International Relations MCQs for UPSC Prelims — January 2026
Q1. Which one of the following statements correctly describes the distinction held by the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) that entered into force in 2022?
- A. It was India's first bilateral trade agreement concluded in the MENA (West Asia-North Africa) region
- B. It was the first Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement signed by India with any country
- C. It came into force only after the India-Oman CEPA
- D. It was negotiated and signed by India's Ministry of External Affairs
Q2. The India-Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting at which the Arab Foreign Ministers condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and PM Modi welcomed the Gaza peace plan was which edition of that Meeting?
- A. First
- B. Second
- C. Third
- D. Fourth
Q3. With reference to the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002, consider the following:
1. Full Israeli withdrawal from Arab territories occupied since June 1967.
2. An independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
3. Implementation in line with UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338.
4. Immediate admission of Palestine as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as elements of the Initiative?
- Full Israeli withdrawal from Arab territories occupied since June 1967.
- An independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
- Implementation in line with UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338.
- Immediate admission of Palestine as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1, 2 and 3 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q4. The Arab Peace Initiative of 2002, reaffirmed in the New Delhi Declaration as a basis for an Israel-Palestine settlement, was formally adopted and endorsed by which one of the following organisations?
- A. League of Arab States
- B. Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
- C. Gulf Cooperation Council
- D. United Nations Security Council
Q5. Under the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), the 'Eastern Corridor' is designed to connect—
- A. India to the Arabian Gulf region
- B. The Gulf region to Europe
- C. India to East Africa
- D. Europe to the Mediterranean ports
Q6. With reference to the outcomes of the New Delhi Declaration adopted in January 2026, consider the following statements:
1. It adopted an Executive Programme for cooperation covering the period 2026-2028.
2. Green hydrogen, renewable energy and Artificial Intelligence were among the identified cooperation areas.
3. The Declaration was adopted at the first India-Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It adopted an Executive Programme for cooperation covering the period 2026-2028.
- Green hydrogen, renewable energy and Artificial Intelligence were among the identified cooperation areas.
- The Declaration was adopted at the first India-Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q7. The New Delhi Declaration identified 'green hydrogen' as a priority cooperation area. In this context, green hydrogen refers to hydrogen produced by which one of the following processes?
- A. Electrolysis of water using electricity from renewable energy sources
- B. Steam methane reforming of natural gas without carbon capture
- C. Steam reforming of natural gas coupled with carbon capture and storage
- D. Gasification of coal or lignite
Q8. With reference to the League of Arab States, consider the following statements:
1. It was founded in 1945 with seven founding member states.
2. Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iraq were among its founding members.
3. Its permanent headquarters is located in Riyadh.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It was founded in 1945 with seven founding member states.
- Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iraq were among its founding members.
- Its permanent headquarters is located in Riyadh.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q9. The founding charter of the League of Arab States was signed in which one of the following years?
- A. 1936
- B. 1945
- C. 1948
- D. 1955
Q10. With reference to the 2nd India-Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting (2026), consider the following statements:
1. It was co-chaired by India and the United Arab Emirates.
2. It was preceded by the 4th India-Arab Senior Officials' Meeting held a day earlier.
3. It was hosted at the headquarters of the League of Arab States.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It was co-chaired by India and the United Arab Emirates.
- It was preceded by the 4th India-Arab Senior Officials' Meeting held a day earlier.
- It was hosted at the headquarters of the League of Arab States.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q11. The 2nd India-Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in New Delhi in January 2026 was organised on the Indian side by which one of the following ministries/bodies?
- A. Ministry of External Affairs
- B. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- C. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
- D. NITI Aayog
Q12. In the context of Pakistan's 27th Constitutional Amendment (2025), what does the term 'Federal Constitutional Court (FCC)' refer to?
- A. A specialised apex court vested with exclusive jurisdiction over constitutional interpretation, federal–provincial disputes and enforcement of fundamental rights, taking these functions away from the Supreme Court
- B. A military tribunal created to hear appeals arising from court-martial proceedings against armed-forces personnel
- C. An election tribunal empowered to adjudicate disqualification petitions against members of the National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies
- D. A dedicated constitutional bench within the Supreme Court of Pakistan exercising only suo motu jurisdiction
Q13. Pakistan's 27th Constitutional Amendment (2025) abolished the post of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and granted lifetime rank, uniform and privileges to five-star officers by amending which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of Pakistan?
- A. Article 175
- B. Article 184
- C. Article 243
- D. Article 270
Q14. After the enactment of Pakistan's 27th Constitutional Amendment, how many judges (in addition to the Chief Justice) were appointed in the first batch of the Federal Constitutional Court?
- A. Four
- B. Five
- C. Six
- D. Seven
Q15. Who was sworn in as the first Chief Justice of Pakistan's newly established Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) after the passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment in November 2025?
- A. Justice Yahya Afridi
- B. Justice Aminuddin Khan
- C. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah
- D. Justice Qazi Faez Isa
Q16. With reference to the relative offers made by India and the European Union under the India–EU FTA (2026), consider the following statements:
1. The EU's tariff concessions to India cover a larger share of bilateral trade value than India's reciprocal tariff concessions to the EU.
2. India alone has excluded dairy products from tariff liberalisation, whereas the EU has made no such exclusion of dairy under the Agreement.
3. The Agreement was concluded exclusively between India and the European Commission, with no participation of any EU member state's head of government or state.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The EU's tariff concessions to India cover a larger share of bilateral trade value than India's reciprocal tariff concessions to the EU.
- India alone has excluded dairy products from tariff liberalisation, whereas the EU has made no such exclusion of dairy under the Agreement.
- The Agreement was concluded exclusively between India and the European Commission, with no participation of any EU member state's head of government or state.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q17. The conclusion of the India–European Union Free Trade Agreement was jointly announced by the Prime Minister of India and the President of the European Commission at which of the following India–EU Summits?
- A. 14th India–EU Summit
- B. 15th India–EU Summit
- C. 16th India–EU Summit
- D. 17th India–EU Summit
Q18. Which one of the following is the nodal ministry of the Government of India that negotiated and operationalises the India–European Union Free Trade Agreement concluded in 2026?
- A. Ministry of External Affairs
- B. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- C. Ministry of Finance
- D. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare
Q19. Which one of the following is the nodal Indian ministry responsible for negotiating and operationalising the India-EU Free Trade Agreement concluded in January 2026?
- A. Ministry of External Affairs
- B. Ministry of Finance
- C. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- D. NITI Aayog
Q20. How many member states of the European Union are parties to the India-EU Free Trade Agreement whose conclusion was announced on 27 January 2026?
Q21. With reference to how the India-EU Free Trade Agreement concluded on 27 January 2026 differs from its predecessor framework, the Broad-Based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA), consider the following statements:
1. Unlike BTIA whose talks were suspended in 2013, the FTA concluded in 2026 covers goods, services, investment protection and geographical indications within an integrated package.
2. The 2026 FTA, unlike BTIA, is being negotiated with the 27-member European Union, whereas BTIA negotiations had been launched with a then 25-member Union.
3. The 2026 FTA delivers preferential access for more than 99% of India's exports by trade value to the EU market, a level of liberalisation not achieved under the BTIA track.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Unlike BTIA whose talks were suspended in 2013, the FTA concluded in 2026 covers goods, services, investment protection and geographical indications within an integrated package.
- The 2026 FTA, unlike BTIA, is being negotiated with the 27-member European Union, whereas BTIA negotiations had been launched with a then 25-member Union.
- The 2026 FTA delivers preferential access for more than 99% of India's exports by trade value to the EU market, a level of liberalisation not achieved under the BTIA track.
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 2 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q22. The negotiations for the framework that ultimately culminated in the India-EU Free Trade Agreement concluded in January 2026 were first formally launched in which one of the following years?
- A. 2004
- B. 2006
- C. 2007
- D. 2013
Q23. In the context of India-EU trade engagement, the term 'BTIA' — the predecessor framework to the India-EU Free Trade Agreement concluded in January 2026 — refers to which one of the following?
- A. Bilateral Tariff and Investment Arrangement
- B. Broad-Based Trade and Investment Agreement
- C. Balanced Trade and Industrial Accord
- D. Bilateral Trade in Intermediates Agreement
Q24. With reference to the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), consider the following four countries:
1. India
2. France
3. United States
4. China
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as founding members of GPAI?
- India
- France
- United States
- China
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1, 2, 3 and 4
- C. 2 and 4 only
- D. 1 and 4 only
Q25. India's 'Act East Policy', a key strategic driver of connectivity in the North Eastern Region, was articulated (as a reformulation of the earlier Look East Policy) in which year?
- A. 1991
- B. 2004
- C. 2014
- D. 2016
Q26. Consider the following statements about the European Union and its trade machinery as relevant to the India–EU FTA:
1. The European Union is a bloc of 27 member states.
2. Directorate-General for Trade (DG Trade) is a department of the European Commission.
3. The European College of Commissioners visited New Delhi in February 2025.
4. The President of the European Council chairs the European Commission.
Which of the above is/are correctly stated?
- The European Union is a bloc of 27 member states.
- Directorate-General for Trade (DG Trade) is a department of the European Commission.
- The European College of Commissioners visited New Delhi in February 2025.
- The President of the European Council chairs the European Commission.
- A. 1, 2 and 3 only
- B. 1 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q27. With reference to the roles of the European Commission and the European Council, consider the following statements:
1. The European Commission is the EU's executive body responsible for negotiating trade agreements on behalf of the Union.
2. Ursula von der Leyen heads the European Council.
3. Maroš Šefčovič serves as the European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The European Commission is the EU's executive body responsible for negotiating trade agreements on behalf of the Union.
- Ursula von der Leyen heads the European Council.
- Maroš Šefčovič serves as the European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security.
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q28. On the European Union side, the negotiation of the India–EU FTA concluded in January 2026 was conducted by which one of the following?
- A. Directorate-General for Trade (DG Trade) of the European Commission
- B. The European Council Secretariat
- C. The European Parliament's Committee on International Trade
- D. The European External Action Service
Q29. The conclusion of the India–EU FTA negotiations was jointly announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and which one of the following, at the 16th India–EU Summit?
- A. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
- B. António Costa, President of the European Council
- C. Maroš Šefčovič, European Commissioner for Trade
- D. Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament
Q30. With reference to India's institutionalised bilateral commission mechanisms with Russia, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- The IRIGC-M&MTC (Military & Military-Technical Cooperation) is co-chaired by the Defence Ministers of India and Russia.
- The IRIGC framework was set up under an inter-governmental agreement signed in 1992.
- A '2+2' Ministerial Dialogue format between India and Russia was added in December 2021.
- The IRIGC-TEC is co-chaired from the Russian side by the President of the Russian Federation.
- A. 1 only
- B. 4 only
- C. 3 and 4
- D. 2 only