Legacy IAS · Bangalore
Strait of Hormuz
Probable UPSC Prelims 2026 — Question Bank
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Why Strait of Hormuz is High-Probability for UPSC Prelims 2026
Straits tested 10+ times since 2007 — Malacca, Bering, Dover, Gibraltar; most recurring geography sub-topic
UPSC converts high-salience in-news locations into questions within 1–2 exam cycles (Red Sea after 2023 Houthi crisis)
2026 Hormuz crisis = largest energy disruption since 1973 oil embargo; highest-salience geography event of the year
UPSC tests bordering countries, connecting water bodies, shipping lane dimensions, and bypass alternatives
India’s energy vulnerability, Operation Sankalp, and Chabahar Port link geography to GS-II/GS-III
Statement-based, matching-pair, and assertion-reason formats dominate from 2017 onwards — all types used here
Double Fact-Check Certification
All 15 questions verified against: EIA (US Energy Information Administration, June 2025) · IEA Hormuz Factsheet (Feb 2026) · Wikipedia (Strait of Hormuz, Operation Praying Mantis, USS Samuel B. Roberts, MSC Aries) · Encyclopaedia Britannica · US Congressional Research Service Report R45281 · UNCLOS text (Articles 37–44) · Strauss Center for International Security and Law. Key correction: Each shipping lane is 2 miles (~3.7 km) wide — not 3 km as some secondary sources state. Operation Praying Mantis: USS Samuel B. Roberts struck the mine on 14 April 1988; the operation was launched 18 April 1988 (4 days later).
A
Location, Geography & Dimensions
1
Easy
Single Correct · Location
The Strait of Hormuz connects which of the following pair of water bodies?
▼
Correct: B — Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, which then opens into the Arabian Sea. It provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean. Iran lies on its northern coast; the UAE and Oman’s Musandam Peninsula (an exclave) lie on its southern coast. The Red Sea–Gulf of Aden link is the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. The Gulf of Aqaba is a northern arm of the Red Sea. [Source: Wikipedia, EIA]
2
Medium
Statement-Based · Bordering Countries
Consider the following statements about the Strait of Hormuz:
1. Iran lies on its northern coast.
2. Saudi Arabia lies on its southern coast.
3. The Musandam Peninsula, an exclave of Oman, forms part of its southern coast.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
▼
Correct: C — Statements 1 and 3
Statement 1 — Correct: Iran lies on the northern coast. Statement 2 — Incorrect: Saudi Arabia does not border the Strait of Hormuz at any point. The southern coast is shared by the UAE and Oman’s Musandam Peninsula. Statement 3 — Correct: The Musandam Peninsula is geographically separated from the main body of Oman by the UAE — it is an exclave of Oman, and forms the southern tip of the strait. [Source: Wikipedia, Britannica]
3
Hard
Matching Pairs · Islands in the Strait Region
Consider the following pairs (Island — Controlling Country):
1. Hormuz Island — Iran
2. Qeshm Island — Oman
3. Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb — Under Iranian control (claimed by UAE)
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
▼
Correct: B — Only two (Pairs 1 and 3)
Pair 1 — Correct: Hormuz Island is Iranian. Pair 2 — Incorrect: Qeshm Island (the largest island in the Persian Gulf) is controlled by Iran, not Oman. Pair 3 — Correct: Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa are claimed by the UAE but have been under Iranian control since 1971, providing strategic vantage points over the strait’s shipping lanes. Therefore, exactly two pairs (1 and 3) are correctly matched. [Source: Wikipedia, Strauss Center]
B
Strategic Importance & Energy Security
4
Medium
Data-Based · Global Oil Trade (2024)
With reference to the Strait of Hormuz, consider the following statements:
1. In 2024, approximately 20 million barrels of oil per day flowed through the strait.
2. This represented roughly 20% of global petroleum liquids consumption.
3. Over 80% of oil moving through the strait is destined for Asian markets.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
▼
Correct: D — All three statements are correct
All three are verified by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA, June 2025): ~20 million barrels per day transited in 2024 — representing ~20% of global petroleum liquids consumption and ~27% of global seaborne oil trade. 84% of crude oil and condensate was destined for Asian markets. China, India, Japan, and South Korea together accounted for 69% of all Hormuz crude flows. [Source: EIA June 2025]
5
Medium
Single Correct · LNG Trade
Which country is the primary source of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) transiting through the Strait of Hormuz?
▼
Correct: B — Qatar
Qatar is the primary LNG source transiting the strait. Around 20% of global LNG trade passes through the Strait of Hormuz, primarily from Qatar’s Ras Laffan terminal — one of the world’s largest LNG export facilities. Qatar exported over 112 billion cubic metres of LNG in 2025, making it the world’s top LNG exporter. Saudi Arabia exports crude oil primarily, not LNG; Iraq and Iran are not major LNG exporters. [Source: EIA, IEA, Windward.ai]
6
Hard
Statement-Based · India’s Energy & Strategic Interests
With reference to India’s energy security and the Strait of Hormuz, consider the following statements:
1. A large share of India’s crude oil imports originates from Middle East countries that export via the strait.
2. India’s Chabahar Port project in Iran is partly strategic as it lies just outside the strait’s entrance in the Gulf of Oman.
3. India operates ‘Operation Sankalp’ to ensure safe passage of Indian-flagged vessels in the region.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
▼
Correct: D — All three statements are correct
Statement 1: India sources approximately 40–53% of its crude oil and 50–60% of its LNG from the Persian Gulf region. Statement 2: Chabahar Port is located in the Gulf of Oman — outside the strait — giving India access to Afghanistan and Central Asia via Iran, reducing dependence on Pakistan’s territory and the strait’s volatility. Statement 3: Operation Sankalp was launched by the Indian Navy in June 2019 to ensure the safety and security of Indian-flagged vessels in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman during escalating regional tensions. [Source: Knowledge Chronicles Plus, Wikipedia]
C
Bypass Routes & Alternatives
7
Medium
Single Correct · Pipeline Bypass
Which of the following countries has a pipeline that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz, allowing oil to be exported via a terminal on the Gulf of Oman?
▼
Correct: C — UAE, ADCOP to Fujairah
The UAE operates the Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline (ADCOP), also called the Habshan-Fujairah pipeline (~1.5–1.8 million b/d capacity), linking onshore Abu Dhabi oil fields to the Fujairah export terminal on the Gulf of Oman — completely bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. Iran also has the Goreh-Jask pipeline (~300,000 b/d) to its Jask terminal on the Gulf of Oman. Saudi Arabia’s Petroline goes to the Red Sea (not Gulf of Oman). Iraq’s Kirkuk-Ceyhan exits via Turkey to the Mediterranean. Kuwait has no bypass pipeline. [Source: IEA Hormuz Factsheet, EIA]
8
Hard
Statement-Based · Bypass Limitations
Consider the following statements about alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz for oil exports:
1. Saudi Arabia can partially bypass the strait using its East-West Pipeline (Petroline) to the Red Sea.
2. Existing land-based bypass infrastructure can fully replace Hormuz throughput if the strait is closed.
3. Iran’s Goreh-Jask pipeline provides a bypass route for Iran’s own oil exports via the Gulf of Oman.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
▼
Correct: C — Statements 1 and 3 only
Statement 1 — Correct: Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline (Petroline) to Yanbu on the Red Sea provides a partial bypass (~3–5 million b/d capacity). Statement 2 — Incorrect: Combined bypass capacity (Saudi Arabia + UAE) is only ~4–7 million b/d — far below the ~20 million b/d flowing through the strait daily. The EIA and IEA both note that “very few alternative options exist” if the strait closes. Statement 3 — Correct: Iran’s Goreh-Jask pipeline (operational 2021) connects to the Jask terminal on the Gulf of Oman, bypassing the strait for Iran’s exports (~300,000 b/d capacity). [Source: IEA Hormuz Factsheet, EIA, US CRS Report R45281]
D
International Law, Maritime & History
9
Medium
Concept-Based · Maritime Law (UNCLOS)
Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Strait of Hormuz is subject to the right of “Transit Passage.” Which of the following best describes Transit Passage?
▼
Correct: B — Transit Passage under UNCLOS Part III
Under UNCLOS Part III (Articles 37–44), Transit Passage is the right of all ships and aircraft to pass through straits used for international navigation continuously and expeditiously — without interruption and without needing prior consent from bordering states. It is a stronger right than “innocent passage” (which does not apply to aircraft and can be suspended by coastal states). The US and most maritime nations do not recognise any state’s right to block transit passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran and Oman have both expanded their territorial seas (each to 12 nmi since 1959 and 1972 respectively), meaning the entire strait is covered by territorial waters — making UNCLOS transit passage the operative legal regime. [Source: UNCLOS text, Wikipedia]
10
Hard
Single Correct · Operation Praying Mantis (1988)
Operation Praying Mantis (1988) is historically associated with the Strait of Hormuz. Which of the following correctly describes this operation?
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Correct: B — US Operation, 18 April 1988
Operation Praying Mantis was launched on 18 April 1988 — exactly four days after USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG-58) struck an Iranian mine on 14 April 1988 in the central Persian Gulf (during Operation Earnest Will). It was the largest US Navy surface engagement since World War II. US forces destroyed two Iranian oil platforms used as command-and-control centres, sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Sahand, damaged IRIS Sabalan, and neutralised several armed speedboats. The US lost two Marines in a non-combat helicopter crash. The Tanker War (1984–88) saw over 500 vessels damaged or destroyed in Gulf waters. [Source: Wikipedia — Operation Praying Mantis, USS Samuel B. Roberts]
11
Medium
Single Correct · Countries Fully Dependent on the Strait
Consider the following countries:
1. Qatar 2. Kuwait 3. Bahrain 4. Saudi Arabia
For which of the above is the Strait of Hormuz the ONLY maritime export route — i.e., they have no operational bypass pipeline or alternative sea passage?
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Correct: A — Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain only
Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain have no bypass pipeline or alternative sea route — the Strait of Hormuz is their only maritime exit for exports. Saudi Arabia (option 4) is the exception: it has the East-West Pipeline (Petroline) to Yanbu on the Red Sea (~3–5 million b/d capacity). The UAE also has its Fujairah pipeline bypass. Iraq has the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline to the Mediterranean. The IEA confirms that Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, and Iran all rely solely on the strait — but among the four options listed, Saudi Arabia alone has a bypass. [Source: IEA Hormuz Factsheet, Wikipedia]
E
Current Affairs & India Connections
12
Hard
Statement-Based · MSC Aries Seizure (April 2024)
Consider the following statements regarding the April 2024 seizure of the container ship MSC Aries:
1. It was seized by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) in the Gulf of Oman near the UAE coast.
2. The ship was Portuguese-flagged at the time of seizure.
3. Of the 25 crew members aboard, 17 were Indian nationals — the single largest nationality group.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
▼
Correct: D — All three statements are correct
All three verified. In April 2024, Iran’s IRGC seized the MSC Aries — a Portuguese-flagged container ship — in the Gulf of Oman off the UAE coast of Fujairah, accusing its owner of being “linked to Israel.” The vessel had 25 crew: 17 Indian nationals (the largest group), plus Filipinos, Pakistanis, a Russian, and an Estonian. This incident prompted significant Indian diplomatic engagement with Iran. The IRGC then steered the ship through the strait to Iranian waters. [Source: Times of Israel, Wikipedia (Strait of Hormuz)]
13
Easy
Matching Pairs · Straits of the World
Consider the following pairs (Strait — Water bodies it connects):
1. Strait of Hormuz — Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman
2. Bab-el-Mandeb — Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
3. Strait of Malacca — Indian Ocean (Andaman Sea) and South China Sea
4. Strait of Gibraltar — Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
▼
Correct: C — All four pairs correctly matched
All four are correct: (1) Hormuz — Persian Gulf ↔ Gulf of Oman. (2) Bab-el-Mandeb — Red Sea ↔ Gulf of Aden (southern gateway to the Suez Canal route; critical for post-Hormuz rerouting). (3) Strait of Malacca — Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean side) ↔ South China Sea (Pacific side); the world’s busiest shipping lane. (4) Gibraltar — Atlantic Ocean ↔ Mediterranean Sea. Note: The tunnel connecting UK and France passes under the Strait of Dover, not Gibraltar — a common Prelims distractor. [Source: General knowledge; PYQ 2010, 2007]
14
Medium
Assertion-Reason · Traffic Separation Scheme
Statement I: The Strait of Hormuz has two dedicated unidirectional shipping lanes — one inbound and one outbound — each approximately 2 miles (~3.7 km) wide, separated by a 2-mile-wide buffer zone, under a Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS).
Statement II: This TSS is necessary because, although the strait is roughly 21–55 km wide at its narrowest navigable points, shallow waters, islands, and reefs restrict the deep-water channels available for fully laden large oil tankers.
Which one of the following is correct?
▼
Correct: A — Both correct; Statement II explains Statement I
Both statements are correct and causally linked. The Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) — adopted by the IMO in 1973 and revised in 1979 — consists of two 2-mile-wide unidirectional lanes separated by a 2-mile buffer zone (total ~6 miles / ~11 km of managed shipping corridor). Fact-check note: The lanes are 2 miles wide, not 3 km — confirmed by EIA, IEA, Britannica, and Wikipedia. The TSS exists because despite the strait’s total width of 39–97 km, the deep-water navigable channels are geographically constrained by islands, reefs, and shallow areas, limiting safe passage for VLCCs (Very Large Crude Carriers). [Source: EIA, IEA, Britannica, Wikipedia]
15
Hard
Application · Cascading Commodity Impact
A disruption in the Strait of Hormuz would most directly impact which of the following commodity categories in addition to crude oil and LNG?
1. Global urea fertilizer supply (produced using Persian Gulf natural gas)
2. Polysilicon for solar panels (produced primarily in China)
3. Ammonia supply used in the production of chemical fertilizers
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
▼
Correct: C — Statements 1 and 3 only
Statements 1 and 3 — Correct: Persian Gulf nations (Iran, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain) together account for over one-third of global urea fertilizer supply. Urea is produced using natural gas and ammonia — both abundantly available in the Gulf and exported via the strait. A Hormuz disruption would cause fertilizer price spikes, threatening global food security especially in South and Southeast Asia. Statement 2 — Incorrect: Polysilicon (used in solar panels) is produced predominantly in China (~80%+ global share) and is not a significant Persian Gulf export — it would not be directly disrupted by Hormuz closure. [Source: US Congressional Research Service Report R45281]
Answer Key
Q1
B
Easy
Q2
C
Medium
Q3
B
Hard
Q4
D
Medium
Q5
B
Medium
Q6
D
Hard
Q7
C
Medium
Q8
C
Hard
Q9
B
Medium
Q10
B
Hard
Q11
A
Medium
Q12
D
Hard
Q13
C
Easy
Q14
A
Medium
Q15
C
Hard
Quick Reference — Must-Know Facts for UPSC 2026
| Fact | Value / Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Connects | Persian Gulf ↔ Gulf of Oman → Arabian Sea | EIA / Wikipedia |
| North coast | Iran | Wikipedia |
| South coast | UAE + Oman (Musandam Peninsula exclave) | Wikipedia / Britannica |
| Length | ~167 km (104 miles) | Wikipedia |
| Width (total) | ~39–97 km; varies by measurement point | Wikipedia / EIA / IEA |
| Shipping lanes (TSS) | 2 lanes, each 2 miles (~3.7 km) wide; separated by 2-mile buffer zone | EIA / IEA / Britannica ✓ |
| Daily oil flow (2024) | ~20 million barrels per day | EIA June 2025 |
| Share of global oil | ~20% of world petroleum consumption; ~27% of seaborne oil trade | EIA |
| Share going to Asia | ~84% of crude oil and condensate | EIA |
| Primary LNG source | Qatar (Ras Laffan terminal) | IEA / EIA |
| LNG share | ~20% of global LNG trade transits the strait | EIA |
| UAE bypass pipeline | ADCOP → Fujairah, Gulf of Oman (~1.5–1.8 million b/d) | IEA |
| Saudi bypass pipeline | East-West Petroline → Yanbu, Red Sea (~3–5 million b/d) | IEA |
| Iran bypass pipeline | Goreh-Jask Pipeline → Jask, Gulf of Oman (~300,000 b/d) | EIA |
| Total bypass capacity | ~4–7 million b/d — far insufficient vs 20 million b/d through strait | IEA / EIA |
| Iranian islands | Hormuz, Qeshm (largest in Gulf), Larak, Hengam — all Iranian | Wikipedia |
| Disputed islands | Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, Abu Musa — claimed by UAE; under Iranian control since 1971 | Wikipedia |
| Maritime law | Transit Passage under UNCLOS Part III (Articles 37–44) — applies to all ships and aircraft | UNCLOS text |
| Operation Sankalp | Indian Navy operation launched June 2019 for safety of Indian vessels in Persian Gulf / Gulf of Oman | Wikipedia |
| Chabahar Port | India’s port in Gulf of Oman, Iran — strategic bypass + Central Asia access route | Wikipedia |
| MSC Aries (Apr 2024) | Portuguese-flagged ship seized by IRGC; 17 of 25 crew were Indian nationals | Wikipedia |
| Operation Praying Mantis | US Navy operation — 18 April 1988 (4 days after USS Samuel B. Roberts struck mine on 14 April 1988) | Wikipedia ✓ |
| Fully dependent countries | Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Iran — no bypass route | IEA |
| Beyond oil impact | Urea fertilizer + ammonia — Persian Gulf produces >1/3 of global urea supply | US CRS R45281 |
Sources & References
- US Energy Information Administration (EIA) — ‘Amid Regional Conflict, the Strait of Hormuz Remains Critical Oil Chokepoint,’ June 2025
- International Energy Agency (IEA) — Strait of Hormuz Factsheet, February 2026
- US Congressional Research Service — Report R45281 ‘Iran Conflict and the Strait of Hormuz,’ March 2026
- Wikipedia — Strait of Hormuz · Operation Praying Mantis · USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG-58) · MSC Aries · ADCOP
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Strait of Hormuz
- Windward.ai — ‘What Is the Strait of Hormuz?’ April 2026
- Strauss Center for International Security and Law — Strait of Hormuz Geography & About sections
- UNCLOS — Part III, Articles 37–44 (Transit Passage provisions)
- USNI Proceedings — ‘The Air View: Operation Praying Mantis,’ May 1989
- Knowledge Chronicles Plus — ‘Strait of Hormuz UPSC Prelims Topic’
