Comprehension

I rise to apprise this august House of the foreign policy dimension of our response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack, going into the preparations for Operation Sindoor and how foreign policy was handled during Operation Sindoor. As all the honourable members would appreciate, it was important to send a clear, strong and resolute message after the Pahalgam attack. Our red lines had been crossed and we had to make it very apparent that there would be serious consequences. As a result, the first step which was taken was that a meeting of the Cabinet Committee of Security took place on the 23rd of April, and that meeting decided that:

  • One, the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.
  • Two, the integrated checkpost Attari would be closed with immediate effect.
  • Three, Pakistani nationals who were traveling under SAARC visa exemption scheme would no longer be allowed to do that.
  • Four, the Defence, Naval and Air Advisors of the Pakistani High Commission would be declared persona non-grata and,
  • Five, the overall strength of the High Commission would be brought down to 30 from the number of 55. (207 words)

(Excerpts from Statement made by Minister of External Affairs Dr. S Jaishankar on special discussion in Lok Sabha on Operation Sindoor dated 28th Jul 2025)

Question: 1

Where is Pahalgam situated in India?

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Use well-known geographical facts when the passage does not explicitly provide the location.
Updated On: Jul 3, 2026
  • Punjab
  • Himachal Pradesh
  • Jammu & Kashmir
  • Uttarakhand
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Pahalgam is a hill town in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, well known as a tourist destination and the site referenced in the passage's account of the attack.
The correct answer is Jammu & Kashmir.
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Question: 2

The checkpost Attari is located in:

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Border checkposts between India and Pakistan are mainly located in Punjab, not the Himalayan regions.
Updated On: Jul 3, 2026
  • Near Amritsar, Punjab
  • Near Baramulla in Jammu & Kashmir
  • Near Kutch in Gujarat
  • Near Barmer in Rajasthan
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

The Attari-Wagah crossing is the main road link between India and Pakistan, with its Indian side located close to Amritsar in Punjab.
The correct answer is Near Amritsar, Punjab.
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Question: 3

Which among the following is {not a SAARC nation?}

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Memorize SAARC's 8 members—Mauritius often appears as a distractor in such questions.
Updated On: Jul 3, 2026
  • Afghanistan
  • Maldives
  • Mauritius
  • Bangladesh
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

SAARC has eight members: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Afghanistan. Mauritius does not fall within South Asia and is not part of this group.
The correct answer is Mauritius.
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Question: 4

The expression “Persona Non Grata” means:

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Latin diplomatic terms frequently appear in foreign-policy reasoning questions—memorize the standard meanings.
Updated On: Jul 3, 2026
  • An ungrateful person
  • An unwelcome person
  • An untrustworthy person
  • A displaced person
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

"Persona non grata" is diplomatic terminology for a foreign official whom the host country no longer permits to remain, effectively declaring them unwelcome.
The correct answer is an unwelcome person.
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Question: 5

The Indus Water Treaty signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan was facilitated by:

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The Permanent Indus Commission was {created} by the Treaty; it did not negotiate it.
Updated On: Jul 3, 2026
  • The United Nations General Assembly
  • The United Nations Security Council
  • The World Bank
  • The Permanent Indus Commission
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 was signed after lengthy negotiations mediated by the World Bank, which continues to play a role in resolving disputes under the treaty.
The correct answer is The World Bank.
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Question: 6

Which of the following is {not a tributary of the River Indus?}

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Group rivers by basin—Indus tributaries are all northern rivers originating in the Himalayas.
Updated On: Jul 3, 2026
  • Ravi
  • Jhelum
  • Tapti
  • Chenab
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

The Indus river system includes the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej as its main tributaries. The Tapti is an entirely separate west-flowing river of central India and does not feed into the Indus.
The correct answer is Tapti.
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