UPSC International Relations – Chapter 10: Act East, ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific (25 MCQs)
UPSC International Relations – Chapter 10: Act East, ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific (25 MCQs) – 24 questions, subject: International Relations. Every question has the correct answer with a one-line explanation; tap "Show Answer". Free practice for TNPSC, UPSC, SSC, Bank and RRB exams – Shanmugam IAS Academy, Coimbatore.
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India's Act East Policy was announced in:
Correct Answer: A [2014]
Explanation:
at Nay Pyi Taw.
ASEAN was founded in 1967 by the:
Correct Answer: D [Bangkok Declaration]
Explanation:
ASEAN was founded by the Bangkok Declaration signed on 8 August 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
India and ASEAN raised their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in:
Correct Answer: D [2022]
Explanation:
ASEAN and India established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership at the Phnom Penh summit in November 2022, marking 30 years of ties.
The ASEAN–India Trade in Goods Agreement came into force in:
Correct Answer: A [2010]
Explanation:
AITIGA, signed in 2009, entered into force in 2010 as the goods component of the ASEAN–India FTA.
India withdrew from the RCEP negotiations in:
Correct Answer: B [2019]
Explanation:
India announced its withdrawal from RCEP at the ASEAN-related summits in November 2019, citing import surges and weak safeguards.
The Prime Minister set out India's vision of the Indo-Pacific at the Shangri-La Dialogue in 2018, held at:
Correct Answer: D [Singapore]
Explanation:
The Shangri-La Dialogue is held in Singapore; PM Modi gave its keynote on 1 June 2018, outlining a free, open, inclusive Indo-Pacific.
The Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative was announced by India in 2019 at the:
Correct Answer: A [East Asia Summit]
Explanation:
Bangkok.
Besides India, the United States and Japan, the Quad includes:
Correct Answer: C [Australia]
Explanation:
The Quad comprises India, the United States, Japan and Australia.
Consider the following statements about the Malabar exercise:
1. Japan became a permanent participant in 2015.
2. Australia rejoined the exercise in 2020.
3. It began as an India–Japan exercise.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]
Explanation:
Japan became a permanent Malabar participant in 2015 and Australia rejoined in 2020; statement 3 fails because Malabar began as India–US.
Assertion (A): India stayed out of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
Reason (R): India feared a surge of imports, especially from China, and its concerns on safeguards and rules of origin were not met.
Correct Answer: A [Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A]
Explanation:
India's stated reasons for leaving RCEP in 2019 were fears of import surges, mainly from China, and unmet safeguard and origin concerns.
The first foreign country to buy the BrahMos cruise missile from India is:
Correct Answer: C [the Philippines]
Explanation:
deal of 2022.
The country admitted as the eleventh member of ASEAN in 2025 is:
Correct Answer: C [Timor-Leste]
Explanation:
Timor-Leste was admitted as ASEAN's eleventh member at the Kuala Lumpur summit on 26 October 2025.
The India–Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) came into force in:
Correct Answer: D [2022]
Explanation:
29 December 2022.
FIPIC is India's forum for cooperation with:
Correct Answer: D [the Pacific Island countries]
Explanation:
since 2014.
The Act East Forum, set up in 2017 to develop India's North-East, is a mechanism between India and:
Correct Answer: A [Japan]
Explanation:
The Act East Forum is an India–Japan mechanism set up in 2017 to coordinate projects in India's North-East.
Arrange the following in chronological order:
1. Act East Policy
2. RCEP comes into force
3. Mekong–Ganga Cooperation
4. ASEAN founded
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Correct Answer: C [4-3-1-2]
Explanation:
1967, 2000, 2014, 2022.
Which European country joined the CPTPP in 2024?
Correct Answer: B [the United Kingdom]
Explanation:
The United Kingdom joined the CPTPP in December 2024, becoming its first European member.
The Spratly Islands are located in the:
Correct Answer: B [South China Sea]
Explanation:
The Spratly Islands lie in the South China Sea and are claimed wholly or partly by China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei.
India's Look East Policy of 1991 was primarily:
Correct Answer: A [economic]
Explanation:
Look East (1991) sought trade and investment links with South-East Asia after the Cold War and economic reforms.
In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not a participant/participants?
1. Bangladesh
2. Cambodia
3. China
4. Myanmar
5. Thailand
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Correct Answer: C [1 and 3 only]
Explanation:
Bangladesh and China are not members.
The term 'Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership' often appears in the news in the context of the affairs of a group of countries known as:
Correct Answer: B [ASEAN]
Explanation:
RCEP is built around ASEAN and its FTA partners.
India is a member of which of the following?
1. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
2. Association of South-East Asian Nations
3. East Asia Summit
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Correct Answer: B [3 only]
Explanation:
India is a founding member of the East Asia Summit (2005) but is not a member of APEC or ASEAN.
Which one of the following statements best reflects the issue with Senkaku Islands, sometimes mentioned in the news?
Correct Answer: B [China and Japan engage in maritime disputes over these islands in the East China Sea.]
Explanation:
The Senkakus are East China Sea islands administered by Japan and claimed by China (and Taiwan).
With reference to the 'Trans-Pacific Partnership', consider the following statements:
1. It is an agreement among all the Pacific Rim countries except China and Russia.
2. It is a strategic alliance for the purpose of maritime security only.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct Answer: D [Neither 1 nor 2]
Explanation:
Both statements are wrong: the TPP had only 12 Pacific Rim countries and was a trade agreement, not a security alliance.
➤ Full notes, maps, tables, a reason for every option and Mains PYQs – U14 · International Relations (UPSC book, ₹249): www.shanmugamiasacademy.in/study-materials/upsc-international-relations
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