What is the common examiner trap about Intl. Relations in UPSC exams?

They may ask about the 'Strait of Hormuz' location and swap options like 'between Bahrain and Qatar' (incorrect) with the correct 'between Iran and Oman'. For the LAC, they may confuse the disputed length (3,488 km vs 2,000 km).

What should UPSC aspirants remember about Intl. Relations for Prelims?

1. Target this Data: 90% of India's LPG imports come via the Strait of Hormuz. 2. Target this Nodal Body: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) advised states on alternate fuels. 3. Target this Legal Point: Supreme Court invoked Article 21 for the 'right to health' in the vaccine compensation case.

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India's LPG Supply Hit as Strait of Hormuz Closes; SC Directs 'No-Fault' Vaccine Compensation; China Builds 628 Border Villages

Q: The Supreme Court's direction to formulate a 'no-fault' compensation policy for Covid-19 vaccine injuries was primarily based on which fundamental right?

Right to Life and Personal Liberty (Article 21), The article states the Supreme Court grounded its order in Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life, interpreted to include the right to health. The court stated the State has an obligation to support those who suffered grave outcomes from a state-led health intervention.

Q: Consider the following statements regarding the developments mentioned in the news: 1. India co-sponsored a UN Security Council resolution that condemned attacks by Iran and demanded respect for navigational rights in the Strait of Hormuz. 2. The government increased the minimum gap between LPG cylinder bookings for urban households from 21 days to 45 days as a demand management measure. 3. China's 'Xiaokang' border defence villages are concentrated only along the Ladakh sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Only 1, Statement 1 is correct: India co-sponsored UNSC Resolution 2817 which condemned Iranian attacks and reaffirmed navigational rights. Statement 2 is incorrect: The gap was increased to 45 days for rural/remote areas, while for urban households it remained 25 days (increased from 21 days). Statement 3 is incorrect: The villages are built all along the LAC, including Arunachal Pradesh, with 90% of the 72% near the LAC located there.

Q: According to the article, approximately what percentage of India's total LPG consumption is currently unavailable due to the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz?

55%, The article provides the calculation: India depends on imports for ~60% of its LPG, and 90% of those imports come via the Strait of Hormuz. Therefore, roughly 55% (60% of 90%) of India's total LPG consumption is affected by the closure.

Q: What is the primary strategic concern for India regarding China's construction of 'Xiaokang' border villages along the Line of Actual Control (LAC)?

They represent dual-use infrastructure that can assert territorial claims and support military logistics., The article explicitly states that the villages are 'dual-use infrastructure' and that the strategic community sees them as a way for China to assert its claims over disputed areas along the LAC. Their occupation by Chinese nationals since late 2023 reinforces this security concern.

Intl. Relations Economy Security & Defence PolityCORE

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link

13 Mar 2026

~2 min

Source: Indian Express

Key Data:~60% LPG import dependency90% imports via Strait of Hormuz55% consumption affected628 border villages72% near LACUNSC Resolution 2817

Bodies:Supreme CourtMinistry of External AffairsMinistry of PetroleumMinistry of Environment, Forest and Climate ChangeUN Security CouncilElection Commission of India

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~2 min · Quick mode

What This Article Covers

1.India's LPG imports are severely impacted as Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz, affecting ~55% of domestic consumption and prompting emergency measures under the Essential Commodities Act.

2.The Supreme Court directs the Centre to formulate a 'no-fault' compensation policy for serious adverse effects from Covid-19 vaccines, invoking Article 21 (Right to Life and Health).

3.China has constructed 628 'Xiaokang' border defence villages along the LAC, with 72% near the LAC and 90% in Arunachal Pradesh, posing a strategic challenge.

The Big Picture

Prelims · HighMains · High

A multi-dimensional crisis triggered by the West Asia conflict is testing India's energy security and foreign policy, while domestic judicial and border security challenges demand immediate attention. This news integrates critical themes of geopolitics, constitutional law, and national security, making it high-yield for both Prelims and Mains.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

India's LPG Import Dependency~60%

LPG Imports via Strait of Hormuz90%

China's Border Villages Built628

Villages near LAC (Arunachal)72% (90% in Arunachal)

UNSC Resolution Co-sponsored2817

1-Minute Revision

›India's LPG Import Dependency: ~60%
›LPG Imports via Strait of Hormuz: 90%
›Target this Data: 90% of India's LPG imports come via the Strait of Hormuz.
›Target this Nodal Body: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) advised states on alternate fuels.
›Target this Legal Point: Supreme Court invoked Article 21 for the 'right to health' in the vaccine compensation case.

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News Snapshot

⚓

Energy Security Crisis

Closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupts 90% of India's LPG imports, forcing the government to invoke the Essential Commodities Act and promote alternate fuels.

⚖️

Judicial Intervention on Health

The Supreme Court mandates a 'no-fault' compensation framework for Covid-19 vaccine injuries, grounding the order in the constitutional right to health under Article 21.

🏔️

Border Infrastructure Challenge

China's construction of 628 dual-use 'well-off villages' along the LAC, particularly in Arunachal Pradesh, is a strategic move to assert territorial claims.

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

The news is set against a complex geopolitical backdrop: a conflict in West Asia that began on February 28, 2026, has led Iran to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Domestically, the Supreme Court is addressing petitions related to Covid-19 vaccine injuries, while on the northern borders, China's sustained infrastructure build-up continues as part of its 2019 border village plan and a 2022 land border law.

Core Analysis & Implications

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for 20% of global liquid petroleum, exposes India's critical energy vulnerability. With 55% of LPG consumption at risk, the government's response—invoking the Essential Commodities Act, promoting kerosene/coal, and managing demand—highlights crisis governance. Concurrently, the SC's 'no-fault' compensation order shifts liability burden from citizens to the state, setting a precedent for public health interventions. On the security front, China's occupied border villages represent 'salami-slicing' tactics, challenging India's territorial integrity and demanding a robust counter through initiatives like the Vibrant Villages Programme.

Future Outlook / Way Forward

India must accelerate strategic alternatives like the Chabahar Port and diversify energy sources to reduce Hormuz dependency. The Health Ministry must expedite the court-ordered compensation framework. On the border, India needs to match China's infrastructure pace, enhance inter-valley connectivity, and leverage diplomacy within forums like the UNSC, where it co-sponsored Resolution 2817 against Iranian attacks.

Diplomatic & Strategic Balancing Act

India's co-sponsorship of UNSC Resolution 2817, condemning Iran while maintaining dialogue for energy transit, exemplifies its complex diplomatic tightrope. It must balance relations with Iran, Israel, the US, and Gulf nations, all while navigating the weaponization of trade and energy, as highlighted in the editorial on 'Atmanirbharta'.

Key Facts at a Glance

India's LPG Import Dependency~60%

LPG Imports via Strait of Hormuz90%

China's Border Villages Built628

Villages near LAC (Arunachal)72% (90% in Arunachal)

UNSC Resolution Co-sponsored2817

You've read the full analysis. Now test your understanding.

Practice exam-style questions based on this article.

Q1Static LinkageEasyUPSC, MPSC, SSC, State PSC

The Supreme Court's direction to formulate a 'no-fault' compensation policy for Covid-19 vaccine injuries was primarily based on which fundamental right?

Q2Statement-basedHardUPSC, MPSC

Consider the following statements regarding the developments mentioned in the news:

1. India co-sponsored a UN Security Council resolution that condemned attacks by Iran and demanded respect for navigational rights in the Strait of Hormuz.

2. The government increased the minimum gap between LPG cylinder bookings for urban households from 21 days to 45 days as a demand management measure.

3. China's 'Xiaokang' border defence villages are concentrated only along the Ladakh sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMediumUPSC, SSC, Banking

According to the article, approximately what percentage of India's total LPG consumption is currently unavailable due to the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz?

Q4Application/ImpactMediumUPSC, MPSC

What is the primary strategic concern for India regarding China's construction of 'Xiaokang' border villages along the Line of Actual Control (LAC)?

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Next India Diversifies Fuel Sources, Invokes Essential Commodities Act Amid Strait of Hormuz Disruption Impacting 55% LPG Supply

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India's LPG Supply Hit as Strait of Hormuz Closes; SC Directs 'No-Fault' Vaccine Compensation; China Builds 628 Border Villages

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

1-Minute Revision

News Snapshot

Energy Security Crisis

Judicial Intervention on Health

Border Infrastructure Challenge

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

Core Analysis & Implications

Future Outlook / Way Forward

Diplomatic & Strategic Balancing Act

Prelims Flashpoints

Key Facts at a Glance