UPSC Prelims International Relations Questions 2025, Number of Questions Analysis

UPSC Prelims International Relations Questions: The UPSC CSE Prelims examination was successfully conducted on May 25, 2025. International Relations is a crucial section in the Prelims exam questions, usually asked from the current affairs section, as the syllabus does not specifically treat it as a separate subject. 

According to the UPSC Prelims Exam Analysis 2025, around 7 to 8 questions were asked from International Relations (IR) covering global news and events. Candidates can find the list of IR questions asked in UPSC Prelims 2025 along with previous years' questions, to know the key topics to streamline their preparation for the forthcoming examination.

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UPSC Prelims International Relations No of Questions & Analysis

International Relations is a crucial section in the UPSC Prelims exam, which tests the candidate's knowledge and familiarity with global events and happenings. This year, the UPSC Prelims exam covers a significant weightage of IR with 7 to 8 questions. We have shared the UPSC Prelims IR Questions 2025 with Answers in this section:

Q.1. Which one of the following launched the  Nature Solutions Finance Hub for Asia and  the Pacific'?  

(a) The Asian Development Bank (ADB) 

(b) The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)

(c) The New Development Bank (NDB) 

(d) The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)

Q.2. 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? 

(a) I and II 

(b) II and III 

(c) I and IV 

(d) I only

Q.3. 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? 

(a) I only

(b) II only 

(c) Both I and II 

(d) Neither I nor II

Q.4. Consider the following pairs: 

I. International Year of the Woman Farmer : 2026

II. International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism : 2027

III. International Year of Peace and Trust : 2025

IV. International Year of Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defence : 2029

How many of the pairs given above are
correctly matched?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All the four

Q.5. India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect:

(a) India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran

(b) India to Central Asia via China

(c) India to South-East Asia through Bangladesh and Myanmar

(d) India to Europe through Azerbaijan

Q.6. The World Bank warned that India could  become one of the first places where wet-bulb  temperatures routinely exceed 35°C. Which of  the following statements best reflect(s) the  implication of the above-said report? 

I. Peninsular India will most likely suffer  from flooding, tropical cyclones and  droughts. 

II. The survival of animals including  humans will be affected as shedding of  their body heat through perspiration  becomes difficult. 

Select the correct answer using the code  given below. 

(a) I only 

(b) II only

(c) Both I and II 

(d) Neither I nor II

Q.7. Consider the following countries:

I. United Arab Emirates

II. France

III. Germany

IV. Singapore

V. Bangladesh

How many countries amongst the above are  there other than India where international  merchant payments are accepted under UPI? 

(a) Only two  

(b) Only three  

(c) Only four  

(d) All the five

Q.8. Consider the following pairs: 

In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

(a) Only one  

(b) Only two

(c) All of these

(d) None

UPSC Prelims International Relations PYQs

UPSC Prelims International Relations (IR) section is focused on India's foreign policy, global diplomacy, international organizations, and key international events.

International relations previous year questions UPSC prelims in this category help candidates identify recurring themes, understand the scope of topics like the United Nations, BRICS, ASEAN, and other international forums, and improve their grasp on current global affairs. Questions in this section often cover India’s relations with its neighbours, major global powers, trade agreements, security issues, and international conventions.

Download UPSC Prelims International Relations PYQs

UPSC Prelims International Relations Questions 2024

1. Italy
2. Japan
3. Nigeria
4. South Korea
5. South Africa

(a)   1, 2 and 4

 Question 2: Consider the following pairs:

(b)   Only two pairs

 Question 3: Consider the following statements:

 Statement-I: Sumed pipeline is a strategic route for Persian Gulf oil and natural gas shipments to Europe.

 Statement-II: Sumed pipeline connects the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea.

  Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are and Statement-II explains correct Statement-I.
2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are, correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I.
3. Statement I is correct, but Statement I is incorrect.
4. Statement I is incorrect, but Statement II is correct.

1. India is a member of the International Grains Council.
2. A country needs to be a member of the International Grains Council for exporting or importing rice and wheat.

(a)   1 only

Question 5: Consider the following statements:

• Statement-I: The European Parliament approved The Net-Zero Industry Act recently.
• Statement-II: The European Union intends to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040 and therefore aims to develop all of its own clean technology by that time.

1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I.
2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
3. Statement I is correct, but Statement II is incorrect
4. Statement I is incorrect, but Statement II is correct

Question 6: Consider the following statements:

1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
3. Statement I is correct, but Statement II is incorrect
4. Statement I is incorrect, but Statement II is correct

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.

(a)  2 only

(b)  3 only

(c)  1 and 2

International Relations Questions in UPSC Prelims 2023

Question 1: About three-fourths of the world's cobalt, a metal required for the manufacture of batteries for electric motor vehicles, is produced by:
(a) Argentina
(b) Botswana
(c) the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(d) Kazakhstan

Question 2: With reference to India's projects on connectivity, consider the following statements:

1. East-West Corridor under the Golden Quadrilateral Project connects Dibrugarh and Surat.
2. The Trilateral Highway connects Moreh in Manipur and Chiang Mai in Thailand via Myanmar.
3. The Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor connects Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh with Kunming in China.

How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Question 3: Which one of the following is a part of the Congo Basin?
(a) Cameroon
(b) Nigeria
(c) South Sudan
(d) Uganda

Question 4: Consider the following pairs:

Question 4:
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Question 5: 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 the Arab League.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
(a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct, and Statement II is the correct explanation for Statement I
(b) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct, and Statement II is not the correct explanation for Statement I
(c) Statement I is correct, but Statement II is incorrect
(d) Statement I is incorrect, but Statement II is correct

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Question 7: In recent years, Chad, Guinea, Mali, and Sudan caught international attention for which one of the following reasons common to all of them?
(a) Discovery of rich deposits of rare earth elements
(b) Establishment of Chinese military bases
(c) Southward expansion of the Sahara Desert
(d) Successful coups

Question 8: 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?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Question 9: Consider the following statements:
Statement I: Switzerland is one of the leading exporters of gold in terms of value.
Statement II: Switzerland has the second-largest gold reserves in the world.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
(a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct, and Statement II is the correct explanation for Statement I
(b) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct, and Statement II is not the correct explanation for Statement I
(c) Statement I is correct, but Statement II is incorrect
(d) Statement I is incorrect, but Statement II is correct

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?
(a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct, and Statement II is the correct explanation for Statement I
(b) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct, and Statement II is not the correct explanation for Statement I
(c) Statement I is correct, but Statement II is incorrect
(d) Statement I is incorrect, but Statement II is correct

Question 11: 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 share their infrastructure facilities.
3. Enables the countries of the European Union to share their technologies.

How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Question 12: 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?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Question 13: Consider the following countries:

1. Bulgaria
2. Czech Republic
3. Hungary
4. Latvia
5. Lithuania
6. Romania

How many of the above mentioned countries share a land border with Ukraine?
(a) Only two
(b) Only three
(c) Only four
(d) Only five

Question 14: Which one of the following countries has been suffering from decades of civil strife and food shortages and was in the news in the recent past for its very severe famine?
(a) Angola
(b) Costa Rica
(c) Ecuador
(d) Somalia

Themes of International Relations Questions in UPSC Prelims

1. Consider the following statements: (2022)
2. Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in north-western Kenya.
3. Some people who fled from South Sudan civil war live in Bidibidi.
4. Some people who fled from civil war in Somalia live in Dadaab refugee complex in Kenya.

The term “Levant” often heard in the news roughly corresponds to which of the following regions?

1. Region along the eastern Mediterranean shores
2. Region along North African shores stretching from Egypt to Morocco
3. Region along the Persian Gulf and Horn of Africa
4. The entire coastal areas of Mediterranean Sea

1. With reference to the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea, consider the following statements: (2022)
2. A coastal state has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles, measured from baseline determined in accordance with the convention.
3. Ships of all states, whether coastal or land-locked, enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea.
4. The Exclusive Economic Zone shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.

2. Consider the following pairs:

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.

1. It is an initiative endorsed by the G20 together with the Paris Club.
2. It is an initiative to support Low Income Countries with unsustainable debt.

Year-wise Trends of International Relations Questions in Prelims

For the past 4 years, the International Relations questions have had an increasing trend, with 2023 having approximately 14 questions. However, candidates should note that International Relations questions in UPSC Prelims overlap with current affairs and world geography, which is why it is difficult to categorize questions of the past 10 years. The overall year-wise trend of IR questions in UPSC Prelims from 2013 onwards is presented below: