India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
The India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is a cornerstone of India's foreign policy, crucial for energy, trade, investment, and regional stability i...
Prime Minister meets President of the United Arab Emirates on the sidelines of the G7 Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian, France. They reviewed the strong India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, focusing on cooperation in technology, trade, investment, energy, and defence. The leaders also discussed regional and global developments, emphasizing dialogue, diplomacy, and respect for international law in West Asia, and called for unimpeded navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. PM Modi invited the UAE President to the BRICS Summit to be hosted by India later in 2026.
Syllabus mapping
Mains syllabus topics
Social Empowerment Communalism
Bilateral Regional Groupings
International Institutions
Prelims takeaways
- India-UAE share a 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership' covering technology, trade, investment, energy, and defence.
- India's stance on West Asia emphasizes dialogue, diplomacy, international law, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
- The importance of the Strait of Hormuz for free, safe, and unimpeded navigation, trade, and commerce.
- India is slated to host the BRICS Summit in 2026 (as per article).
- The G7 Summit mentioned was held in Evian, France (as per article).
Elimination traps
- The article mentions '2026' multiple times; candidates should be aware this might be a typo for the current year in actual exam questions.
- Confusing the host country or specific location of the G7 or BRICS summits.
- Misidentifying the key pillars of the India-UAE strategic partnership.
Static concepts
- Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
- International Law
- Sovereignty
- Territorial Integrity
- Dialogue
- Diplomacy
Probable question areas
Question areas
- Bilateral relations between India and UAE, including key areas of cooperation and strategic significance.
Question areas
- Significance and geographical location of the Strait of Hormuz.
Question areas
- Role and objectives of international groupings like G7 and BRICS.
Question areas
- India's foreign policy principles concerning regional stability, particularly in West Asia.
UPSC concepts in this story
Durable syllabus ideas for revision — not article memory.
Strait of Hormuz and Maritime Security
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime choke point for global oil trade and international commerce, making its security paramount for energy markets and...
Previous year Prelims questions on overlapping themes and topics.
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?
Explanation
Correct answer
A. 1 only
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.
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Who of the following is the author of the books "The India Way" and "Why Bharat Matters"?
Explanation
Correct answer
D. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar
* Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is an Indian diplomat and politician serving as the Minister of External Affairs of India since 2019. He has authored two prominent books: * 'The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World' (2020) which provides insights into India's foreign policy approach. * 'Why Bharat Matters' is a compilation of his articles and speeches that delve into India's global significance.
International Relations
Current Affairs
Art & Culture
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not participant/ participants?
1. Bangladesh
2. Cambodia
3. China
4. Myanmar
5. Thailand
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Explanation
Correct answer
C. 1 and 3 only
All 6 participants of the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation are member countries bordering the basins of the Mekong and Ganga rivers, aiming to collaborate on various initiatives. These countries are: - India - Cambodia - Laos - Myanmar - Thailand - Vietnam Hence, China & Bangladesh are not part of the Mekong-Ganga Corporation.
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists :
| List I (BIMSTEC Centre/Establishment) | List II (Location) |
|---|---|
| A. BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory | 1. NOIDA |
| B. BIMSTEC Energy Centre | 2. Bengaluru |
| C. BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate | 3. Colombo |
| D. BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility | 4. Thimphu |
Explanation
Correct answer
C. A: 4, B: 2, C: 1, D: 3
The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) has established several specialized centres to foster regional cooperation. The correct matching of these centres with their locations is as follows: * BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory (BCIO): Located in Thimphu, Bhutan. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for its establishment was signed during the Third BIMSTEC Summit in 2014 to promote cultural cooperation and preserve heritage.
* BIMSTEC Energy Centre (BEC): Located in Bengaluru, India. Housed at the Central Power Research Institute, it coordinates regional energy cooperation, capacity building, and acts as the Secretariat for the BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection Coordination Committee.
* BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate (BCWC): Located in NOIDA, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is hosted at the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) to enhance regional cooperation in weather prediction, climate modeling, and disaster preparedness.
* BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility (TTF): Located in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Memorandum of Association (MoA) for its establishment was signed during the Fifth BIMSTEC Summit in 2022 to facilitate technology sharing, innovation, and capacity building among member states. Therefore, the correct matching is A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3, which corresponds to the correct option.
International Relations
Current Affairs
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
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?
Explanation
Correct answer
C. Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
* 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.
International Relations
Current Affairs
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Emerging Information Technologies
What is the importance of developing Chabahar Port by India?
Explanation
Correct answer
C. India will not depend on Pakistan for access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.
India signed a deal to develop the Chabahar port with Iran. Apart from the bilateral agreement between India and Iran, a trilateral transit and trade corridor deal was also signed by India, Iran and Afghanistan which would ensure easy movement of goods between the three countries, bypassing Pakistan. The Chabahar port is situated in South Eastern part of Iran and on the northern coast of Gulf of Oman It is surrounded by Afghanistan in the North, Pakistan in the North-East and India in the East. The location of the Chabahar port is of strategic importance to India in linking trade routes from the Indian Ocean to Afghanistan, Central Asia and also to Europe; thereby avoiding a land route through Pakistan.
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
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 :
Explanation
Correct answer
B. 1 and 4
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.
International Relations
Current Affairs
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
India is a member of which of the following?
1. Asia-Pacific economic corporation.
2. Association of South-East Asian Nations.
3. East Asia Summit
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Explanation
Correct answer
B. 3 only
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC): India is not a member of APEC. Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN): India is not a member of ASEAN, but it is a part of ASEAN6. East Asia Summit: India is a member of the East Asia Summit. Therefore, out of the given options, India is only a member of the East Asia Summit.
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
The ‘Fortaleza Declaration’ recently in the news, is related to the affairs of:
Explanation
Correct answer
B. BRICS
The Fortaleza Declaration is related to the affairs of the BRICS group of countries. BRICS stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The Fortaleza Declaration was signed during the Sixth BRICS Summit held in Fortaleza, Brazil, in July 2014.
International Relations
Current Affairs
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
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?
Explanation
Correct answer
B. Russia
* 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.
International Relations
Current Affairs
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Previous year Mains questions mapped to overlapping GS syllabus topics.
"The reform process in the United Nations remains unresolved, because of the delicate imbalance of East and West and entanglement of the USA vs. Russo-Chinese alliance." Examine and critically evaluate the East-West policy confrontations in this regard.
Bilateral, regional and global groupings involving India
Policies of developed/developing countries and Indian diaspora
Important International institutions, agencies and fora
View Mains PYQ
"Energy security constitutes the dominant kingpin of India's foreign policy, and is linked with India's overarching influence in Middle Eastern countries." How would you integrate energy security with India's foreign policy trajectories in the coming years?
Bilateral, regional and global groupings involving India
Important International institutions, agencies and fora
View Mains PYQ
Mahatma Jotirao Phule’s writings and efforts of social reforms touched issues of almost all subaltern classes. Discuss.
Modern Indian history (mid-18th century to present)
Salient features of Indian Society and Diversity
Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism and secularism
View Mains PYQ
"With the waning of globalization, post-Cold War world is becoming a site of sovereign nationalism." Elucidate.
Bilateral, regional and global groupings involving India
Policies of developed/developing countries and Indian diaspora
Important International institutions, agencies and fora
View Mains PYQ
India-Africa digital partnership is achieving mutual respect, co-development and long-term institutional partnerships. Elaborate.
Bilateral, regional and global groupings involving India
Government policies and interventions
Development processes, NGOs, SHGs and stakeholders
View Mains PYQ
Critically examine India's neighbourhood policy in the context of recent geopolitical developments in South Asia.
India and its neighborhood relations
Bilateral, regional and global groupings involving India
View Mains PYQ
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the UAE President on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. In which country was this G7 Summit held?
Explanation
The article states that the meeting took place on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian, France.
Prime Minister Modi invited the UAE President to an upcoming international summit to be hosted by India in 2026. Which summit was this?
Explanation
The article explicitly states, 'Prime Minister conveyed his invitation to President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to attend the BRICS Summit to be hosted by India later this year.'
Which of the following areas of cooperation were explicitly mentioned as part of the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the recent meeting?
Explanation
The article mentions 'cooperation, including in the areas of technology, trade, investment, energy, and defence'. Option C correctly captures three of these explicitly mentioned areas.
The India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is characterized by robust cooperation across diverse sectors. Discuss the key dimensions of this partnership and its significance for India's foreign policy objectives in West Asia.
Introduce the India-UAE partnership, elaborate on its key dimensions like technology, trade, investment, energy, and defence, and conclude by highlighting its strategic importance for India's engagement and stability in the West Asia region.
In the context of recent discussions between India and the UAE, critically examine India's emphasis on 'dialogue, diplomacy, and respect for international law' for peace and stability in the West Asia region, particularly concerning unimpeded navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Explain India's stated diplomatic position, discuss the rationale behind it (e.g., energy security, trade interests), and analyze the challenges and opportunities in promoting this approach for regional stability and maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.