International Relations Questions In UPSC Prelims (2023 – 2014)

International Relations Questions In UPSC Prelims

(2023 – 2014)

2023

1. Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: Israel has established diplomatic relations with some Arab States.

Statement-II: The ‘Arab Peace Initiative’ mediated by Saudi Arabia was signed by Israel and Arab League.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
(c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
(d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

2. Consider the following statements about G-20 :

1. The G-20 group was originally established as a platform for the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to discuss international economic and financial issues.
2. Digital public infrastructure is one of India’s G-20 priorities.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

3. Consider the following statements :

Statements-I : Recently, the United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU) have launched the ‘Trade and Technology Council’.

Statement-II : The USA and the EU claim that through this they are trying to bring technological progress and physical productivity under their control.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
(c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
(d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

4.Consider the following statements :

1. Recently, all the countries of the United Nations have adopted the first-ever compact for international migration, the ‘Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM)’.
2. The objectives and commitments stated in the GCM are binding on the UN member countries.
3. The GCM addresses internal migration or internally displaced people also in its objectives and commitments.

How many of the above statements are

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

2022

1.Consider the following statements:

1.Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in north-western Kenya.
2. Some people who fled from South Sudan civil war live in Bidibidi.
3. Some people who fled from civil war in Somalia live in Dadaab refugee complex in Kenya.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 3 only

2.Consider the following countries:

1.Armenia
2. Azerbaijan
3. Croatia
4. Romania
5. Uzbekistan

Which of the above are members of the Organization of Turkic States?

(a) 1, 2 and 4
(b) 1 and 3
(c) 2 and 5
(d) 3, 4 and 5

3.With reference to the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea, consider the following statements:

1. 1. A coastal state has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles, measured from baseline determined in accordance with the convention.
   2. Ships of all states, whether coastal or land-locked, enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea.
   3. The Exclusive Economic Zone shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

4.Which one of the following statements best reflects the issue with Senkaku Islands, sometimes mentioned in the news?

(a) It is generally believed that they are artificial islands made by a country around South China Sea.

(b) China and Japan engage in maritime disputes over these islands in East China Sea.

(c) A permanent American military base has been set up there to help Taiwan to increase its defence capabilities.

(d) Though International Court of Justice declared them as no man’s land, some South-East Asian countries claim them.

5.Consider the following pairs:

How many pairs given above are correctly, matched?

(a) Only one pair

(b) Only two pairs

(c) Only three pairs

(d) All four pairs

6.Consider the following pairs:

How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) Only one pair

(b) Only two pairs

(c) Only three pairs

(d) All four pairs

7.With reference to the “United Nations Credentials Committee”, consider the following statements:

1.It is a committee set up by the UN Security Council and works under its supervision.
2. It traditionally meets in March, June and September every year.
3. It assesses the credentials of all UN members before submitting a report to the General Assembly for approval.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 3 only

(b) 1 and 3

(c) 2 and 3

(d) 1 and 2

8.Which one of the following statements best describes the ‘Polar Code’?

(a) It is the international code of safety for ships operating in polar waters.

(b) It is the agreement of the countries around the North Pole regarding the demarcation of their territories in the polar region.

(c) It is a set of norms to be followed by the countries whose scientists undertake research studies in the North Pole and South Pole.

(d) It is a trade and security agreement of the member countries of the Arctic Council

9.With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements:

1.The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-member States.
2. Inter-governmental organisations can seek observer status in the UN General Assembly.
3. Permanent Observers in the UN General Assembly can maintain missions at the UN headquarters.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

10.Consider the following:

1.Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
2. Missile Technology Control Regime
3. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

India is a member of which of the above?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

11.Consider the following statements:

1.Vietnam has been one of the fastest growing economies in the world in the recent years.
2. Vietnam is led by a multi-party political system.
3. Vietnam’s economic growth is linked to its integration with global supply chains and focus on exports.
4. For a long time Vietnam’s low labour costs and stable exchange rates have attracted global manufacturers.
5. Vietnam has the most productive e-service sector in the Indo-Pacific region.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 2 and 4

(b) 3 and 5

(c) 1, 3 and 4

(d) 1 and 2

12.Consider the following statements:

1.“The Climate Group” is an international non-profit organization that drives climate action by building large networks and runs them.
2. The International Energy Agency in partnership with the Climate Group launched a global initiative “EP100”.
3. EP100 brings together leading companies committed to driving innovation in energy efficiency and increasing competitiveness while delivering on emission reduction goals.
4. Some Indian companies are members of EP100.
5. The International Energy Agency is the Secretariat to the ‘Under2 Coalition’.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 2, 4 and 5

(b) 1, 3 and 4 only

(c) 2, 3 and 5 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

13.“Rapid Financing Instrument” and “Rapid Credit Facility” are related to the provisions of lending by which one of the following?

(a) Asian Development Bank

(b) International Monetary Fund

(c) United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative

(d) World Bank

14.With reference to the “G20 Common Framework”, consider the following statements:

1.It is an initiative endorsed by the G20 together with the Paris Club.
2. It is an initiative to support Low Income Countries with unsustainable debt.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

2021

1. 1. ‘Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA)’, recently seen in news relates to:

(a) USA

(b) European Union

(c) SAARC

(d) ASEAN

2.With reference to ‘BIMSTEC’, consider the following:

1. 1. It is a regional organization comprising seven Member States lying in the littoral and adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal constituting a contiguous regional unity.
   2. It constitutes seven Member States: five deriving from South Asia, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and two from Southeast Asia, including Myanmar and Indonesia.
   3. Sri Lanka to host 5th BIMSTEC Summit

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) All of the above

3.With reference to ‘Financial Action Task Force (FATF)’, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. 1. India is not a full member of FATF but it has partial membership status of this organization.
   2. All permanent members of the Security Council except China are members of FATF.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

4.Exercise Khanjar is a joint military exercise between 

a) India-Kyrgyzstan

b) India-Kazakhstan

c) India-Uzbekistan

d) India-Turkmenistan

5.Consider the following statements about the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation:

1. 1. It is an intergovernmental organization to promote cooperation in trade, politics, and culture.
   2. The Anti-Terrorist structure of SCO is located in Beijing.

Which of the above statement is/are correct?

1. 1. 1 only
   2. 2 only
   3. Both 1 and 2
   4. Neither 1 nor 2

2020

1. 1. Consider the following pairs:

International agreement/ set-up Subject
1. Alma-Ata Declaration – Healthcare of the people
2. Hague Convention – Biological and Chemical Weapons
3. Talanoa Dialogue – Global Climate Change
4. Under2 Coalition – Child Rights

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 4 only
c)1 and 3 only
d) 2,3 and 4 only

2.Consider the following statements

1.The value of Indo-Sri Lanka Trade has consistently increased in the last decade.
2. “Textile and textile articles constitute an important item of trade between India and Bangladesh
3. In the last five years, Nepal has been the largest trading partner of India in South Asia

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 only
c)  3 only
d) 1 ,2, and 3

3.In which one of the following groups are all the four countries members of G20?

a) Argentina Mexico, South Africa and Turkey.

b) Australia Canada, Malaysia and New Zealand

c) Brazil, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam

d) Indonesia Japan Singapore and South Korea

4.The term ‘West Taxes Intermediate’, sometimes found in news to a grade of

a) Crude oil

b) Bullion

c) Rare earth elements

d) Uranium

2019

1. Which of the following adopted a law on data protection and privacy for its citizens known as ‘General Data Protection Regulation’ in April 2016 and started implementation of its from 25th May, 2018?

a) Australia

b) Canada

c) The European Union

d) The United States of America

2.Recently, India signed a deal known as ‘Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’ with which of the following countries?

a) Japan

b) Russia

c) The United Kingdom

d) The United States of America

3.Consider the following statements:

1. 1. The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) has a ‘Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air’.
   2. The UNCAC is the ever-first legally binding global anti-corruption instrument.
   3. A highlight of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) is the inclusion of a specific chapter aimed at returning assets to their rightful owners from whom they had been taken illicitly.
   4. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is mandated by its members States to assist in the implementation of both UNCAC and UNTOC.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

a)  1 and 3 only
b) 2, 3 and 4 only
c) 2 and 4 only
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

2018

1. 1. What is/are the consequence /consequences of a country becoming the member of the ‘Nuclear Suppliers Group’?

1.It will have access to the latest and most efficient nuclear technologies.
2. It automatically becomes a member of “The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)”.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a)  1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

2.The term “two-state solution” is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of

a) China

b) Israel

c) Iraq

d) Yemen

3.International Labour Organization’s Conventions 138 and 182 are related to

a) Child labour

b) Adaptation of agriculture practices to global climate change

c) Regulation of food prices and food security

d) Gender parity at the workplace

4.In the Indian context, what is the implication of ratifying the ‘Additional Protocol’ with the ‘International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’?

a) The civilian nuclear reactors come under IAEA safeguards.

b) The military nuclear installations come under the inspection of IAEA

c) The country will have the privilege to buy uranium from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

d) The country automatically becomes a member of the NSG.

5.Consider the following countries:

1.Australia
2. Canada
3. China
4. India
5. Japan
6. USA

Which of the above are among the ‘free-trade partners’ of ASEAN?

a) 1, 2, 4 and 5
b) 3, 4, 5 and 6
c) 1, 3, 4 and 5
d) 2, 3, 4 and 6

6.“Rule of Law Index” is released by which of the following?

a) Amnesty International

b) International Court of Justice

c) The Office of UN Commissioner for Human Rights

d) World Justice Project

2017

1. 1. Consider the following in respect of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS):

1. 1. Inaugural IONS was held in India in 2015 under the chairmanship of the Indian Navy.
   2. IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

2.‘Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA)’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of negotiations held between India and

a) European Union

b) Gulf Cooperation Council

c) Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

d) Shanghai Cooperation Organization

3.What is the importance of developing Chabahar Port by India?

a) India’s trade with African countries will enormously increase.

b) India’s relations with oil producing Arab countries will be strengthened.

c) India will not depend on Pakistan for access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.

d) Pakistan will facilitate and protect the installation of a gas pipeline between Iraq and India

4.Consider the following statements:

1.The Nuclear Security Summits are periodically held under the aegis of the United Nations.
2. The International Panel on Fissile Materials is an organ of International Atomic Energy Agency.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

5.The term ‘Digital Single Market Strategy’ seen in the news refers to

a) ASEAN

b) BRICS

c) EU

d) G20

2015

1. 1. India is a member of which of the following?

1. 1. Asia-Pacific economic corporation.
   2. Association of South-East Asian Nations.
   3. East Asia Summit

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 3 only
c) 1, 2, and 3
d) India is a member of none of them

2.Consider the following countries

1. 1. China
   2. France
   3. India
   4. Israel
   5. Pakistan

Which among the above are Nuclear Weapons States as recognized by the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)?

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only
c) 2, 4 and 5 only
d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

3.The ‘Fortaleza Declaration’ recently in the news, is related to the affairs of:

a) ASEAN

b) BRICS

c) OECD

d) WTO

4.Amnesty International is

a) an agency of the United Nations to help refugees of civil wars

b) a global Human Rights Movement

c) a non-governmental voluntary organization to help very poor people

d) an inter-governmental agency to cater to medical emergencies in war-ravaged regions

5.In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not a participant/participants?

1. 1. Bangladesh
   2. Cambodia
   3. China
   4. Myanmar
   5. Thailand

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a) 1 only
b) 2, 3 and 4
c) 1 and 3
d) 1, 2 and 5

6.‘Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action’ often seen in the news, is

a) a strategy to tackle the regional terrorism, an outcome of a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

b) a plan of action for sustainable economic growth in the Asia-Pacific Region, an outcome of deliberations of the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum

c) an agenda for women’s empowerment, an outcome of a World Conference convened by the United Nations

d) a strategy to combat wildlife trafficking, a declaration of the East Asia Summit

7.With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)’,

Consider the following statements:

1. 1. It was established very recently in response to incidents of piracy and accidents of oil spills
   2. It is an alliance meant for maritime security only

Which of the following statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

2014

1. 1. With reference to a grouping of countries known as BRICS, consider the following statements:

1. 1. The First Summit of BRICS was held in Rio de Janeiro in 2009.
   2. South Africa was the last to join the BRICS grouping.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct?

a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

2.Recently, a series of uprisings of people referred to as ‘Arab Spring’ originally started from

a) Egypt

b) Lebanon

c) Syria

d) Tunisia

3.Consider the following countries:

1. 1. Denmark
   2. Japan
   3. Russian Federation
   4. United Kingdom
   5. United States of America

Which of the above are the members of the ‘Arctic Council ‘?

a) 1, 2 and 3
b) 2, 3 and 4
c) 1, 4 and 5
d) 1, 3 and 5

1. 4. Consider the following pairs:

Region often in news         Country

1. 1. Chechnya:     Russian Federation
   2. Darfur:          Mali
   3. Swat Valley:  Iraq

Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

1. 1. a) 1 only
      b) 2 and 3 only
      c) 1 and 3 only
      d) 1, 2 and 3