Geopolitics (Questions 1-10)

Q1. Who issued Iran’s first public statement as the new Supreme Leader on March 12, 2026, vowing to continue blocking the Strait of Hormuz and urging the closure of U.S. military bases in the region?
A) Ali Khamenei
B) Mojtaba Khamenei
C) Ebrahim Raisi
D) Hassan Rouhani
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the assassinated Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, made this statement amid the 2026 Iran war, escalating tensions over oil supplies.

Q2. Which vital shipping route did Iran’s new Supreme Leader pledge to keep closed in his March 12, 2026, address?
A) Bab el-Mandeb Strait
B) Suez Canal
C) Strait of Hormuz
D) Malacca Strait
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: The Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of global oil passes, remains a flashpoint, impacting energy security worldwide.

Q3. On March 12, 2026, Iranian strikes targeted fuel storage tanks in which Gulf nation?
A) Saudi Arabia
B) Bahrain
C) UAE
D) Qatar
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: The attack in Muharraq Governorate highlights the war’s expansion to energy infrastructure.

Geopolitics & World News India (Questions 1-9)

Q1. The Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas invoked which Act in March 2026 to notify the Natural Gas (Supply Regulation) Order, 2026 amid LNG disruptions?
A) Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines Act
B) Essential Commodities Act, 1955
C) Energy Conservation Act, 2001
D) Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: The Ministry invoked the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, to regulate natural gas allocation due to West Asia conflict and Strait of Hormuz disruptions.

Q2. The Natural Gas (Supply Regulation) Order, 2026 establishes a four-tier priority system for allocation based on average consumption over what period?
A) Past three months
B) Past one year
C) Past six months
D) Calendar year average
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: Priority is determined by six-month average consumption; lower-priority sectors (e.g., petrochemicals, power) face cuts to protect households and fertilizers.

Q3. What percentage of India’s LPG imports and natural gas requirements typically pass through the Strait of Hormuz, disrupted in the 2026 West Asia conflict?
A) 50% LPG and 20% gas
B) 90% LPG and 30% gas
C) 70% LPG and 50% gas
D) 100% LPG and 40% gas
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: ~90% of LPG imports and ~30% of natural gas requirements are affected, leading to shortages and black-market prices.

Geopolitics & International Relations (Questions 1- 12)

Q1. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated in Parliament on 10 March 2026 that India will continue:
A) Military support to Israel
B) Conversations with Iran
C) Complete trade embargo with Iran
D) Evacuation of all Indian nationals from Gulf
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: Jaishankar emphasised continued diplomatic engagement with Iran while prioritising safety of Indian diaspora in West Asia amid the ongoing Israel-Iran-US conflict.

Q2. Which new leader was elected as Iran’s Supreme Leader on 10 March 2026 following the reported death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei?
A) Mojtaba Khamenei
B) Hassan Rouhani
C) Ebrahim Raisi
D) Ali Larijani
Correct Answer: A.
Explanation: Mojtaba Khamenei (son of late Khamenei) became the third Supreme Leader – the first hereditary succession in the Islamic Republic.

Q3. U.S. President Donald Trump on 10 March 2026 said the Israel-Iran war would end:
A) Within 48 hours
B) Never
C) Only after complete regime change
D) Pretty quickly / very soon
Correct Answer: D.
Explanation: Trump repeatedly signalled the joint U.S.-Israeli campaign had achieved its main objectives and the conflict could conclude soon, leading to oil price correction.