Questions & explanations
1. Consider the following:
1. India and UAE have a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that includes defence cooperation.
2. India and Egypt have a joint working group on counter-terrorism.
3. India has a mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT) with Saudi Arabia for extradition.
Which of the above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 1 and 3 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
Statement 1 is correct: India and UAE elevated ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2017, which includes a defence cooperation pillar. Statement 2 needs verification: India and Egypt do have counter-terrorism cooperation mechanisms including a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism. Statement 3 is incorrect: India does not have a formal Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) specifically for extradition with Saudi Arabia in the same manner — India-UAE have a more robust extradition framework. Saudi Arabia's extradition arrangements with India are via the 2010 Extradition Treaty, not described as an 'MLAT'. More critically, statement 2 (India-Egypt Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism) is a documented arrangement. Given statement 3 is inaccurate in labelling it an 'MLAT' with Saudi Arabia (the India-Saudi Arabia treaty is an 'extradition treaty' not specifically an MLAT), and statement 1 and 2 are correct, the answer is (a) 1 and 2 only.
2. Consider the following statements about India's strategy for securing critical mineral supply chains from Africa:
1. India has joined the US-led Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) to collaborate on critical mineral supply chains.
2. India's KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Ltd) is tasked with acquiring critical mineral assets abroad.
3. India has signed a lithium exploration deal with Argentina, not with any African country.
Which of the statements is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Statement 1 is correct: India joined the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) in 2023, which is a US-led coalition to secure critical mineral supply chains. Statement 2 is correct: KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Ltd), formed in 2019, is mandated to acquire lithium, cobalt, and other critical mineral assets abroad including in Africa. Statement 3 is incorrect: India has explored lithium in Argentina (and Bolivia), but has ALSO pursued critical mineral MoUs with African countries (e.g., Namibia for uranium, discussions with DRC for cobalt). Statement 3 as an absolute ('only Argentina, not any African country') is factually inaccurate. Therefore statements 1 and 2 are correct and statement 3 is not, making the correct answer (a) '1 and 2 only'.
3. Consider the following statements regarding the India-China border dispute and the 2020 Galwan Valley clash:
1. The Galwan Valley clash in 2020 was primarily triggered by India's construction of a strategic road leading to Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) in Ladakh.
2. The clash marked the first instance of fatalities on the India-China border since the 1975 ambush in Tulung La, Arunachal Pradesh.
3. Despite the fatalities, both sides adhered to the 1996 and 2005 agreements prohibiting the use of firearms within 2 km of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 2 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
All three statements are correct. Statement 1: The Galwan Valley clash was indeed triggered by India's infrastructure development, particularly the Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie (DS-DBO) road and a bridge over the Galwan river, which China viewed as a challenge to its territorial claims. Statement 2: The 2020 Galwan clash resulted in the first combat fatalities on the India-China border since the 1975 Tulung La incident, where four Indian soldiers were ambushed. Statement 3: Despite the violent nature of the clash and the resulting fatalities, both Indian and Chinese troops did not use firearms, adhering to the long-standing border protocols (1996 and 2005 agreements) that prohibit the use of guns within a certain distance of the LAC.
4. Consider the following statements about the Gaza War (2023) and India's position:
1. India called for a two-state solution and de-escalation.
2. India voted in favour of UN resolutions calling for a ceasefire.
Which of the statements is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a) 1 only
Statement 1 is correct: India consistently called for a two-state solution and de-escalation after the October 2023 Hamas attack and subsequent Gaza War. Statement 2 requires scrutiny: India's UNGA voting on Gaza ceasefire resolutions was mixed. India voted in favour of some resolutions (e.g., the October 2023 humanitarian truce resolution) but abstained on others. It is not accurate that India 'voted in favour of UN resolutions calling for a ceasefire' as a blanket statement — India abstained on the key October 27, 2023 UNGA resolution. Therefore only statement 1 is clearly and fully correct, making (a) the defensible answer. Option (c) 'Both 1 and 2' overstates India's ceasefire voting record.
5. Which of the following ports in India is being developed with Japanese assistance under the India-Japan Initiative on Port Development?
- (a) Kandla Port
- (b) Vizhinjam International Seaport
- (c) Paradip Port
- (d) Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust
Answer: (d) Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust
Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) near Mumbai is being expanded with Japanese help. In January 2023, JICA agreed to fund the upgrade and operation of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Container Terminal through its private-sector finance facility called LEAP. The aim is to ease port congestion, cut logistics costs, and lower emissions. Wrong options: (a) Kandla Port is run by Indian authorities and has no major Japanese funding. (b) Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala is built by the Adani Group with money from the Central Government, the Kerala State Government, and Adani itself; it has no Japanese assistance. (c) Paradip Port has no major Japanese funding under any India-Japan port programme.
6. Which of the following statements about the India-Bangladesh border is/are correct?
1. The border is the longest land border India shares with any country.
2. The Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) of 2015 resolved most territorial disputes between India and Bangladesh.
3. The entire India-Bangladesh border is fully demarcated and monitored by the Border Security Force (BSF).
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
Statement 1 is correct: India shares its longest land border, approximately 4096 km, with Bangladesh. Statement 2 is correct: The Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) of 2015 successfully resolved the long-standing issue of enclaves and adverse possessions, thereby resolving most territorial disputes between India and Bangladesh. Statement 3 is incorrect: While the Border Security Force (BSF) monitors the border, the assertion that the *entire* border is *fully* demarcated is false. Significant stretches, especially riverine and some land boundaries, remain undemarcated or are subject to ongoing demarcation efforts and local disputes. Therefore, only statements 1 and 2 are correct.
7. Consider the following statements about desalination cooperation between India and Gulf countries:
1. India has provided technical assistance to UAE for setting up desalination plants.
2. Israel has shared its advanced desalination technology with India under the trilateral framework.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
Statement 1 — India providing technical assistance to UAE for desalination — is not supported by documented bilateral agreements; it is the UAE that is a global leader in desalination, not India. Statement 2 — Israel sharing desalination technology with India under a 'trilateral framework' — refers to I2U2's water cooperation which does include desalination technology sharing. Both statements as worded are uncertain/not definitively established. However, statement 2 is better supported: Israel has shared water technology including desalination with India bilaterally and under I2U2. Statement 1 is implausible (UAE is the technology leader). Correcting to (b).
8. Which of the following statements about India-Japan cooperation in infrastructure is correct?
1. Japan has funded the construction of the Delhi Metro Phase IV.
2. The India-Japan Infrastructure Partnership focuses on sustainable urban development.
3. Japan has provided technical assistance for the development of the Smart Cities Mission.
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 only
- (d) 2 only
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
Statement 1 is correct: Japan, through its Official Development Assistance (ODA) via JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency), has provided significant loans for the construction of various phases of the Delhi Metro, including Phase IV. Statement 2 is also correct: The India-Japan Infrastructure Partnership indeed emphasizes sustainable urban development, covering areas like smart cities, high-speed rail, and other urban infrastructure. Statement 3 is incorrect: While Japan collaborates on specific smart city projects, it has not provided comprehensive technical assistance for the overall *development* of the Smart Cities Mission as a national program.
9. Which of the following best describes the significance of the UAE in India’s broader foreign policy strategy in the Middle East?
- (a) The UAE is India’s only energy partner in the Gulf region.
- (b) The UAE serves as a strategic gateway for India’s engagement with the Middle East and Africa.
- (c) The UAE has veto power in the UN Security Council on India-related issues.
- (d) The UAE is India’s largest trading partner in the Middle East.
Answer: (b) The UAE serves as a strategic gateway for India’s engagement with the Middle East and Africa.
The UAE works as a key gateway for India in the Middle East and Africa. It helps India build trade, draw investment, and work with the wider region. So option (b) best describes the UAE's role in India's broader strategy. Why the other options are wrong: (a) India buys energy from several Gulf countries, not just the UAE. (c) The UAE is not a permanent member of the UN Security Council and has no veto. (d) The UAE is in fact India's largest trading partner in the Middle East, so this statement is true on its own; but the question asks what best describes the UAE's strategic role, and being a gateway (option b) captures that better than a single trade fact.
10. Which of the following is a key feature of the India-Japan 'Act East Policy' partnership?
- (a) Japan has established a consulate in Sikkim
- (b) Japan is a major investor in India’s renewable energy sector
- (c) Japan has provided a loan for the construction of the Delhi Metro
- (d) Japan has funded the development of the North East region through ODA
Answer: (d) Japan has funded the development of the North East region through ODA
Japan gives Official Development Assistance (ODA) for roads, connectivity, and development projects in India's Northeast under the Act East Policy. This is the answer that fits the Act East frame. Wrong options: (a) Japan has no consulate in Sikkim; its consulates are in Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, and elsewhere, not in Sikkim. (b) Japan invests in India's renewable energy but is not the single largest investor in that sector. (c) Japan, through JICA, has in fact funded the Delhi Metro from its early phases, so this statement is true on its own, but the Delhi Metro is not part of the Act East Policy, so it is not the best answer to this question.
11. Consider the following statements about India's fintech cooperation with Africa:
1. India has signed MoUs with several African countries to deploy UPI-like payment systems.
2. The cooperation includes sharing of Aadhaar technology for digital identity.
3. India provides concessional loans for digital infrastructure projects under the AAGC.
Which of the statements above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
Statement 1 is correct: India has signed MoUs with several African countries (e.g., Namibia, Rwanda, Ghana, Sierra Leone) to deploy UPI-like payment infrastructure. Statement 2 is broadly correct: India's DPI cooperation does include sharing digital identity (Aadhaar-architecture) technology with African nations. Statement 3 is incorrect: The AAGC does not provide concessional loans — that function belongs to India's EXIM Bank LoCs; AAGC is a framework/vision document for infrastructure and development cooperation between India, Japan, and Africa, not a lending vehicle. Therefore statements 1 and 2 are correct, making the answer (a) 1 and 2 only.
12. Consider the following statements about India-Saudi Arabia Haj quota:
1. India has the largest Haj quota among all countries.
2. The quota is determined bilaterally between India and Saudi Arabia.
3. In 2024, the quota was reduced due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) 1 and 2 only
- (d) 2 and 3 only
Answer: (b) 2 only
Statement 1: India does NOT have the largest Haj quota among all countries — Indonesia has the largest Haj quota (approximately 221,000), followed by Pakistan and then India (~175,025 in 2024). So Statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 2: The Haj quota is determined by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) formula (1 per 1,000 Muslims) and through bilateral negotiations between each country and Saudi Arabia, so it is partly bilateral — Statement 2 is broadly correct. Statement 3: In 2024, COVID-19 restrictions were no longer in place; the 2024 Haj saw full quotas restored. Statement 3 is incorrect. Hence only Statement 2 is correct = (b).