Rubio’s remarks and the limits of strategic empathy

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 :

1. A. 2 and 3
2. B. 1 and 4
3. C. 3 and 4
4. D. 1 only

India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect

1. A. India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran
2. B. India to Central Asia via China
3. C. India to South-East Asia through Bangladesh and Myanmar
4. D. India to Europe through Azerbaijan

Which of the following is not a member of ‘Gulf Cooperation Council’?

1. A. Iran
2. B. Saudi Arabia
3. C. Oman
4. D. Kuwait

With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements:
1. The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-member States.
2. Inter-governmental organisations can seek observer status in the UN General Assembly.
3. Permanent Observers in the UN General Assembly can maintain missions at the UN headquarters.

Which of the statements given above are correct ?

1. A. 1 and 2 only
2. B. 2 and 3 only
3. C. 1 and 3 only
4. D. 1, 2 and 3

Who of the following is the author of the books "The India Way" and "Why Bharat Matters"?

1. A. Bhupender Yadav
2. B. Nalin Mehta
3. C. Shashi Tharoor
4. D. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar

Consider the following countries
1. Armenia
2. Azerbaijan
3. Croatia
4. Romania
5. Uzbekistan

Which of the above are members of the Organization of Turkic States?

1. A. 1, 2 and 4
2. B. 1 and 3
3. C. 2 and 5
4. D. 3, 4 and 5

With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)’, Consider the following statements:
1. It was established very recently in response to incidents of piracy and accidents of oil spills
2. It is an alliance meant for maritime security only

Which of the following 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

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.

1. A. 1 only
2. B. 2, 3 and 4
3. C. 1 and 3 only
4. D. 1, 2 and 5 only

Consider the following pairs : Area of conflict mentioned in news Country where it is located
1. Donbas : Syria
2. Kachin : Ethiopia
3. Tigray : North Yemen

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

1. A. Only one
2. B. Only two
3. C. All three
4. D. None

Consider the following pairs :
Regions : often Reason for being in news
1. North Kivu and Ituri : War between Armenia and Azerbaijan
2. Nagorno-Karabakh : Insurgency in Mozambique
3. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia : Dispute between Israel and Lebanon

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched ?

1. A. Only one
2. B. Only Two
3. C. All three
4. D. None

Does tribal development in India centre around two axes, those of displacement and of rehabilitation? Give your opinion.

Achieving sustainable growth with emphasis on environmental protection could come into conflict with poor people’s needs in a country like India – Comment.

How do you account for the growing fast food industries given that there are increased health concerns in modern society? Illustrate your answer with the Indian experience.

Trace India’s consolidation process during early phase of independence in terms of polity, economy, education and international relations.

Mahatma Jotirao Phule’s writings and efforts of social reforms touched issues of almost all subaltern classes. Discuss.

Do you think that globalization results in only an aggressive consumer culture? Justify your answer.

According to the article, what was the primary reason cited by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for the U.S. strike in the Strait of Hormuz that resulted in the deaths of Indian sailors?

1. A. Retaliation for an Iranian attack on U.S. naval assets.
2. B. Enforcement of an American blockade against illicit transport of Iranian oil.
3. C. Protection of international shipping lanes from piracy.
4. D. A humanitarian intervention to secure the Strait of Hormuz.

The article highlights India's structural vulnerability in protecting its maritime workforce. Which of the following is identified as a significant contributing factor to this vulnerability?

1. A. Lack of a sufficiently large Indian Navy to patrol all international waters.
2. B. India's reluctance to engage in international maritime security operations.
3. C. A large proportion of Indian sailors serving on 'flags of convenience' vessels offering limited diplomatic protection.
4. D. India's outdated maritime laws and regulations.

The article concludes by stating that the incident 'inadvertently laid bare an uncomfortable truth about great-power partnerships: strategic empathy has limits.' What does this imply in the context of India-U.S. relations as discussed?

1. A. The U.S. will always prioritize its strategic objectives over the sensitivities and interests of partner countries when they conflict.
2. B. India should immediately distance itself from the U.S. due to the perceived lack of empathy.
3. C. Great-power partnerships are inherently unstable and prone to rupture over minor incidents.
4. D. The U.S. is incapable of understanding the humanitarian costs of its actions.

The recent incident in the Strait of Hormuz, involving the deaths of Indian sailors due to a U.S. strike, has highlighted India's structural vulnerabilities in maritime security and the limits of 'strategic empathy' in great-power partnerships. In this context, discuss the multi-pronged approach India should adopt to safeguard its maritime interests and protect its seafarers while navigating complex geopolitical realities.

Introduce the incident and its implications for India's maritime interests and great-power partnerships. Discuss India's vulnerabilities, particularly concerning 'flags of convenience' vessels. Outline a multi-pronged approach including diplomatic engagement, leveraging multilateral forums, strengthening domestic policy for seafarer protection, and engaging partners with strategic clarity. Conclude on the need for proactive and assertive foreign policy.

"Strategic empathy has limits." In light of this statement from the article, examine how the perceived lack of strategic empathy, as demonstrated by the U.S. response to the Strait of Hormuz incident, can impact trust and cooperation in great-power partnerships like the India-U.S. relationship.

Define strategic empathy in the context of international relations. Explain how the U.S. Secretary of State's remarks and Washington's framing of the incident exemplified the limits of this empathy. Discuss the immediate and long-term impacts on trust, political optics, and the overall trajectory of the India-U.S. relationship, emphasizing the need for partners to engage with 'clear eyes' despite close ties.