MCQs with answers on India’s Maritime Strategy in the Indian Ocean Region

1. Which of the following is a major objective of India’s maritime strategy in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)?

• a) To enhance land-based military operations
• b) To safeguard maritime trade routes
• c) To establish military bases on foreign soil
• d) To promote airspace dominance
  Answer: b) To safeguard maritime trade routes

2. What is the primary concern for India’s maritime strategy in the IOR?

• a) Space exploration
• b) Climate change
• c) Securing maritime trade routes and energy supplies
• d) Cybersecurity
  Answer: c) Securing maritime trade routes and energy supplies

3. Which strategic location in the Indian Ocean is crucial for India’s maritime security?

• a) Strait of Gibraltar
• b) Strait of Hormuz
• c) Malacca Strait
• d) Bering Strait
  Answer: c) Malacca Strait

4. India’s maritime strategy is closely tied with which of the following countries for regional security cooperation?

• a) United States
• b) China
• c) Russia
• d) Sri Lanka
  Answer: a) United States

5. What does the acronym ‘SAGAR’ stand for in India’s maritime strategy?

• a) Security And Growth for All in the Region
• b) Strategic and Global Access for Regional development
• c) South Asian Growth and Regional engagement
• d) Sustainable Aggression and Global Engagement Regime
  Answer: a) Security And Growth for All in the Region

6. Which naval exercise demonstrates India’s growing naval cooperation with Southeast Asian nations?

• a) Malabar
• b) RIMPAC
• c) Indra
• d) Sagar
  Answer: a) Malabar

7. The presence of which international maritime power is seen as a challenge to India’s maritime interests in the IOR?

• a) United States
• b) France
• c) China
• d) Japan
  Answer: c) China

8. Which of the following countries is a key player in the development of the Chinese Maritime Silk Road, posing challenges for India’s strategy?

• a) Pakistan
• b) Sri Lanka
• c) Bangladesh
• d) Maldives
  Answer: b) Sri Lanka

9. India’s maritime strategy emphasizes the need for protecting its maritime trade routes and energy supply lines primarily through which body?

• a) Indian Navy
• b) Indian Air Force
• c) Coast Guard
• d) Army
  Answer: a) Indian Navy

10. Which international body does India engage with for safeguarding maritime security in the Indian Ocean region?

• a) United Nations
• b) ASEAN
• c) Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)
• d) G20
  Answer: c) Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)

11. What strategic role does the Andaman and Nicobar Islands play in India’s maritime strategy?

• a) Launching international trade missions
• b) Acting as a maritime hub for the Indian Navy
• c) Hosting international diplomatic summits
• d) Building naval ships
  Answer: b) Acting as a maritime hub for the Indian Navy

12. Which of the following is a major challenge India faces in the Indian Ocean Region regarding maritime security?

• a) Desertification
• b) Territorial disputes with China
• c) Airspace dominance
• d) Deforestation
  Answer: b) Territorial disputes with China

13. India’s maritime strategy includes enhancing collaboration with which major maritime country to counter China’s growing influence?

• a) Japan
• b) United Kingdom
• c) United States
• d) Russia
  Answer: c) United States

14. Which of the following countries has India developed a closer maritime security partnership with, particularly focusing on the Indo-Pacific?

• a) Iran
• b) Australia
• c) Singapore
• d) North Korea
  Answer: b) Australia

15. The ‘Indo-Pacific’ strategy is integral to which aspect of India’s maritime approach?

• a) Promoting regional trade
• b) Confronting environmental challenges
• c) Ensuring maritime security and access to sea lanes
• d) Launching space missions
  Answer: c) Ensuring maritime security and access to sea lanes

16. Which naval base is critical to India’s strategy of power projection in the IOR?

• a) Visakhapatnam
• b) Karwar
• c) Mumbai
• d) Chennai
  Answer: a) Visakhapatnam

17. In India’s maritime strategy, which one of the following has emerged as a concern due to China’s growing presence?

• a) Food security
• b) Energy security
• c) Cybersecurity
• d) Climate change
  Answer: b) Energy security

18. India’s maritime strategy emphasizes the importance of which major shipping route?

• a) Panama Canal
• b) Strait of Malacca
• c) Suez Canal
• d) Bosporus Strait
  Answer: b) Strait of Malacca

19. Which international organization’s maritime code is India expected to comply with in the Indian Ocean?

• a) World Trade Organization
• b) International Maritime Organization (IMO)
• c) United Nations Security Council
• d) G7
  Answer: b) International Maritime Organization (IMO)

20. India has strengthened its maritime ties with which of the following countries for enhancing maritime security in the region?

• a) Nepal
• b) Saudi Arabia
• c) Maldives
• d) Bhutan
  Answer: c) Maldives

21. Which of the following is the focal point for India’s maritime strategy regarding China’s expansion in the Indian Ocean Region?

• a) Myanmar
• b) Djibouti
• c) Gwadar Port
• d) Singapore
  Answer: c) Gwadar Port

22. Which of these is a key initiative in India’s maritime strategy to ensure maritime security in the Indian Ocean?

• a) Operation Sankalp
• b) Operation Meghdoot
• c) Operation Bluebird
• d) Operation Smiling Buddha
  Answer: a) Operation Sankalp

23. Which of the following areas is a critical focus for India’s maritime diplomacy and its engagement with the IOR nations?

• a) Space exploration
• b) Anti-piracy operations
• c) Digital warfare
• d) Climate change mitigation
  Answer: b) Anti-piracy operations

24. India’s maritime strategy aims at creating a ‘blue water’ navy, meaning it seeks to:

• a) Focus on river navigation
• b) Operate across vast areas of the world’s oceans
• c) Build more submarines
• d) Focus on coastal security
  Answer: b) Operate across vast areas of the world’s oceans

25. What is the purpose of the ‘Maritime Security Strategy’ of India, launched in 2015?

• a) To build more warships
• b) To counter piracy in the Arabian Sea
• c) To safeguard the country’s maritime interests and promote regional stability
• d) To create new shipping routes
  Answer: c) To safeguard the country’s maritime interests and promote regional stability

26. Which of the following best describes India’s strategic relationship with the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)?

• a) Economic cooperation
• b) Shared maritime security interests
• c) Humanitarian efforts
• d) Renewable energy production
  Answer: b) Shared maritime security interests

27. Which critical sea lane passes through the Indian Ocean and is essential for India’s energy security?

• a) Malacca Strait
• b) Sunda Strait
• c) Bab el-Mandeb
• d) Strait of Hormuz
  Answer: d) Strait of Hormuz

28. India’s “Act East Policy” and maritime strategy both focus on enhancing relations with which of the following regions?

• a) South America
• b) Southeast Asia
• c) Middle East
• d) Eastern Europe
  Answer: b) Southeast Asia

29. Which of the following is an area of concern for India’s maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region?

• a) Increasing presence of non-state actors
• b) Rising sea levels
• c) Lack of naval personnel
• d) Diminishing oil reserves
  Answer: a) Increasing presence of non-state actors

30. Which port development project is an example of India’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean Region?

• a) Hambantota Port in Sri Lanka
• b) Chabahar Port in Iran
• c) Port of Singapore Authority
• d) Port of Jebel Ali in UAE
  Answer: b) Chabahar Port in Iran

These MCQs cover various aspects of India’s maritime strategy in the Indian Ocean region, providing a well-rounded assessment of the topic for Civil Services Examination preparation.