International Relations (IR) comprises of global affairs, relations between nation-states (with an emphasis on India’s relation with other countries), important global and regional agreement, bodies and issues. In 2014, UPSC asked few questions from IR. With the Indian PM having visited nearly all the major countries in last one year, it is hoped that questions from IR will also be asked this time in UPSC prelims. Here we are giving some questions on IR from our GS Prelims Mock Test Series 2015 to provide an overview of what type of questions may be asked.
1. The South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) has not been a success because of
1. narrow export base of countries.
2. lack of bilateral free trade agreements.
3. political hurdles.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1 and 3 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer & Explanation
b) 1 and 3 only. Because of narrow export base of countries, they compete with each other in limited goods and there is thus very low complementarity. Political hurdles are self evident. Now there are already many bilateral trade agreements in South Asia ( like India-Sl; Pak-Sl etc). So trade takes the bilateral route as it is easy rather than the multilateral SAFTA route. Hence statement 2 is incorrect.
2. Consider the following statements about NPT and CTBT:
1. India has neither signed NPT nor ratified it.
2. India has signed CTBT but not yet ratified it.
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
Answer & Explanation
a) 1 only. India has neither signed nor ratified either NPT or CTBT.
3. India has Kalapani and Susta territorial dispute with
a) Bangladesh
b) Bhutan
c) Nepal
d) Myanmar
Answer & Explanation
c) Nepal. India and Nepal have territorial disputes in Kalapani and Susta, which lie on the western and eastern border of Nepal, respectively. Context – PM’s visit to Nepal.
4. Wassenar arrangement seeks to bring transparency in the export of
1. conventional arms
2. dual-use goods
3. small arms and light weapons
4. military aircraft
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1, 3 and 4 only
c) 2, 3 and 4 only
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer & Explanation
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4. The Wassenaar Arrangement has been established for promoting transparency and greater responsibility in transfers of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies. Every six months member countries exchange information on deliveries of conventional arms to non-Wassenaar members that fall under eight broad weapons categories: battle tanks, armored combat vehicles (ACVs), large-caliber artillery, military aircraft, military helicopters, warships, missiles or missile systems, and small arms and light weapons.
5. The Kaladan transport project by India and Myanmar consists of which of the following modes of transport?
1. roads
2. railways
3. shipping
4. inland water transport
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
a) 1, 2 and 3 only
b) 1 ,3 and 4 only
c) 2 ,3 and 4 only
d) 1 ,2, 3 and 4
Answer & Explanation
b) 1, 3 and 4 only. The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project is a project that will connect the eastern Indian seaport of Kolkata with Sittwe seaport in Myanmar by sea; it will then link Sittwe seaport to Lashio in Myanmar via Kaladan river boat route and then from Lashio on to Mizoram in India by road transport.
6. Under the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), India has been given the exclusive right over the rivers of
1. Chenab
2. Ravi
3. Beas
4. Indus
5. Satluj
6. Jhelum
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
a) 1, 2 and 3 only
b) 1 ,3 and 4 only
c) 2, 3 and 5 only
d) 1 ,2 and 6 only
Answer & Explanation
c) 2, 3 and 5 only. The Indus System of Rivers comprises three Western Rivers – the Indus, the Jhelum and Chenab and three Eastern Rivers – the Sutlej, the Beas and the Ravi; and with minor exceptions, the treaty gives India exclusive use of all of the waters of the Eastern Rivers and their tributaries before the point where the rivers enter Pakistan. Similarly, Pakistan has exclusive use of the Western Rivers. Pakistan also received one-time financial compensation for the loss of water from the Eastern rivers.
7. India has signed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with
1. USA
2. Singapore
3. Japan
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 3 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer & Explanation
c) 2 and 3 only. India does not have a CEPA with USA.
8. The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) aims towards
1. social development of Indian Ocean rim region.
2. enhancing security and protection from piracy.
3. trade facilitation.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1 and 3 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer & Explanation
d) 1, 2 and 3. The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), formerly known as the Indian Ocean Rim Initiative and Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC), is an international organization consisting of coastal states bordering the Indian Ocean. All the above are priority areas for the IORA. Maritime Safety and Security is a key area for IORA, as it is the Indian Ocean which binds the Member States and is the lifeline for trade that is vital for the economic development of the region. To promote the sustained growth and balanced development of the region and of the Member States, and to create common ground for regional economic co-operation. Trade and investment is an area which directly impacts on job creation, poverty alleviation and economic development and falls within the objective of the Association which is to promote sustainable and balanced economic growth of the region.
9. The 2+2 dialogue in bilateral relations between India and Japan refers to meetings attended by which two dignitaries of the two countries?
a) Prime minister and Defense Minister
b) Prime minister and Foreign minister
c) Prime Minister and President
d) Foreign secretary and Defense secretary
Answer & Explanation
d) Foreign secretary and Defense secretary. The 2+2 dialogue is between Foreign secretary and Defense secretary of both countries. There are however talks of enhancing it to ministerial level that it foreign minister and defense minister from the secretarial level.
10. The 13th amendment has been a point of contention between India and Sri Lanka. The 13th amendment provided for
1. establishment of provincial councils.
2. taking action against the human rights violators
3. creation of a second chamber in central legislature.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
a) 1 only
b) 1 and 2 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer & Explanation
a) 1 only. The Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka is amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka which created Provincial Councils in Sri Lanka. This also made Sinhala and Tamil as the official language of the country and English as link language. Statement 2 is false. There are talks about creation of a second chamber in central legislature. This is deemed as 13 plus. It was not there in the original 13th amendment.
1000 Prelims MCQs with answer & detailed explanation @ Rs 350. Click here for more information.
Please read these important articles about prelims preparation
1. How UPSC asks current affairs in GS Prelims
2. How to practice prelims MCQs for UPSC
3. Applying logic in UPSC General Studies Prelims
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