International Relations — UPSC Prelims PYQs
27 questions in this bank come from International Relations, spanning UPSC Prelims papers from 2023 to 2026. Every question here carries all four options, the correct answer and a full explanation.
It has appeared in 4 of the last 16 papers, most heavily in 2026 with 11 questions. That makes it an occasional area rather than a fixture.
The themes examined most often within it are conflicts in Africa and Europe (3), Current geopolitical issues (3), International connectivity corridors (3), Multilateral Economic Groupings (3) and Multilateral Organizations and Their Functions (3). Those counts are of questions in which the theme is examined, not merely mentioned.
Between them they draw on 24 distinct themes, so this is a broader area than a single revision note can cover. That is 1.9% of the 1433 questions in the bank — useful for deciding how much revision time it deserves.
It was not examined in 12 of those papers. Each question below links to its full explanation and to related questions on the same theme from other years, so a weak area can be worked through in one pass rather than hunted for paper by paper.
UPSC Prelims 202611 questions
- International Relations
Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists: List I (BIMSTEC Centre/Establishment): A. BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory B. BIMSTEC Energy Centre C. BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate D. BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility List II (Location): 1. NOIDA 2. Bengaluru 3. Colombo 4. Thimphu Code:
- International Relations
Which of the following countries are members of the European Union? 1. Belarus 2. Poland 3. Germany 4. Switzerland Select the answer using the code given below:
- International Relations
Consider the following UN organisations/agencies: 1. World Food Programme 2. United Nations Children's Fund 3. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 4. International Labour Organisation How many of the above has/have been awarded the Nobel Prize twice?
- International Relations
Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists: List I (INTERPOL Notice): A. Silver Notice B. Blue Notice C. Black Notice D. Green Notice List II (Description): 1. To seek information on unidentified bodies 2. To collect additional information about a person's identity, location, or activities in relation to a criminal investigation 3. To provide warning about a person's criminal activities, where the person is considered to be a possible threat to public safety 4. To identify and trace criminal assets Code:
- International Relations
Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists: List I (UN Peacekeeping Operation): A. UNMIL B. MINURCAT C. MINUSTAH D. UNMISET List II (Period of Operation): 1. 2007-2010 2. 2002-2005 3. 2003-2018 4. 2004-2017 Code:
- International Relations
Consider the following statements about platforms for multilateral co-operation: 1. The 'Colombo Process' is a regional consultative process in which member states take binding decisions by consensus. 2. The 'Abu Dhabi Dialogue' is a voluntary non-binding consultative process among Asian countries of labour origin and destination to facilitate regional cooperation on contractual labour mobility. 3. The 'Global Forum for Migration and Development', created upon the proposal of a former UN Secretary General, is a voluntary forum whose decisions are non-binding in nature. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- International Relations
The Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany visited India in January, 2026. Which of the following is/are not correct in terms of outcomes of this visit? 1. Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the All India Institute of Ayurveda and the University of Hamburg 2. Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Youth Hockey Development between Hockey India and the German Hockey Federation 3. Establishment of a bilateral dialogue mechanism on the Indo-Pacific 4. Opening of an Honorary Consul of Germany in Lucknow Select the answer using the code given below:
- International Relations
Which of the following connectivity projects is/are a part of cooperation between India and the ASEAN member countries? 1. Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project 2. IMT Trilateral Highway 3. Agartala-Akhaura Rail Line Select the answer using the code given below:
- International Relations
Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists: List I (Project Supported by India): A. Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Project B. Restoration of Stor Palace C. District Hospital at Dickoya D. Institute of Security and Law Enforcement Studies List II (Country): 1. Maldives 2. Afghanistan 3. Bhutan 4. Sri Lanka Code:
- International Relations
Ships from which of the following countries have to cross the Strait of Hormuz to reach out to the Indian Ocean? 1. Bahrain 2. Syria 3. Qatar 4. Egypt Select the answer using the code given below:
- International Relations
At the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) held in June, 2025 in France, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations demonstrated its leading voice on marine and ocean issues, especially on sustainable fisheries and aquaculture for resilient livelihood and "Blue Transformation". Which of the following combinations about the "Four Betters" proposed by FAO for "Blue Transformation" is correct?
UPSC Prelims 20254 questions
- International Relations
Consider the following statements regarding AI Action Summit held in Grand Palais, Paris in February 2025: I. Co-chaired with India, the event builds on the advances made at the Bletchley Park Summit held in 2023 and the Seoul Summit held in 2024. II. Along with other countries, US and UK also signed the declaration on inclusive and sustainable AI. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- International Relations
India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect
- International Relations
Consider the following statements with regard to BRICS: I. 16th BRICS Summit was held under the Chairship of Russia in Kazan. II. Indonesia has become a full member of BRICS. III. The theme of the 16th BRICS Summit was 'Strengthening Multiculturalism for Just Global Development and Security'. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- International Relations
Consider the following statements in respect of BIMSTEC: I. It is a regional organization consisting of seven member States till January 2025. II. It came into existence with the signing of the Dhaka Declaration, 1999. III. Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Nepal are founding member States of BIMSTEC. IV. In BIMSTEC, the subsector of 'tourism' is being led by India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
UPSC Prelims 20242 questions
- International Relations
Consider the following pairs: Country — Reason for being in the news 1. Argentina — Worst economic crisis 2. Sudan — War between the country's regular army and paramilitary forces 3. Turkey — Rescinded its membership of NATO How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
- International Relations
Consider the following statements regarding World Toilet Organization : 1. It is one of the agencies of the United Nations. 2. World Toilet Summit, World Toilet Day and World Toilet College are the initiatives of this organization, to inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis. 3. The main focus of its function is to grant funds to the least developed countries and developing countries to achieve the end of open defecation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
UPSC Prelims 202310 questions
- International Relations
Consider the following statements about G-20: 1. The G-20 group was originally established as a platform for the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to discuss international economic and financial issues. 2. Digital public infrastructure is one of India’s G-20 priorities. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- International Relations
Consider the following statements: The ‘Stability and Growth Pact’ of the European Union is a treaty that 1. limits the levels of the budgetary deficit of the countries of the European Union 2. makes the countries of the European Union to share their infrastructure facilities 3. enables the countries of the European Union to share their technologies How many of the above statements are correct?
- International Relations
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?
- International Relations
Consider the following pairs: Regions often Reason for being in news mentioned in news 1. North Kivu and Ituri : War between Armenia and Azerbaijan 2. Nagorno-Karabakh : Insurgency in Mozambique 3. Kherson and : Dispute between Israel Zaporizhzhia and Lebanon How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
- International Relations
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?
- International Relations
With reference to India’s projects on connectivity, consider the following statements: 1. East-West Corridor under Golden Quadrilateral Project connects Dibrugarh and Surat. 2. The Trilateral Highway connects Moreh in Manipur and Chiang Mai in Thailand via Myanmar. 3. Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor connects Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh with Kunming in China. How many of the above statements are correct?
- International Relations
In recent years Chad, Guinea, Mali and Sudan caught the international attention for which one of the following reasons common to all of them?
- International Relations
Consider the following pairs: Area of conflict Country where it is located 1. Donbas : Syria 2. Kachin : Ethiopia 3. Tigray : North Yemen How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
- International Relations
Which one of the following countries has been suffering from decades of civil strife and food shortages and was in news in the recent past for its very severe famine?
- International Relations
Consider the following statements: 1. Recently, all the countries of the United Nations have adopted the first-ever compact for international migration, the ‘Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM)’. 2. The objectives and commitments stated in the GCM are binding on the UN member countries. 3. The GCM addresses internal migration or internally displaced people also in its objectives and commitments. How many of the above statements are correct?