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UPSC Prelims 2026 GS Paper 1, question 30

Topic: World and physical geography

Q30

Ships from which of the following countries have to cross the Strait of Hormuz to reach out to the Indian Ocean ?

  1. Bahrain

  2. Syria

  3. Qatar

  4. Egypt

Select the answer using the code given below :

  1. (a) 1 and 2
  2. (b) 1 and 3Correct answer
  3. (c) 2 and 3
  4. (d) 3 and 4

Solution.

Answer: (b) 1 and 3

  1. Items 1 and 3 are correct: Bahrain and Qatar are island and peninsular states inside the Persian Gulf, so ships departing their ports must transit the Strait of Hormuz (into the Gulf of Oman) to reach the Indian Ocean.
  2. Items 2 and 4 are incorrect: Syria lies on the Mediterranean Sea and Egypt lies on the Mediterranean and Red Seas (accessing the Indian Ocean via the Bab el-Mandeb and Gulf of Aden, not the Strait of Hormuz).