International Relations MCQs for UPSC Prelims — April 2026
Q1. The following are described as measures forming part of the Federal Reserve's pandemic-era (2020) monetary response under Powell EXCEPT one. Consider:
1. Cutting the federal funds rate to near zero in March 2020.
2. Purchasing Treasury securities and mortgage-backed securities.
3. Purchasing municipal bonds and corporate debt through emergency lending programmes.
4. Raising the federal funds rate ten times to shrink the balance sheet in 2020.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- Cutting the federal funds rate to near zero in March 2020.
- Purchasing Treasury securities and mortgage-backed securities.
- Purchasing municipal bonds and corporate debt through emergency lending programmes.
- Raising the federal funds rate ten times to shrink the balance sheet in 2020.
- A. 1 only
- B. 4 only
- C. 2 and 3
- D. 1 and 4
Q2. With reference to the friction between President Trump and Chair Powell over Federal Reserve independence, consider the following statements:
1. Trump repeatedly criticised Powell over the Federal Reserve's interest-rate decisions.
2. Powell asserted that the President is not permitted under law to fire or demote him.
3. Powell said the outcome of the 2024 presidential election would have 'no effect' on near-term rate decisions.
4. Powell resigned as Chair immediately after Trump's 2024 election victory.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- Trump repeatedly criticised Powell over the Federal Reserve's interest-rate decisions.
- Powell asserted that the President is not permitted under law to fire or demote him.
- Powell said the outcome of the 2024 presidential election would have 'no effect' on near-term rate decisions.
- Powell resigned as Chair immediately after Trump's 2024 election victory.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1, 2 and 4
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q3. The criminal investigation into Jerome Powell opened in January 2026 was centred on which of the following?
- A. His congressional testimony about the scope and costs of the Federal Reserve headquarters renovation
- B. Alleged insider trading based on advance knowledge of FOMC rate decisions
- C. Losses incurred on the Federal Reserve's balance sheet during rate hikes
- D. A conflict of interest in the Fed's supervision of commercial banks
Q4. By what vote margin did the United States Senate confirm Kevin Warsh as Chair of the Federal Reserve in 2026?
- A. 54–45
- B. 60–40
- C. 68–31
- D. 50–49
Q5. In the context of the 2026 Federal Reserve leadership transition, the term 'chair pro tempore' most precisely refers to which of the following?
- A. A temporary chair who leads the Board only until a confirmed successor is sworn in
- B. A deputy who permanently chairs the FOMC whenever the Chair is absent
- C. The senior-most regional Reserve Bank president automatically acting as Chair
- D. An honorary lifetime title conferred on a retired Federal Reserve Chair
Q6. Who was the first woman to serve as Chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve?
- A. Janet Yellen
- B. Alice Rivlin
- C. Christine Lagarde
- D. Esther George
Q7. Consider the following statements comparing the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Reserve Bank of India:
1. The Governor of the RBI is appointed by the Central Government, whereas the Chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
2. Members of the RBI's central board are appointed for four-year terms, while members of the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors serve 14-year terms.
3. The RBI's Monetary Policy Committee has the same number of members as the Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The Governor of the RBI is appointed by the Central Government, whereas the Chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
- Members of the RBI's central board are appointed for four-year terms, while members of the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors serve 14-year terms.
- The RBI's Monetary Policy Committee has the same number of members as the Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q8. With reference to the governance structure of the U.S. Federal Reserve, consider the following statements:
1. The Board of Governors has seven members, each appointed for a 14-year term.
2. The Chair of the Board of Governors is appointed for a 14-year term.
3. The Federal Open Market Committee has twelve members.
4. Governors of the Federal Reserve are nominated by the President and confirmed by the House of Representatives.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- The Board of Governors has seven members, each appointed for a 14-year term.
- The Chair of the Board of Governors is appointed for a 14-year term.
- The Federal Open Market Committee has twelve members.
- Governors of the Federal Reserve are nominated by the President and confirmed by the House of Representatives.
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 1, 2 and 4
- D. 3 only
Q9. The Federal Reserve System, the central bank of the United States, was established under which of the following?
- A. The Federal Reserve Act, 1913
- B. The Glass-Steagall Act, 1933
- C. The Dodd-Frank Act, 2010
- D. The Federal Reserve Act, 1935
Q10. The appointment of a nominee as Chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve becomes effective only after confirmation by which of the following?
- A. The United States Senate
- B. The United States House of Representatives
- C. The Federal Open Market Committee
- D. The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
Q11. For approximately how many years did Jerome Powell serve as Chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve before his chairmanship ended in 2026?
- A. Four years
- B. Six years
- C. Eight years
- D. Ten years
Q12. India's role as IHO-designated coordinator of NAVAREA VIII and INT chart 'Area J' for the North Indian Ocean is discharged through which one of the following?
- A. Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS)
- B. The Chief Hydrographer to the Government of India / National Hydrographic Office
- C. Indian Coast Guard
- D. Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships
Q13. Consider the following statements about the origins of the #MeToo movement:
1. Activist Tarana Burke first used the phrase 'me too' in 2006 through her non-profit Just Be Inc.
2. The movement gained global prominence in 2017 following reports about film producer Harvey Weinstein.
3. Actress Alyssa Milano's viral 'me too' tweet was posted on 15 October 2017.
4. Tarana Burke first coined the phrase 'me too' during the 2017 Weinstein revelations.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- Activist Tarana Burke first used the phrase 'me too' in 2006 through her non-profit Just Be Inc.
- The movement gained global prominence in 2017 following reports about film producer Harvey Weinstein.
- Actress Alyssa Milano's viral 'me too' tweet was posted on 15 October 2017.
- Tarana Burke first coined the phrase 'me too' during the 2017 Weinstein revelations.
- A. 1 only
- B. 2 and 3
- C. 4 only
- D. 1 and 4
Q14. Among United Nations bodies that have served as a prominent institutional voice on the #MeToo movement, which one is the entity dedicated exclusively to gender equality and the empowerment of women?
- A. UNICEF
- B. UN Women
- C. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
- D. Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Q15. Which of the following is India's largest trading-partner bloc, with which India concluded a landmark FTA described as its largest-ever trade deal?
- A. European Union
- B. ASEAN
- C. European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
- D. Gulf Cooperation Council
Q16. When India decided not to join the RCEP in 2019, its concerns over persistent trade imbalance and inadequate market access were directed primarily at which single member country?
- A. China
- B. Japan
- C. Australia
- D. South Korea
Q17. India is a member of the Mineral Security Partnership (MSP). Which one of the following countries leads/initiated the MSP?
- A. United States
- B. Australia
- C. Japan
- D. India
Q18. Under the India–New Zealand FTA annex, how many Ayush disciplines are placed alongside New Zealand's Maori health practices?
- A. Six
- B. Seven
- C. Five
- D. Four
Q19. Under the India–New Zealand FTA, mobility for Indian Ayush and wellness professionals is enabled through which visa instrument created by New Zealand?
- A. Temporary Employment Entry (TEE) Visa
- B. Working Holiday Visa
- C. Skilled Migrant Category Visa
- D. Essential Skills Work Visa
Q20. The India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement was concluded after how many formal rounds of negotiations?
- A. Five
- B. Three
- C. Nine
- D. Twelve
Q21. With reference to the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine, which of the following statements are correct?
- It is located at Jamnagar, Gujarat.
- The agreement to establish it was signed between the Ministry of Ayush and the WHO.
- It is supported by a USD 250 million investment from the Government of India.
- Its foundation stone was laid in 2020.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 2, 3 and 4
- C. 1 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q22. The WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine at Jamnagar is best described as which one of the following?
- A. The WHO's first and only global centre dedicated to traditional medicine
- B. The WHO's largest regional office in South-East Asia
- C. India's first WHO collaborating centre of any kind
- D. The first WHO health facility established in Asia
Q23. The India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement negotiations were formally launched in which month and year?
- A. March 2025
- B. December 2024
- C. March 2024
- D. January 2026
Q24. Which of the following are correctly identified as features of the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement?
- It is the first FTA in which New Zealand has provided a dedicated Health and Traditional Medicine Services pathway.
- The Agreement was signed at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
- It is the only Free Trade Agreement India has ever signed with an OECD/developed economy.
- Negotiations for the Agreement were concluded in December 2025.
- A. 1, 2 and 4
- B. 2, 3 and 4
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q25. Under the GATT 1994, Article XI is best described as the provision that —
- A. requires the general elimination of quantitative restrictions such as quotas and export bans, other than duties, taxes or charges
- B. permits otherwise-inconsistent measures a member considers necessary to protect its essential security interests
- C. allows general exceptions for measures relating to the conservation of exhaustible natural resources
- D. mandates that any permitted quantitative restriction be administered on a non-discriminatory basis
Q26. At the October 2025 Busan summit, China agreed to delay for one year the export restrictions it had announced in October 2025 on how many rare-earth metals (while retaining its earlier April 2025 curbs)?
- A. Five
- B. Seven
- C. Twelve
- D. Two
Q27. As part of the October 2025 Busan trade truce, China's flagship agricultural commitment was the resumption of large-scale purchases of which one of the following United States commodities?
- A. Soybeans
- B. Wheat
- C. Maize (corn)
- D. Cotton
Q28. In the theory of weaponised interdependence, cross-border interbank payment messaging is routed through a classic financial 'chokepoint' operated by which one of the following?
- A. SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication)
- B. International Monetary Fund
- C. Bank for International Settlements
- D. World Bank
Q29. The concept of 'weaponised interdependence', describing how states controlling network hubs coerce others, was first formulated by which one of the following?
- A. Henry Farrell and Abraham Newman
- B. Robert Keohane and Joseph Nye
- C. Albert Hirschman and Susan Strange
- D. Daniel Drezner and Henry Kissinger
Q30. In the context of China's economic-coercion toolkit, the 'Unreliable Entity List' is best described as which one of the following?
- A. A blacklist maintained by China's Ministry of Commerce under which foreign firms may face import/export bans, investment restrictions, travel and visa bans, and fines
- B. A registry of Chinese exporters that have been licensed to ship controlled rare-earth items abroad
- C. A WTO-maintained list of members found to have violated their export-control commitments
- D. A list of dual-use technologies whose export from China is prohibited outright