International Relations MCQs for UPSC Prelims — April 2026

Q1. Under the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement signed in April 2026, New Zealand's commitment to facilitate USD 20 billion of investment into India over fifteen years has been explicitly aligned by the Government of India with which one of the following flagship initiatives?

  • A. Digital India
  • B. Skill India Mission
  • C. Make in India
  • D. Startup India

Q2. With reference to the investment and services architecture of the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (2026), consider the following statements:

  1. New Zealand has committed to facilitate USD 20 billion of investments into India over a fifteen-year period.
  2. The Agreement contains a Rebalancing Clause that provides a framework to address any shortfall in the delivery of the investment commitment.
  3. Under the Agreement, India has obtained a Temporary Employment Entry Visa pathway for Indian professionals with a quota of 10,000 visas at any given time.
  4. New Zealand has offered services market access in 139 sectors and MFN treatment in 118 sectors.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2 and 4

Q3. With reference to the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement signed in April 2026, match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below.

  • A. A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2
  • B. A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2
  • C. A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
  • D. A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3

Q4. Within the Government of India, which one of the following is the nodal entity that handles India's engagement with the Pacific Islands Forum as a Dialogue Partner and operationalises the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI)?

  • A. Indo-Pacific Division, Ministry of External Affairs
  • B. Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • C. Integrated Defence Staff, Ministry of Defence
  • D. Sagarmala Division, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways

Q5. The Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) was launched in November 2014 during a visit by the Prime Minister of India to which one of the following Pacific Island countries?

  • A. Papua New Guinea
  • B. Fiji
  • C. Samoa
  • D. Tonga

Q6. Consider the following statements regarding New Zealand and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF): 1. Australia and New Zealand are the only members of the Pacific Islands Forum that are classified as developed economies. 2. All members of the Pacific Islands Forum are sovereign states recognised by the United Nations as such. 3. The Cook Strait separates New Zealand's North Island from the Australian mainland. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Australia and New Zealand are the only members of the Pacific Islands Forum that are classified as developed economies.
  2. All members of the Pacific Islands Forum are sovereign states recognised by the United Nations as such.
  3. The Cook Strait separates New Zealand's North Island from the Australian mainland.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. In the context of the India–New Zealand FTA (2026), the figure of '70.03% of tariff lines' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. The share of India's tariff lines on which India has agreed to liberalise duties for imports from New Zealand
  • B. The share of New Zealand's tariff lines opened duty-free for Indian exports from day one
  • C. The share of bilateral merchandise trade value covered by the agreement
  • D. The share of India's textile and apparel tariff lines liberalised under the FTA

Q8. Under the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (2026), which of the following items are NOT placed in India's exclusion list of tariff lines? 1. Cheese 2. Sheep meat 3. Almonds 4. Wool

  1. Cheese
  2. Sheep meat
  3. Almonds
  4. Wool
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q9. With reference to the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement signed in 2026, which of the following statements are NOT correct?

  1. The Agreement was signed by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and New Zealand's Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay.
  2. Negotiations on the Agreement were formally launched in March 2024.
  3. The signing ceremony was held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
  4. Negotiations on the Agreement were concluded in December 2024.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q10. With reference to the timeline of the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA), consider the following statements:

  1. The negotiations for the FTA were launched on 16 March 2025 during the visit of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to India.
  2. The negotiations were concluded on 22 December 2025 after five formal rounds of talks and several inter-sessions.
  3. The FTA was signed on 27 April 2026 at Hyderabad House, New Delhi.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q11. With reference to Operation Raahat (2015) and Operation Ganga (2022), consider the following statements: 1. Operation Raahat evacuated only Indian nationals, whereas Operation Ganga additionally evacuated foreign nationals. 2. Operation Ganga involved both Indian Air Force aircraft and chartered civilian airliners, while Operation Raahat involved Indian Navy ships in addition to Indian Air Force aircraft. 3. In Operation Raahat, Djibouti served as the principal transit hub, whereas Operation Ganga routed evacuees through Ukraine's neighbouring countries such as Romania, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Operation Raahat evacuated only Indian nationals, whereas Operation Ganga additionally evacuated foreign nationals.
  2. Operation Ganga involved both Indian Air Force aircraft and chartered civilian airliners, while Operation Raahat involved Indian Navy ships in addition to Indian Air Force aircraft.
  3. In Operation Raahat, Djibouti served as the principal transit hub, whereas Operation Ganga routed evacuees through Ukraine's neighbouring countries such as Romania, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q12. Match List I (Indian evacuation operation) with List II (Year and theatre) and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:

  • A. A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
  • B. A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
  • C. A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4
  • D. A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4

Q13. In 2015, India evacuated its nationals from war-torn Yemen under 'Operation Raahat'. Which one of the following served as the principal staging/transit hub for this evacuation?

  • A. Muscat, Oman
  • B. Djibouti
  • C. Doha, Qatar
  • D. Salalah, Oman

Q14. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), whose membership consists exclusively of six Arab monarchies of the Persian Gulf, was formally established by the signing of its Charter in which year?

  • A. 1971
  • B. 1979
  • C. 1981
  • D. 1991

Q15. With reference to mechanisms protecting Indian seafarers and Indian-flagged merchant vessels in the West Asian waters, consider the following pairs: 1. Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 — an International Labour Organization instrument, ratified by India in 2015, prescribing minimum working and living standards for seafarers. 2. Directorate General of Shipping — the agency under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways that has set up a 24x7 Quick Response Team for Indian seafarers in the Persian Gulf. 3. Operation Sankalp — an Indian Navy maritime security operation launched in 2019 to ensure safe passage of Indian-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. 4. Sagarmala Programme — an inter-ministerial framework under which the Indian Navy provides anti-piracy escort to Indian merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden. Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

  1. Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 — an ILO instrument, ratified by India in 2015, prescribing minimum working and living standards for seafarers.
  2. Directorate General of Shipping — agency under MoPSW that has set up a 24x7 Quick Response Team for Indian seafarers in the Persian Gulf.
  3. Operation Sankalp — Indian Navy maritime security operation launched in 2019 to ensure safe passage of Indian-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
  4. Sagarmala Programme — inter-ministerial framework under which the Indian Navy provides anti-piracy escort to Indian merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q16. With reference to the Indian Navy's Operation Sankalp as originally launched in 2019 vis-à-vis its expanded maritime security deployments since late 2023, consider the following statements: 1. While the 2019 mandate was confined to providing escort to Indian-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, the post-2023 deployments have extended response operations to the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea and waters off the east coast of Somalia. 2. Unlike the 2019 phase, which was essentially a reassurance-and-escort presence, the post-2023 phase has included first-responder action against drone and missile attacks on merchant vessels and hijacking incidents. 3. Both phases are progressed in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Directorate General of Shipping. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. While the 2019 mandate was confined to providing escort to Indian-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, the post-2023 deployments have extended response operations to the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea and waters off the east coast of Somalia.
  2. Unlike the 2019 phase, which was essentially a reassurance-and-escort presence, the post-2023 phase has included first-responder action against drone and missile attacks on merchant vessels and hijacking incidents.
  3. Both phases are progressed in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Directorate General of Shipping.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q17. Match List I (Event relating to seafarer protection / maritime security) with List II (Year) and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:

  • A. A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
  • B. A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
  • C. A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4
  • D. A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3

Q18. In the context of India-UAE relations reviewed during the External Affairs Minister's April 2026 visit, the term 'CEPA' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
  • B. Common Energy Procurement Arrangement
  • C. Coastal Economic Partnership Area
  • D. Cooperative Expatriate Protection Accord

Q19. With reference to India's diplomatic response to the West Asia situation in 2026, match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below.

  • A. A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3
  • B. A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3
  • C. A-1, B-4, C-3, D-2
  • D. A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2

Q20. With reference to External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar's visit to Mauritius and the UAE (9-12 April 2026), which of the following took place during the visit itself?

  1. Joint inauguration of Mauritius' first dedicated Renal Transplant Unit at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, Port Louis
  2. Handing over of 90 electric buses to the Government of Mauritius
  3. Signing of the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)
  4. Call on the President of the UAE, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi
  • A. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q21. The right of 'transit passage' through international straits used for international navigation, such as the Strait of Hormuz, is codified under which one of the following international conventions?

  • A. UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982
  • B. Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone, 1958
  • C. Convention on the High Seas, 1958
  • D. UN Convention on the Continental Shelf, 1964

Q22. Among the multilateral forums in which both India and New Zealand currently participate as members/partners, which one is the OLDEST by year of establishment?

  • A. Commonwealth of Nations
  • B. East Asia Summit
  • C. World Trade Organization
  • D. Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity

Q23. Consider the following international groupings: 1. Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) 2. East Asia Summit (EAS) 3. Commonwealth of Nations 4. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) In which of the above is New Zealand NOT a Member State, even though India is?

  1. Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)
  2. East Asia Summit (EAS)
  3. Commonwealth of Nations
  4. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q24. With reference to the multilateral groupings of which both India and New Zealand are participants, consider the following statements:

  1. Both countries are founding participants of the East Asia Summit established in 2005.
  2. Both countries are Member States of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
  3. Both countries are partner countries of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF).
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q25. Who, under New Zealand's constitutional arrangement, is the head of state?

  • A. The Prime Minister, who is also the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives
  • B. The British monarch, represented in New Zealand by the Governor-General
  • C. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, elected by members of Parliament
  • D. A President elected by an electoral college of parliamentarians for a five-year term

Q26. Consider the following events relating to the timeline of the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement: 1. Formal launch of FTA negotiations in March 2025 alongside the visit of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to India. 2. Conclusion of the first round of negotiations in New Delhi in May 2025. 3. Announcement of conclusion of FTA negotiations on 22 December 2025. 4. Signing of the FTA in Wellington in April 2026. Which of the events given above are correctly stated?

  1. Formal launch of FTA negotiations in March 2025 alongside the visit of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to India.
  2. Conclusion of the first round of negotiations in New Delhi in May 2025.
  3. Announcement of conclusion of FTA negotiations on 22 December 2025.
  4. Signing of the FTA in Wellington in April 2026.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q27. Consider the following statements regarding the negotiation of the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement compared with the trajectory of India's earlier FTAs with developed economies: 1. Negotiations for the India–New Zealand FTA were formally launched in March 2025 during the visit of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to India. 2. The India–New Zealand FTA negotiations were concluded within about nine months of their launch, making it one of the fastest FTAs concluded by India with a developed country. 3. The India–New Zealand FTA negotiations were concluded after exactly three formal rounds of talks. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Negotiations for the India–New Zealand FTA were formally launched in March 2025 during the visit of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to India.
  2. The India–New Zealand FTA negotiations were concluded within about nine months of their launch, making it one of the fastest FTAs concluded by India with a developed country.
  3. The India–New Zealand FTA negotiations were concluded after exactly three formal rounds of talks.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q28. With reference to the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed in April 2026, which one of the following best describes the nature of an 'FTA' as concluded by India in this case?

  • A. An arrangement limited to tariff concessions on a defined list of goods between the two partners, without coverage of services or investment
  • B. A comprehensive pact covering trade in goods, services and investment, with tariff liberalisation across the bulk of tariff lines between the partners
  • C. A customs union under which India and New Zealand adopt a common external tariff against all third countries
  • D. A preferential arrangement confined to trade in services and the temporary movement of natural persons

Q29. With reference to the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (2026) and the earlier India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA, 2022), consider the following statements: 1. Shri Piyush Goyal was the Indian signatory in both agreements as Union Minister for Commerce and Industry. 2. The India-New Zealand FTA was signed at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, whereas the India-Australia ECTA was signed through a virtual ceremony. 3. The India-New Zealand FTA was signed on behalf of New Zealand by its Minister for Foreign Affairs, while the India-Australia ECTA was signed on behalf of Australia by its Trade Minister. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Shri Piyush Goyal was the Indian signatory in both agreements as Union Minister for Commerce and Industry.
  2. The India-New Zealand FTA was signed at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, whereas the India-Australia ECTA was signed through a virtual ceremony.
  3. The India-New Zealand FTA was signed on behalf of New Zealand by its Minister for Foreign Affairs, while the India-Australia ECTA was signed on behalf of Australia by its Trade Minister.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q30. Hon. Todd McClay, who signed the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement in April 2026 on behalf of New Zealand, holds which one of the following portfolios in the Government of New Zealand for the purposes of the said agreement?

  • A. Minister for Foreign Affairs
  • B. Minister for Trade and Investment
  • C. Minister for Finance
  • D. Minister for Customs and Revenue
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