India-USA Relations — Set 13
International Relations · भारत-USA संबंध · Questions 121–130 of 160
Which Indian defence export to the USA represents a milestone in the bilateral defence relationship?
Correct Answer: C. HAL helicopters
The correct answer is 'HAL helicopters'. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has supplied helicopter spare parts and components to the US military through the defence supply chain. While major Indian defence exports to the USA are limited, the direction of travel is toward more defence industrial cooperation including India as a supplier. Tata Advanced Systems and other Indian defence companies have increasingly won contracts in US defence supply chains.
The 'Plus One' format refers to India's participation alongside the USA in dialogues with which other countries?
Correct Answer: A. India-USA-Japan and India-USA-Australia trilaterals
India participates in multiple 'Plus One' trilateral formats with the USA, including the India-USA-Japan Trilateral and the India-USA-Australia Trilateral. These minilateral frameworks allow the three countries to coordinate on specific issues within the broader Quad framework. The India-USA-Japan trilateral, in particular, has been significant for Indo-Pacific security discussions and maritime cooperation.
India opened its first Consulate in which US city in 2023 expanding its diplomatic network?
Correct Answer: B. Seattle
India opened a Consulate General in Seattle in 2023 to serve the large Indian-American technology community in the Pacific Northwest. Seattle is home to major technology companies including Microsoft and Amazon that employ large numbers of Indian-Americans and H-1B workers from India. The new consulate also facilitates passport and visa services for the growing Indian community in the region.
The AUKUS nuclear submarine deal created diplomatic tensions with which country's exclusion?
Correct Answer: C. France
The announcement of AUKUS in September 2021 created a major diplomatic crisis with France, which had a $90 billion submarine deal with Australia that was abruptly cancelled in favour of the AUKUS nuclear submarine arrangement. France recalled its ambassadors from the USA and Australia in an unprecedented move. India was not directly affected by AUKUS but closely observed the dynamics of US alliance management in the Indo-Pacific.
India-USA academic collaboration is promoted through the 'Overseas Citizens of India (OCI)' card which provides:
Correct Answer: B. Lifelong visa to India and most rights except political
The Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card provides Indian-Americans with a lifelong multiple-entry visa to India and most rights of Indian citizens except the right to vote and hold certain government positions. Over 4 million OCI cards have been issued, predominantly to Indian-Americans. The OCI scheme facilitates the Indian diaspora's engagement with India and supports academic, business, and cultural exchanges.
The 'India Exclusion Act' of 1917 in the USA prevented Indian immigration. It was reversed by which Act?
Correct Answer: D. Both B and C (same Act)
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, also known as the Hart-Celler Act, abolished the national origins quota system that had severely restricted Asian immigration including from India. This landmark legislation opened the door for large-scale Indian immigration to the USA, leading to the growth of the Indian-American community. Both B and C refer to the same legislation passed in 1965.
India-USA cooperation in AI is formalised under iCET with a specific bilateral initiative called:
Correct Answer: B. Global AI Partnership (GPAI) cooperation
India and the USA cooperate on AI governance and research through the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), a multilateral initiative both countries are members of. Under iCET, bilateral cooperation on AI includes joint research, AI safety standards, and responsible AI development. India's NITI Aayog and the US National Science Foundation (NSF) have collaboration programmes on AI research.
The MQ-9B drones approved for India are specifically designed for which primary mission?
Correct Answer: B. Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance plus precision strike
The MQ-9B SeaGuardian/SkyGuardian drones approved for India in 2023 are designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) plus precision strike capabilities. The maritime variant SeaGuardian enhances India's ability to monitor the Indian Ocean for Chinese naval activities. The acquisition represents a significant enhancement of India's unmanned aerial vehicle capabilities.
USA and India's cooperation in the health sector during COVID-19 involved:
Correct Answer: C. USA imposing export restrictions on vaccine materials that strained relations
USA's export restrictions under the Defense Production Act on raw materials needed for vaccine manufacturing strained India-USA relations during the COVID-19 second wave in India in early 2021. India's Serum Institute of India faced difficulties manufacturing AstraZeneca/Covishield vaccines due to US restrictions on exporting key inputs. The USA subsequently lifted restrictions and sent vaccine materials to India after intense diplomatic pressure, but the episode highlighted supply chain vulnerabilities.
India-USA maritime cooperation extends to which ocean outside the Indo-Pacific?
Correct Answer: D. Indian Ocean Region is the primary focus
India-USA maritime cooperation primarily focuses on the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), which is India's primary zone of strategic interest and where both countries share concerns about Chinese naval expansion. The Quad framework extends this cooperation across the broader Indo-Pacific from the east coast of Africa to the western Pacific. While India does not have significant maritime interests in the Atlantic or Arctic, its cooperation with the USA has global dimensions through multilateral naval exercises like RIMPAC.