International Relations MCQs for UPSC Prelims — July 2026

Q1. In the India-Maldives Vision for a Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership, the launch of the RuPay card in the Maldives was welcomed principally as a measure that would

  • A. allow nationals of the Maldives to make card-based payments at merchant establishments located in India
  • B. enable banks of the two countries to settle their bilateral trade obligations in their respective local currencies
  • C. enhance the ease of payments for Indian tourists travelling to the Maldives
  • D. permit Maldivian workers employed in India to remit their earnings home through formal banking channels

Q2. Favara, the instant payment system of the Maldives now linked to UPI, is operated by which one of the following?

  • A. The Ministry of Finance of the Maldives, which administers the country's public financial management systems
  • B. The Maldives Monetary Authority, which is the central banking institution of the country
  • C. Bank of Maldives Plc, which is the largest commercial bank operating in the country
  • D. The Capital Market Development Authority, which regulates securities markets in the country

Q3. The bilateral agreement enabling the integration of Favara with the Unified Payments Interface was signed in which year?

  • A. 2023
  • B. 2024
  • C. 2025
  • D. 2026

Q4. Consider the following statements comparing the international presence of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) before and after the Favara-UPI corridor: 1. Before the Maldives linkage, France was the only country outside Asia among those where UPI was live. 2. After the Maldives linkage, the countries where UPI is live/linked include Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in West Asia. 3. Unlike the launches in Sri Lanka and Mauritius, which were jointly inaugurated at the level of Heads of Government, the go-live of the Maldives corridor was announced by the Maldivian central banking authority. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Before the Maldives linkage, France was the only country outside Asia among those where UPI was live.
  2. After the Maldives linkage, the countries where UPI is live/linked include Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in West Asia.
  3. Unlike the launches in Sri Lanka and Mauritius, which were jointly inaugurated at the level of Heads of Government, the go-live of the Maldives corridor was announced by the Maldivian central banking authority.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. Consider the following statements comparing India's evacuation operations from conflict zones: 1. Operation Sindhu was launched to evacuate Indian nationals from Iran, whereas Operation Ajay had been mounted earlier for Indian nationals in Israel. 2. Unlike Operation Ajay, in which evacuees were flown out directly by special flights, Operation Sindhu moved evacuees out largely over land routes through neighbouring countries before they were flown home. 3. Unlike Operation Ajay, which brought back nationals of other countries as well, Operation Kaveri from Sudan evacuated only Indian citizens. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Operation Sindhu was launched to evacuate Indian nationals from Iran, whereas Operation Ajay had been mounted earlier for Indian nationals in Israel.
  2. Unlike Operation Ajay, in which evacuees were flown out directly by special flights, Operation Sindhu moved evacuees out largely over land routes through neighbouring countries before they were flown home.
  3. Unlike Operation Ajay, which brought back nationals of other countries as well, Operation Kaveri from Sudan evacuated only Indian citizens.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. The Double Contribution Convention that entered into force alongside the India-United Kingdom Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement provides for which one of the following?

  • A. Exemption of Indian workers on temporary assignment and their employers from United Kingdom social security contributions for assignments of up to sixty months
  • B. Exemption of Indian workers on temporary assignment from United Kingdom income tax for the first thirty-six months, with contributions continuing to be payable
  • C. Refund with interest of United Kingdom social security contributions already paid, claimable by Indian workers on completion of their assignment and return
  • D. Exemption of Indian workers on temporary assignment from social security contributions in both countries for the entire duration of the assignment abroad

Q7. Which one of the following statements about the Lisbon Treaty is correct?

  • A. Signed in 1992 and in force from 1993, it was the first instrument to create a permanent presidency of the European Council
  • B. Signed in 2007 and in force from 2009, it introduced the single currency along with the convergence criteria for its adoption
  • C. Signed in 2007 and in force from 2009, it introduced an express treaty provision enabling a member state to withdraw from the Union
  • D. Signed in 2001 and in force from 2003, it created the office of High Representative and consolidated external representation

Q8. United States tariffs on British car imports were reduced from 27.5 per cent to 10 per cent, applicable within an annual quota, under which one of the following arrangements?

  • A. The post-Brexit reset agreement concluded between the United Kingdom and the European Union in 2025
  • B. The Economic Prosperity Deal concluded between the United Kingdom and the United States in 2025
  • C. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement concluded between the United Kingdom and India
  • D. The United Kingdom's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership

Q9. Consider the following statements comparing British Prime Ministers of the post-referendum decade: 1. It was Theresa May, and not her successor, who formally notified the European Union in 2017 of the United Kingdom's intention to withdraw. 2. Boris Johnson was in office when the United Kingdom legally ceased to be a member of the European Union. 3. Liz Truss's tenure, the shortest in British history, was terminated by her party's defeat in a general election. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It was Theresa May, and not her successor, who formally notified the European Union in 2017 of the United Kingdom's intention to withdraw.
  2. Boris Johnson was in office when the United Kingdom legally ceased to be a member of the European Union.
  3. Liz Truss's tenure, the shortest in British history, was terminated by her party's defeat in a general election.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. Which one of the following correctly describes how the United Kingdom's change of government in July 2024 came about?

  • A. Keir Starmer became Prime Minister after Labour won an early general election called by Rishi Sunak, ending fourteen years of Conservative rule
  • B. Keir Starmer became Prime Minister after Labour won an early general election called by Liz Truss following the collapse of her fiscal package
  • C. Keir Starmer became Prime Minister after being elected leader by Labour members when Rishi Sunak resigned mid-term without an election
  • D. Keir Starmer became Prime Minister after a Conservative-led coalition lost a confidence vote in the House of Commons over the Brexit reset

Q11. In the context of the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union, the 'transition period' that ended on 31 December 2020 is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. The interval after the UK had legally ceased to be a member, during which it continued to apply EU rules while the future relationship was negotiated
  • B. The interval after notification of withdrawal, during which the UK remained a full member retaining its Council votes and Commission seat
  • C. The interval after the UK had legally ceased to be a member, during which it retained its seats in EU institutions but was exempt from EU rules
  • D. The interval after the new trading regime began, during which customs and border formalities were phased in gradually for traders

Q12. The United Kingdom's formal notification in 2017 of its intention to leave the European Union, which opened a two-year negotiating window, was made under a provision of which one of the following treaties?

  • A. The Treaty of Maastricht, 1992, which established the European Union and its three-pillar structure
  • B. The Lisbon Treaty, 2007, which took effect in December 2009 after ratification by all member states
  • C. The Treaty of Nice, 2001, which reweighted Council votes ahead of eastward enlargement
  • D. The Single European Act, 1986, which set the timetable for completing the internal market

Q13. India's articulation that it remains 'wedded to strategic autonomy' and that its crude sourcing is guided by the imperative of securing affordable energy for 1.4 billion people has been made on the Government's behalf by the holder of which one of the following offices?

  • A. The Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, who is the nodal authority for crude import contracts of public sector refiners
  • B. The Minister of Commerce and Industry, who leads India's negotiations on tariff and market access questions with the United States
  • C. The Minister of External Affairs, who has set out India's position on energy sourcing and on its autonomy in foreign policy decisions
  • D. The Minister of Finance, who is responsible for the duty structure applicable to imported crude oil and petroleum products

Q14. India's contract concluded with Russia in October 2018, which brought its exposure under CAATSA Section 231 into sharp focus, was for the supply of how many units of the S-400 system?

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

Q15. Section 231 of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), 2017, provides for punitive measures in respect of which one of the following?

  • A. Purchase of crude oil and natural gas from Russia by a foreign country in excess of a notified annual volume threshold
  • B. Grant of port access and insurance cover to tankers of the Russian shadow fleet in breach of an oil price cap
  • C. Extension of sovereign loans by a foreign country to Russian state-owned banks for civilian infrastructure projects
  • D. Engagement in significant transactions with the defence and intelligence sectors of the Russian Federation by any country

Q16. The US Senate carried a motion by 86 votes to 12 in July 2026 in respect of the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. Which one of the following statements about that motion is correct?

  • A. It was the vote on final passage, and the measure therefore became law immediately upon the Senate's approval of it
  • B. It was a cloture motion, which sets a time limit on debate and related proceedings before the measure is put to a final vote
  • C. It permanently barred the moving of any amendment to the measure on the floor of the Senate at any later stage
  • D. It transmitted the measure directly to the President for signature, dispensing altogether with consideration by the House

Q17. The Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, advanced by the US Senate in July 2026, carries the name of its lead sponsor, who represented which one of the following US States in the Senate?

  • A. Connecticut
  • B. Texas
  • C. Ohio
  • D. South Carolina

Q18. Consider the following in the context of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026: 1. Its tariff provision caps the additional duty at 100 per cent and confines it to the five countries purchasing the largest volumes of Russian fuel. 2. It exempts countries that source less than 15 per cent of their natural gas imports from Russia and are taking steps to reduce that dependence further. 3. It extends the Iran Sanctions Act by five years, keeping secondary restrictions in place until 2031. 4. It requires the US Department of Energy to reassess the list of the largest purchasers of Russian fuel every 90 days. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Its tariff provision caps the additional duty at 100 per cent and confines it to the five countries purchasing the largest volumes of Russian fuel.
  2. It exempts countries that source less than 15 per cent of their natural gas imports from Russia and are taking steps to reduce that dependence further.
  3. It extends the Iran Sanctions Act by five years, keeping secondary restrictions in place until 2031.
  4. It requires the US Department of Energy to reassess the list of the largest purchasers of Russian fuel every 90 days.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q19. In the context of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, the expression 'secondary sanctions' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. Coercive measures directed at the sanctioned state's own banks, officials and oligarchs, resorted to only after an initial round of trade measures has failed to change its conduct
  • B. Coercive measures triggered automatically against any country whose imports from the sanctioned state exceed 15 per cent of its total energy imports in a given year
  • C. Coercive measures directed at persons and entities of third countries that transact with the sanctioned state, rather than at that state's own nationals and institutions
  • D. Coercive measures adopted by a regional trading bloc in support of restrictions already legislated by the principal sanctioning state's own legislature

Q20. Which body is the lead negotiating authority on the Indian side for the Bilateral Trade Agreement with the United States?

  • A. Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • B. Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance
  • C. Economic Diplomacy Division, Ministry of External Affairs
  • D. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade

Q21. The first summit of the grouping, then known as BRIC, was held in which city in 2009?

  • A. Yekaterinburg, Russia
  • B. Brasilia, Brazil
  • C. Sanya, China
  • D. Durban, South Africa

Q22. Who was the first President of the New Development Bank, which was operationalised in 2015 with headquarters at Shanghai?

  • A. K.V. Kamath, formerly head of a major Indian private sector bank
  • B. Y.V. Reddy, formerly Governor of the Reserve Bank of India
  • C. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, formerly Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission
  • D. Duvvuri Subbarao, formerly Finance Secretary in the Union Government

Q23. The agreement establishing the New Development Bank and the treaty establishing the BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement were both signed at which BRICS Summit?

  • A. Sixth BRICS Summit, Fortaleza, 2014
  • B. Fifth BRICS Summit, Durban, 2013
  • C. Seventh BRICS Summit, Ufa, 2015
  • D. Eighth BRICS Summit, Goa, 2016

Q24. The Indian Foreign Secretary also called on an office-bearer of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. What is this body?

  • A. An advisory body whose National Committee brings together the CPC, non-Communist parties, mass organisations and independents
  • B. China's unicameral national legislature, which enacts statutes and approves the state budget
  • C. The Communist Party's highest organ between national congresses, which elects the Politburo
  • D. The Party's internal supervisory organ, which investigates discipline violations by cadres

Q25. During the Indian Foreign Secretary's July 2026 visit to Beijing, his interlocutor Sun Haiyan held the post of Vice Minister in which organisation?

  • A. International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
  • B. United Front Work Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
  • C. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
  • D. Secretariat of the National People's Congress Standing Committee

Q26. When direct air services between India and China were restored in October 2025, which route was the first to be operated by an Indian carrier?

  • A. Kolkata-Guangzhou, operated by IndiGo
  • B. Delhi-Shanghai, operated by Air India
  • C. Mumbai-Beijing, operated by Air India Express
  • D. Chennai-Guangzhou, operated by IndiGo

Q27. With reference to the India-China normalisation track since the Kazan meeting of 2024, consider the following: 1. The Kailash Manasarovar Yatra, organised by the Ministry of External Affairs, resumed in June 2025 after a gap of five years. 2. Direct commercial air services between the two countries resumed in October 2025, with IndiGo operating a Kolkata-Guangzhou flight. 3. Patrolling by the two militaries resumed in Demchok and Depsang after completion of disengagement in those areas. 4. The resumption of the Yatra and of direct flights followed the signing of a boundary settlement treaty at Kazan in 2024. Which of the above is/are NOT correctly stated?

  1. The Kailash Manasarovar Yatra, organised by the Ministry of External Affairs, resumed in June 2025 after a gap of five years.
  2. Direct commercial air services between the two countries resumed in October 2025, with IndiGo operating a Kolkata-Guangzhou flight.
  3. Patrolling by the two militaries resumed in Demchok and Depsang after completion of disengagement in those areas.
  4. The resumption of the Yatra and of direct flights followed the signing of a boundary settlement treaty at Kazan in 2024.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 4 only

Q28. India's 2026 BRICS Chairship theme, 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability', reflects an approach first articulated by the Prime Minister at which summit?

  • A. 17th BRICS Summit, Rio de Janeiro, July 2025
  • B. 16th BRICS Summit, Kazan, October 2024
  • C. 15th BRICS Summit, Johannesburg, August 2023
  • D. 14th BRICS Summit, held in virtual format, June 2022

Q29. In the BRICS process — including the meeting convened in New Delhi in February 2026 — who exactly are the 'Sherpas and Sous Sherpas'?

  • A. Personal representatives of the leaders who negotiate summit outcome documents through the year
  • B. Resident ambassadors of member states accredited to the country holding the annual chairship
  • C. Central bank deputies who settle the swap terms of the Contingent Reserve Arrangement
  • D. Technical experts nominated by the New Development Bank to appraise member project proposals

Q30. The special cultural evening for visiting BRICS Sherpas and Sous Sherpas at the National Crafts Museum, New Delhi, was organised by the Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with which one of the following?

  • A. Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) under the Ministry of Textiles
  • B. Office of the Development Commissioner (Handlooms) under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
  • C. Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts under the Ministry of Culture
  • D. National Institute of Design under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry