Sea Routes — Prelims Questions

Consider the following statements about the Northern Sea Route: 1. It connects Europe and Asia through the Arctic Ocean along Russia's northern coast 2. It is navigable year-round without icebreaker assistance 3. It can reduce voyage time between Europe and Asia by up to 40% compared to the Suez Canal route 4. It is controlled by international maritime law similar to other international straits Which of the statements given above are correct?

Which of the following chokepoints is most critical for India's energy security?

The 'Malacca Dilemma' refers to:

Consider the following pairs of sea routes and their primary cargo types: 1. Persian Gulf to Asia - Crude oil and LNG 2. Australia to China - Iron ore and coal 3. Trans-Pacific route - Containerized manufactured goods 4. North Sea to Europe - Agricultural products Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

The term 'Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPS)' is primarily associated with: