India-Mongolia Strategic Partnership
International Relations
- PYQs8
- Articles1
Background
UPSC frequently examines India's bilateral relations with strategically important countries, especially those with historical and cultural linkages, to assess understanding of India's foreign policy, regional engagement, and soft power diplomacy.
India's foreign policy prioritizes establishing strategic partnerships with countries across various regions to foster mutual cooperation in economic, security, cultural, and geopolitical spheres, aligning with its broader objectives of regional stability and global influence.
Facts & tables
- Relationship Status
- India considers Mongolia a 'third neighbour' and 'spiritual partner' due to deep civilisational and Buddhist ties.
- Areas of Cooperation
- Cooperation spans development projects (e.g., Oil Refinery, ICT Centre), capacity building, security, trade, clean energy, and multilateral fora.
- Multilateral Engagement
- Mongolia participates in India-led initiatives like the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA).
- Foundational Values
- The relationship is rooted in shared democratic values, strong development aspirations, and robust people-to-people ties.
| Pillar | Examples/Significance |
|---|---|
| Historical & Cultural Ties | Shared Buddhist heritage, 'spiritual partnership' |
| Economic Cooperation | Mining, clean energy, agri processing, development projects (Oil Refinery) |
| Security & Defence | Capacity building, multilateral fora cooperation |
| Multilateral Engagement | Mongolia's participation in ISA, IBCA |
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Geopolitics & International Conflicts |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) | Implements |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Factual recall
Prelims angle: Policy measures
- Strategic Partnership: India & Mongolia.
- 'Third neighbour' & 'spiritual partner' (Buddhist ties).
- Cooperation: development (Oil Refinery), security, trade, culture.
- Mongolia is member of ISA & IBCA.
- Part of India's broader Act East engagement.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2026 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2024 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2023 | Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding |
| 2022 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2019 | Factual recall, Policy measures |
| 2016 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2016 | Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions |
Timeline
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Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2016
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2016
Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2019
Factual recall, Policy measures
-
Prelims 2022
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2023
Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2024
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2026
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
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Prelims 2026
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
-
Jaishankar meets Mongolian leaders, reviews bilateral cooperation
The India-Mongolia Strategic Partnership is a multifaceted relationship built on shared Buddhist heritage, democratic values, and mutual development aspirations, encompassing cooperation in economic, security, cultural, and multilateral domains, positioning Mongolia as a key 'third neighbour' for India.
See also
No related topics linked yet.
Past papers
2016–2026 · 8 questions
In the news
Jaishankar meets Mongolian leaders, reviews bilateral cooperation
The India-Mongolia Strategic Partnership is a multifaceted relationship built on shared Buddhist heritage, democratic values, and mutual development aspirations, encompassing cooperation in economic, security, cultural, and multilateral domains, positioning Mongolia as a key 'third neighbour' for India.
Try these PYQs
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?
* India signed the ‘Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’ with Russia. * India and Russia have a long-standing strategic partnership in the field of civil nuclear cooperation. * The agreement aims to enhance collaboration in areas such as nuclear fuel cycle management, nuclear power projects, and research in nuclear science and technology. * Russia has been a key partner in India's nuclear energy sector, particularly through Rosatom, which has been involved in building Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) in Tamil Nadu. * Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States have also engaged in nuclear cooperation with India but were not part of this specific agreement.
Consider the following statements regarding the India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS):
1. The summit held in 2015 marked the third edition of the IAFS.
2. The IAFS mechanism was instituted under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1951.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is correct: The Third India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-III) was hosted in New Delhi in October 2015. The first and second summits were held in 2008 (New Delhi) and 2011 (Addis Ababa), respectively, making the 2015 event the third edition. Statement 2 is incorrect: The India-Africa Forum Summit was institutionalized in 2008 to serve as the official platform for African-Indian relations. While Jawaharlal Nehru was a pioneer of Afro-Asian solidarity (e.g., the Asian Relations Conference of 1947), the IAFS is a distinct 21st-century initiative and was not established in 1951.
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: Recently, Venezuela has achieved a rapid recovery from its economic crisis and succeeded in preventing its people from fleeing/emigrating to other countries.
Statement-II: Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Statement-I: Incorrect. Venezuela continues to suffer from a severe economic crisis marked by hyperinflation, shortages of basic goods, and political instability. This crisis has led to a massive exodus of Venezuelans seeking better living conditions in neighboring countries and beyond. Statement-II: Correct. Venezuela indeed possesses the world's largest proven oil reserves, surpassing even Saudi Arabia. However, despite this vast resource wealth, economic mismanagement, corruption, and international sanctions have crippled its oil industry and hindered its ability to leverage this asset for economic recovery.
Consider the following:
1. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
2. Missile Technology Control Regime
3. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
India is a member of which of the above?
India is a member of all the Organizations mentioned. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation: SCO has 10 full members: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan (founding members), India, Pakistan (joined 2017), Iran (joined 2023), and Belarus (joined 2024). Missile Technology Control Regime: India became a full member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) on June 27, 2016, becoming the 35th partner country and strengthening international efforts to prevent the spread of missile technology. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: India joined the AIIB as a founding member in 2015, signing the Articles of Agreement on June 29, 2015, in Beijing, becoming one of the 50 initial signatories to establish the multilateral development bank. India is the second-largest shareholder in the AIIB after China.
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 :
Statement 1 is Correct: The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project connects the eastern Indian seaport of Kolkata with the Sittwe seaport in Myanmar by sea, and then links Sittwe to Mizoram in India via river and road. Since Myanmar is an ASEAN member, this project is a key component of India's connectivity with the ASEAN region under its Act East Policy. Statement 2 is Correct: The India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) Trilateral Highway connects Moreh in India with Mae Sot in Thailand via Myanmar. Both Myanmar and Thailand are ASEAN members, making this highway a flagship project for India-ASEAN physical connectivity. Statement 3 is Incorrect: The Agartala-Akhaura Rail Line is an international railway project connecting Agartala in Tripura, India, with Akhaura in Bangladesh. Since Bangladesh is not a member of ASEAN (it is a member of SAARC and BIMSTEC), this project falls under India-Bangladesh bilateral cooperation, not India-ASEAN cooperation. Therefore, the correct option is A.
Show 3 more PYQs
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 :
Statement 1 is Incorrect: During the visit, an MoU was signed to strengthen cooperation in traditional medicine between Gujarat Ayurveda University and German institutions. (An earlier MoU in late 2025 was agreed upon between the All India Institute of Ayurveda and Charité Universitätsmedizin in Berlin, not the University of Hamburg). Statement 2 is Correct: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Youth Hockey Development was officially signed between Hockey India and the German Hockey Federation. Statement 3 is Correct: The two nations announced the establishment of a new bilateral dialogue mechanism on the Indo-Pacific, alongside a Track 1.5 Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue. Statement 4 is Incorrect: Following the Chancellor's focus on Gujarat, Germany announced the appointment of an Honorary Consul in Ahmedabad to foster closer cooperation in the western region, rather than in Lucknow. Since the question asks for the statements that are not correct, statements 1 and 4 fit the criteria. Therefore, the correct option is B.
Which of the following is not a member of ‘Gulf Cooperation Council’?
The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, originally (and still colloquially) known as the Gulf Cooperation Council, is a regional intergovernmental political and economic union consisting of all Arab states of the Persian Gulf except Iran. Its member states are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The Charter of the Gulf Cooperation Council was signed on 25 May 1981, formally establishing the institution. Hence, option A is the correct answer.
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 begin technological progress and physical productivity under their control.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statement?
* Statement 1 is correct: Trade and Technology Council was launched by the the United States of America and the European Union during the EU-US Summit on 15 June 2021 in Brussels. * Statement 2 is incorrect: Trade and Technology council, the USA and EU does not aim to bring technological progress and physical productivity under their control. Rather the initiative intends to promote pooling of digital resources such as AI models and computing power, and make them available to partner countries to address challenges in areas such as climate change and extreme weather, healthcare or smart agriculture.