Mains GS Paper IIInternational RelationsHigh-yield

India-US Relations — Strategic Partnership, QUAD, Technology, Defence & Trade

भारत-अमेरिका संबंध — रणनीतिक साझेदारी, क्वाड, प्रौद्योगिकी, रक्षा

India-US Relations — Strategic Partnership, QUAD, Technology, Defence & Trade is part of the UPSC Mains GS Paper II syllabus, under International Relations. It appeared in Mains GS Paper II question papers in 4 of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 (2017, 2020, 2023, 2024). It is marked high-yield: a topic worth revising more than once.

What should you study in India-US Relations?

  • QUAD — Australia, India, Japan, USA; vaccines, tech, infrastructure
  • iCET — technology partnership (semiconductors, AI, space)
  • US-India Defence — LEMOA, COMCASA, BECA; Predator drones
  • Trade — IPEF, FTA negotiations; H1-B visa tensions

How often is India-US Relations asked in UPSC Mains?

Asked in 4 of 10 years, including 2 of the last 5. Highlighted years below are the ones it appeared in.

  1. 2016: not asked
  2. 2017: asked
  3. 2018: not asked
  4. 2019: not asked
  5. 2020: asked
  6. 2021: not asked
  7. 2022: not asked
  8. 2023: asked
  9. 2024: asked
  10. 2025: not asked

About the Mains GS Paper II paper

GS Paper II is a 250-mark descriptive Mains paper covering governance, the Constitution, polity, social justice and international relations. See all 40 Mains GS Paper II topics.

Related topics to study next

Syllabus: UPSC Civil Services notification. Topic breakdown, subtopics and PYQ years: GS Score UPSC Syllabus 2026-27 booklet. Sources & credits

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