Bilateral Relations MCQs for UPSC Prelims

36 practice questions on Bilateral Relations from the International Relations section of the UPSC Prelims syllabus. 36 come with a written explanation and 6 are actual previous year questions. Try the sample set below - the answer stays hidden until you ask for it.

12 Easy 23 Medium 1 Hard 6 from past papers

Sample questions

Q1
Previous year question medium

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: India does not import apples from the United States of America. Statement-II: In India, the law prohibits the import of Genetically Modified food without the approval of the competent authority. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. A Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
  2. B Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
  3. C Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
  4. D Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: D - Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

Statement-I is incorrect because India has long imported apples from the United States, particularly Washington apples, and in June 2023 it removed the additional retaliatory duties on them, boosting these imports further. Statement-II is correct since Indian law requires approval of the competent authority, under the Food Safety and Standards Act and the Environment (Protection) Act framework, before genetically modified food can be imported. With Statement-I false and Statement-II true, the last option is the answer.

Q2
Previous year question medium

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Recently, the United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU) have launched the 'Trade and Technology Council'. Statement-II: The USA and the EU claim that through this they are trying to bring technological progress and physical productivity under their control. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. A Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
  2. B Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
  3. C Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
  4. D Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C - Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

The US-EU Trade and Technology Council was indeed launched in 2021 as a forum to coordinate approaches to trade, emerging technologies and supply chains, so Statement-I is correct. Statement-II is incorrect because the two sides describe the TTC as a platform for cooperation on shared democratic values, standards and resilient trade, not as an attempt to bring technological progress and physical productivity under their control; no such claim is made. Hence the option marking Statement-I correct and Statement-II incorrect is the right choice, and the others misstate one or both statements.

Q3
Previous year question medium

Recently, India signed a deal known as 'Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field' with which of the following countries?

  1. A Japan
  2. B Russia
  3. C The United Kingdom
  4. D The United States of America
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B - Russia

India signed the 'Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field' with Russia, reflecting their long-standing civil nuclear cooperation that includes the Kudankulam plant. Japan, the UK and the US have separate nuclear engagements with India, but this particular action plan was concluded with Russia, making it the correct answer.

Q4
Previous year question medium

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Israel has established diplomatic relations with some Arab States. Statement-II: The 'Arab Peace Initiative' mediated by Saudi Arabia was signed by Israel and Arab League. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. A Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
  2. B Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
  3. C Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
  4. D Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C - Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

Israel has formal diplomatic ties with several Arab states, beginning with Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1994) and extended through the 2020 Abraham Accords to the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco, so Statement-I is correct. Statement-II is incorrect because the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002, proposed by Saudi Arabia and endorsed by the Arab League, was never signed or accepted by Israel; it remains an unimplemented proposal offering normalisation in exchange for withdrawal to pre-1967 lines. Options treating Statement-II as correct therefore fail.

Q5
Previous year question medium

'Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA)' is sometimes seen in the news in the context of negotiations held between India and

  1. A European Union
  2. B Gulf Cooperation Council
  3. C Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
  4. D Shanghai Cooperation Organization
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - European Union

The Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) is the proposed free trade agreement being negotiated between India and the European Union, so option A is correct. The Gulf Cooperation Council talks relate to a separate India-GCC framework, not BTIA. The OECD is a policy think-tank of developed economies, not a trade-agreement partner of this name. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is a security and political grouping, not the BTIA counterpart. Hence the answer is the European Union.

Q6
Previous year question medium

Consider the following statements: The India-Africa Summit 1. held in 2015 was the third such Summit 2. was actually initiated by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1951 Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A 1 only
  2. B 2 only
  3. C Both 1 and 2
  4. D Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - 1 only

The India-Africa Forum Summit held in New Delhi in 2015 was indeed the third edition, following the 2008 and 2011 summits, so statement 1 is correct. The summit process began only in 2008 and was not initiated by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1951, so statement 2 is factually wrong. Since only statement 1 is correct, the answer is (a). Options (b), (c) and (d) wrongly endorse the false claim about Nehru or reject the true first statement.

Q7
easy

The "Chabahar Port", developed with Indian assistance to provide access to Afghanistan and Central Asia while bypassing Pakistan, is located on the coast of which country?

  1. A Oman
  2. B Iran
  3. C United Arab Emirates
  4. D Pakistan
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B - Iran

Chabahar Port is situated on the Gulf of Oman coast of Iran, in Sistan-Baluchestan province. India has been developing the Shahid Beheshti terminal there to create a transit corridor to Afghanistan and Central Asia that bypasses Pakistan, and it links to the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

Q8
easy

The 'Lines of Credit' extended by India as a development-cooperation tool are primarily administered through which one of the following institutions?

  1. A Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank)
  2. B Reserve Bank of India
  3. C Securities and Exchange Board of India
  4. D National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank)

India's concessional Lines of Credit (LoCs) to partner developing countries, a key instrument of its development partnership and economic diplomacy, are extended and administered through the Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank) under the Government of India's Indian Development and Economic Assistance Scheme (IDEAS). These LoCs finance projects in infrastructure, energy, agriculture and other sectors in partner countries, often with Indian goods and services components.

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More International Relations topics

Multilateral Groupings 113 Treaties & Agreements 104 Global Conventions & Forums 95 Regional Organisations 76 India & Neighbours 70 United Nations & Agencies 67 International Economic & Trade Bodies 65 Border & Security Issues 42 Indian Diaspora 25