UPSC Essentials — Daily subject-wise quiz : International Relations (Week 18)

1. It determines the presence of a threat to the peace or an act of violence and suggests an appropriate response.

2. Each of its member states assumes its presidency for a duration of one month, following the English alphabetical order.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

QUESTION 2

Kunashir, Shikotan and Habomai were recently in the news corresponding to:

(a) Places in Ukraine captured by Russia

(b) Islands claimed by Japan and seized by Russia

(c) Islands of Central America

(d) Disputed region between Sudan and South Sudan

QUESTION 3

Which of the following statement is not correct about G20?

(a) It was formed during the 1990s when Southeast Asian economies were witnessing a financial crisis.

(b) The grouping accounts for more than 80 per cent of world GDP.

(c) The group consists of 60 per cent of the global population.

(d) The leadership of G20 rotates biennial among nations, where the President nation determines the agenda of the summit held once in every two years.

QUESTION 4

With reference to the India and Vietnam relations, consider the following statements:

1. Both India and Vietnam are the members on Mekong-Ganga Cooperation.

2. India and Vietnam signed a Joint Vision Statement on Defence Partnership which will enhance the scope and scale of existing defence cooperation.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

QUESTION 5

Consider the following places which were seen in the news:

1. Al-Hakim Mosque

2. Zawiya

3. Mazar-i-Sharif

4. Petra

What is the correct chronological order of these places from west to east?

(a) 2-1-4-3

(b) 1-2-3-4

(c) 2-1-3-4

(d) 3-4-2-1

ANSWERS TO THE MCQs

1. (c)

FYI:

— The Indian presidency of the United Nations Security Council seeks to prioritise countering terrorism and reformed multilateralism.

— The significant roles of the UNSC broadly include maintaining international peace in accordance with the principles and purposes of the United Nations and to determine the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression and to recommend what action should be taken.” Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The Council President exercises a vast range of powers such as holding meetings of the Security Council, approving provisional agendas, signing records of the meetings, besides other crucial decisions.

— Each of its 15 member states assumes its presidency for a duration of one month, following the English alphabetical order. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— India’s programme of work (PoW) includes briefings, consultations and reports on global developments in Syria, Libya, the Middle East, Colombia, South Sudan, and Congo among others.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

2. (b)

FYI:

— As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine drags on, Moscow is forced to funnel more and more of its military and economic resources to its western border.

— The Northern Territories, consisting of four islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan and Habomai, are an inherent territory of Japan.

— However, on August 9, 1945, the Soviet Union, in violation of the Neutrality Pact that was still in force between Japan and the Soviet Union, opened the war with Japan. The strategically located Kuril islands were seized by Soviet forces in the closing days of World War II.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

3. (d)

FYI:

— The G20 or Group of 20 functions as an intergovernmental meeting, where states participate in discussions on different aspects of the global economy.

— It was formed during the 1990s when Southeast Asian economies were witnessing a financial crisis.

— It had a tremendous impact in the year 2008 when it helped reduce global panic caused by a restrained economy and restore economic growth.

— The meeting includes the European Union, and some of the world’s largest economies among other nations Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, EU, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, UK and USA.

— According to the Ministry of External Affairs, these countries, at present, account for more than 80 per cent of world GDP, 75 per cent of global trade, and 60 per cent of the global population.

— The leadership of G20 rotates annually among nations, where the President nation determines the agenda of the summit held every year.

— Non-members, namely, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the United Nations (UN), World Trade Organization (WTO), among others participate regularly in the G20 proceedings.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

4. (c)

FYI:

— India and Vietnam signed a Joint Vision Statement on India-Vietnam Defence Partnership towards 2030, “which will significantly enhance the scope and scale of existing defence cooperation”. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The document was signed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is on a three-day tour to Vietnam, and the Southeast nation’s Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang in Hanoi.

— The two ministers also agreed on the early finalisation of the $500 million Defence Line of Credit extended to Vietnam, and the “implementation of the projects shall add substantially to Vietnam’s Defence capabilities” and will also push the government’s vision of make in India, make for the world.

— India and Vietnam also inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Mutual Logistics Support.

— Both India and Vietnam are the members on Mekong-Ganga Cooperation. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

5. (a)

FYI:

— The correct chronological order from west to east of these places is Zawiya (Libya) – Al-Hakim Mosque (Egypt) – Petra (Jordan) – Mazar-i-Sharif (Afghanistan).

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 17)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 17)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 16)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 16)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 16)

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