International Relations MCQs for UPSC Prelims — May 2026

Q1. During Prime Minister Modi's May 2026 Europe tour, which city hosted the Third India-Nordic Summit?

  • A. Stockholm
  • B. Copenhagen
  • C. Helsinki
  • D. Oslo

Q2. How many countries did Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit during his official multi-nation tour from 15-20 May 2026 that included the bilateral visit to the Netherlands?

  • A. Three
  • B. Four
  • C. Five
  • D. Six

Q3. With reference to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC), both seated in The Hague, consider the following statements: 1. The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, whereas the ICC was established by the Rome Statute and is not an organ of the United Nations. 2. Both the ICJ and the ICC have their seats in the Peace Palace in The Hague. 3. The ICJ adjudicates legal disputes between States, while the ICC prosecutes individuals for crimes such as genocide and crimes against humanity. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, whereas the ICC was established by the Rome Statute and is not an organ of the United Nations.
  2. Both the ICJ and the ICC have their seats in the Peace Palace in The Hague.
  3. The ICJ adjudicates legal disputes between States, while the ICC prosecutes individuals for crimes such as genocide and crimes against humanity.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. Which one of the following international bodies, headquartered in The Hague, is responsible for implementing and verifying compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention?

  • A. United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA)
  • B. Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
  • C. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
  • D. Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO)

Q5. With reference to India–Netherlands economic relations, consider the following statements:

  1. The Netherlands is India's largest export destination in Europe.
  2. The Netherlands is among the top five sources of cumulative FDI inflows into India.
  3. The India–Netherlands Fast-Track Mechanism was formalised between the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and the Embassy of the Netherlands.
  4. The India–Netherlands Joint Trade and Investment Committee (JTIC) functions under the chairship of the World Trade Organization.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q6. The bilateral India–Netherlands Fast-Track Mechanism (FTM), formalised in 2022 for faster resolution of investment cases of Dutch companies in India, is executed by which one of the following agencies?

  • A. Invest India
  • B. NITI Aayog
  • C. National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF)
  • D. Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB)

Q7. With reference to the evolving India–Netherlands semiconductor cooperation, consider the following statements: 1. The 2024 ASML–Tata Electronics agreement focussed on equipment supply for chip manufacturing, whereas the 2026 cooperation under the India–Netherlands Strategic Partnership Roadmap institutionalises a linkage between the Dutch Semicon Competence Centre and the India Semiconductor Mission. 2. While ASML's EUV lithography systems are deployed globally for advanced sub-10 nanometre process nodes, the Tata–PSMC Dholera fab is configured for mature process nodes such as 28 nm and above. 3. Unlike the Tata facility at Morigaon (Assam) approved under the India Semiconductor Mission, which is a wafer fabrication unit, the Dholera facility is an Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging (ATMP) unit. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The 2024 ASML–Tata Electronics agreement focussed on equipment supply for chip manufacturing, whereas the 2026 cooperation under the India–Netherlands Strategic Partnership Roadmap institutionalises a linkage between the Dutch Semicon Competence Centre and the India Semiconductor Mission.
  2. While ASML's EUV lithography systems are deployed globally for advanced sub-10 nanometre process nodes, the Tata–PSMC Dholera fab is configured for mature process nodes such as 28 nm and above.
  3. Unlike the Tata facility at Morigaon (Assam) approved under the India Semiconductor Mission, which is a wafer fabrication unit, the Dholera facility is an Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging (ATMP) unit.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. With reference to India's semiconductor cooperation with the Netherlands and the Dholera fab project, which of the statements given below are NOT correct?

  1. The Dholera semiconductor fab is being set up by Tata Electronics in partnership with Taiwan's Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC).
  2. The Dholera fab will manufacture chips using Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems supplied by ASML.
  3. The Government of India, through the India Semiconductor Mission, has committed 50% fiscal support on a pari-passu basis for the Dholera project.
  4. ASML, the Dutch supplier whose tools will be used at Dholera, is headquartered at Eindhoven in the Netherlands.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • D. 3 only

Q9. The 'Green and Digital Sea Corridor' announced jointly by India and the Netherlands in May 2026 identifies which one of the following as the European port anchoring the corridor on the Dutch side?

  • A. Port of Rotterdam
  • B. Port of Amsterdam
  • C. Port of Antwerp
  • D. Port of Hamburg

Q10. With reference to the India–Netherlands 'Green and Digital Sea Corridor' announced during the Prime Minister's visit to the Netherlands in May 2026, consider the following statements:

  1. It is being developed under the Joint Working Group on Maritime Cooperation between the two countries.
  2. It envisages connecting Indian ports with the Port of Rotterdam.
  3. Cooperation under the corridor explicitly covers clean fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia and methanol.
  4. Its primary objective is to operationalise an India–Netherlands Free Trade Agreement on maritime services.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4 only

Q11. In the context of the India-Netherlands Strategic Partnership Roadmap 2026-2030, the term "Green and Digital Sea Corridor" precisely refers to which one of the following?

  • A. An undersea fibre-optic cable exclusively dedicated to sovereign cloud traffic between Indian and Dutch data centres
  • B. A maritime route between selected Indian ports and the Port of Rotterdam promoting clean fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia and methanol along with digital port operations
  • C. A land-based green hydrogen pipeline running through Europe and terminating at Rotterdam for export to all EU members
  • D. A satellite-based digital surveillance network covering every commercial shipping lane in the Indian Ocean Region

Q12. The India-Netherlands Fast-Track Mechanism (FTM), referenced in the Strategic Partnership Roadmap 2026-2030 as a platform for resolving Dutch investment cases in India, is operationalised from the Indian side by which one of the following?

  • A. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • B. Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance
  • C. Ministry of External Affairs (Investment & Technology Promotion Division)
  • D. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)

Q13. Which one of the following is the only international treaty that provides the legal framework under which governments can address specific areas of the World Anti-Doping Code?

  • A. World Anti-Doping Code, 2003
  • B. Council of Europe Anti-Doping Convention, 1989
  • C. UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport, 2005
  • D. Copenhagen Declaration on Anti-Doping in Sport, 2003

Q14. With reference to the international anti-doping framework, which one of the following best describes the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)?

  • A. A specialised agency of the United Nations established under the UNESCO Convention against Doping in Sport, 2005
  • B. A foundation established under Swiss private law, jointly funded by governments and the Olympic Movement
  • C. A standing technical committee of the International Olympic Committee headquartered in Lausanne
  • D. An intergovernmental treaty body of the Council of Europe constituted under the Anti-Doping Convention, 1989

Q15. Which one of the following international organisations released, in January 2024, the guidance document titled 'Ethics and governance of artificial intelligence for health: guidance on large multi-modal models'?

  • A. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
  • B. International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
  • C. World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
  • D. World Health Organization (WHO)

Q16. Who is the current WHO Regional Director for the South-East Asia Region, leading the New Delhi-based Regional Office?

  • A. Ms Saima Wazed
  • B. Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh
  • C. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
  • D. Dr Catharina Boehme

Q17. Which body is the supreme governing organ of the World Health Organization (WHO) within the South-East Asia Region, responsible for formulating policies and providing oversight to regional health programmes?

  • A. Regional Committee for South-East Asia
  • B. WHO Executive Board
  • C. World Health Assembly
  • D. Standing Committee of the Regional Office

Q18. At the opening of the 79th World Health Assembly (May 2026) in Geneva, how many Vice-Presidents of the Assembly were elected alongside the President Dr Víctor Elías Atallah Lajam?

  • A. Three
  • B. Five
  • C. Six
  • D. Seven

Q19. With reference to the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA-79) held in May 2026, consider the following countries that were represented in its elected leadership (President and Vice-Presidents):

  1. Mali
  2. Nepal
  3. Bangladesh
  4. Poland
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q20. The 79th World Health Assembly, held at Geneva in May 2026, was presided over by a delegate from which one of the following countries?

  • A. Switzerland
  • B. India
  • C. Dominican Republic
  • D. Indonesia

Q21. Which one of the following organs of the World Health Organization is primarily entrusted with giving effect to the decisions and policies of the World Health Assembly between its annual sessions?

  • A. WHO Secretariat headed by the Director-General
  • B. WHO Executive Board
  • C. Regional Committee for South-East Asia
  • D. Programme, Budget and Administration Committee

Q22. With reference to India's contribution to early United Nations peacekeeping, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission set up after the Korean Armistice was chaired by Lt Gen K.S. Thimayya of India.
  2. The Custodian Force of India that handled unrepatriated prisoners of war in Korea was led by Maj Gen S.S.P. Thorat.
  3. India was among the troop-contributing countries to the First United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF I) deployed in 1956 during the Suez Crisis.
  4. India deployed the United Nations' first-ever all-female Formed Police Unit to the Operation des Nations Unies au Congo (ONUC) in 1960.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q23. The Custodian Force of India (CFI), regarded as India's first major United Nations assignment after independence, was primarily entrusted with which one of the following functions?

  • A. Supervising the ceasefire along the Korean Military Demarcation Line on behalf of the UN Command
  • B. Taking custody of prisoners of war who had refused repatriation, pending a final decision under the Armistice Agreement
  • C. Monitoring the ceasefire line between India and Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir
  • D. Administering a plebiscite in the Korean Peninsula under United Nations supervision

Q24. With reference to the India–Republic of Korea Special Strategic Partnership, which of the following statements is/are NOT correct?

  1. The bilateral relationship was elevated from 'Strategic Partnership' to 'Special Strategic Partnership' through a Joint Statement issued in May 2015.
  2. The India–Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was signed in 2014 and came into force in 2016.
  3. Under the Joint Strategic Vision (2026–2030) announced during President Lee Jae Myung's State Visit, the two sides set a target of doubling bilateral trade to USD 54 billion by 2030.
  4. The 2026 Joint Strategic Vision replaced the 'Special Strategic Partnership' framework with a new 'Comprehensive Strategic Alliance'.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • D. 3 only

Q25. During the State Visit of which Indian Prime Minister to Seoul was the India–Republic of Korea bilateral relationship elevated to a 'Special Strategic Partnership' through a Joint Statement issued in May 2015?

  • A. Atal Bihari Vajpayee
  • B. Manmohan Singh
  • C. Narendra Modi
  • D. I. K. Gujral

Q26. Which one of the following UN Security Council resolutions was the first to call upon the North Korean authorities to cease hostilities and withdraw their armed forces to the 38th parallel at the outbreak of the Korean War?

  • A. Resolution 82 (1950)
  • B. Resolution 83 (1950)
  • C. Resolution 84 (1950)
  • D. Resolution 85 (1950)

Q27. With reference to the Korean War Armistice of 1953, consider the following statements:

  1. The Armistice Agreement was signed at Panmunjom on 27 July 1953.
  2. The Republic of Korea (South Korea) was a signatory to the Armistice Agreement.
  3. India was a member of the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission set up under the Armistice.
  4. General Mark W. Clark signed the Armistice on behalf of the United Nations Command.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q28. With reference to the 60 Para Field Ambulance of the Indian Army during the Korean War, consider the following statements:

  1. It was commanded by Lt Col (Dr) A. G. Rangaraj, who was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for his service in the Korean operations.
  2. It was deployed in Korea under the United Nations Command established following the outbreak of the Korean War.
  3. It was conferred the title of 'Maroon Angels' by wounded soldiers and civilians of the Republic of Korea in recognition of its humanitarian medical service.
  4. It constituted independent India's first combatant infantry deployment abroad in the Korean War.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q29. During the Korean War (1950-53), the 60 Para Field Ambulance of the Indian Army was deployed in Korea under which one of the following international command authorities?

  • A. United Nations Command
  • B. NATO Joint Command
  • C. Commonwealth Forces Korea Command
  • D. South-East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) Force

Q30. The Indian War Memorial at Imjingak Park, Seoul (May 2026) was jointly inaugurated by India's Raksha Mantri and the Republic of Korea's Minister heading which one of the following Ministries?

  • A. Ministry of National Defence
  • B. Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • C. Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs
  • D. Ministry of Unification
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