAR vision, not a multilateral organisation with member states.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4 only

Q6. If the provisions of the BIMSTEC Maritime Transport Agreement (2025) are fully implemented, consider the following likely outcomes: Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. A vessel's certificates issued in one member state are more likely to be accepted in another member's port without duplicate documentation.
  2. Customs duties on goods traded between BIMSTEC members are eliminated.
  3. Cargo moving by sea between member states' ports is likely to move more smoothly.
  4. Vessels of one member state receive, in another member's ports, treatment no less favourable than that member gives its own vessels.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • D. 2, 3 and 4 only

Q7. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Security of the Bay of Bengal sea lanes of communication is a precondition for the trade gains expected from the BIMSTEC Maritime Transport Agreement.
  2. The BIMSTEC Maritime Transport Agreement sets up a Joint Shipping Coordination Committee.
  • 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