India and the Major Powers — Practice Questions
UPSC Prelims-pattern practice questions on India's ties with the US, Russia, Japan and France — 123 Agreement, LEMOA, BrahMos and partnerships — with explanations.
Questions
These are original UPSC-pattern practice questions. Attempt each one before revealing the answer.
The term “123 Agreement”, often seen in the news, refers to which of the following?
Solution
The 123 Agreement is the bilateral India–US civil nuclear cooperation agreement signed in October 2008, named after Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act, 1954. The NSG waiver (September 2008) is a separate multilateral decision; the India–Japan agreement came in 2016.
Answer: C
With reference to BrahMos, consider the following statements:
- It is developed by a joint venture between India and Russia.
- Its name is derived from the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers.
- It is a subsonic cruise missile.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Solution
Statements 1 and 2 are correct — BrahMos Aerospace is an India–Russia joint venture (agreement 1998), named after the Brahmaputra and the Moskva. Statement 3 is wrong — BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile.
Answer: A
Consider the following pairs:
| Project | Partner country |
|---|---|
| 1. Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant | Russia |
| 2. Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail | Japan |
| 3. Rafale fighter aircraft | France |
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Solution
All three are correct. Kudankulam uses Russian VVER reactors; the Mumbai–Ahmedabad line uses Japanese Shinkansen technology with Japanese financing; the Rafale is built by France’s Dassault Aviation, bought under a 2016 intergovernmental agreement.
Answer: D
Which one of the following best describes the purpose of LEMOA, signed between India and the United States in 2016?
Solution
LEMOA (Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement) gives reciprocal logistics support. Geospatial sharing is BECA (2020); secure communications is COMCASA (2018); protection of classified information is GSOMIA (2002).
Answer: B
Consider the following statements:
- The Indo-Soviet Treaty of 1971 was followed by a Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation with the Russian Federation in 1993.
- India and Russia signed a Declaration on Strategic Partnership in 2000.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Solution
Both are correct. After the USSR dissolved, India signed a new treaty with Russia in 1993. The Declaration on Strategic Partnership was signed in October 2000 and started annual summits; it was upgraded to a “special and privileged” partnership in 2010.
Answer: C
Japan has emerged as one of India’s most reliable partners in development and the Indo-Pacific. Discuss.
Solution
Introduction: India–Japan ties, upgraded to a Special Strategic and Global Partnership in 2014, combine development finance with strategic convergence in the Indo-Pacific.
Body:
- Development: Japan is India’s largest bilateral ODA partner — Delhi Metro, Western Dedicated Freight Corridor, Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail; projects in the North-East through the Act East Forum.
- Strategic: civil nuclear agreement (2016) despite India being outside the NPT; 2+2 dialogue; ACSA (2020); Malabar; the Quad.
- Economic: investment, manufacturing and supply-chain resilience.
- Limits: modest bilateral trade; delays in land acquisition and project execution; cautious Japanese defence exports.
Conclusion: With no historical disputes and shared interests in a stable, rules-based Indo-Pacific, Japan is a partner whose support has been consistent across governments in both countries.