With which country has India recently decided to partner for strategic storage of crude oil in underground facilities in southern India?

Introduction / Context:
This question relates to energy security and international economic cooperation. India has been developing strategic petroleum reserves in underground rock caverns in southern states such as Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. To optimise costs and strengthen ties, India has partnered with certain oil producing countries to store crude oil in these facilities. The question asks which country partnered with India for such strategic crude storage in southern India.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• India is developing strategic crude oil storage in underground caverns in southern India.
• The arrangement involves a partnership with a foreign country.
• Options given are Iran, Iraq, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

Concept / Approach:
India signed an agreement with the United Arab Emirates, specifically with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, to store crude oil in the strategic reserve at Mangalore in Karnataka. Part of this stored crude can be used by India in emergencies, thereby enhancing energy security. The partnership is also beneficial to the UAE, as it gets a storage and distribution base in Asia. This widely reported cooperation forms the basis of the question and leads to the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick check is to link major oil suppliers with strategic agreements. While India imports oil from Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, the agreement for storing crude in Indian caverns was specifically reported with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company of the UAE. Reading standard current affairs compilations on energy security and strategic petroleum reserves usually confirms this fact. None of the other listed countries were highlighted in that specific context.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Iran: India imports oil from Iran, but the strategic storage partnership in southern caverns was not primarily associated with Iran.

Iraq: Iraq is another supplier of crude, but it did not feature as the partner for storing crude in Indian strategic reserves in the specific news item.

Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia is a major oil exporter and partner, but the arrangement mentioned in exam oriented material focuses on the UAE and its national oil company.

Common Pitfalls:
Because all the options are oil rich countries, candidates may choose randomly or pick the country they most associate with oil exports, such as Saudi Arabia. To avoid this, remember that this question is not about which country exports the most oil to India, but specifically about which country has stored crude in India's strategic caverns. Keeping a small list of India's strategic reserve locations and partner countries is useful.

Final Answer:
India partnered with the United Arab Emirates for strategic storage of crude oil in southern India.