UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : International Relations MCQs on Chancay Port, non-permanent members of the UNSC and more (Week 89)

1. It is the only coral island in Bangladesh.

2. The Island is close to the border between Bangladesh and Myanmar.

3. It is located in the region of the Bay of Bengal.

The above mentioned statements refer to:

(a) Nijhum Dwip

(b) Ashar Char

(c) Hatia Island

(d) St. Martin’s Island

Explanation

— Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed, said that a recent “resignation” statement, allegedly published by a newspaper, attributed to her mother was “completely false and fabricated”. According to the alleged statement, Hasina said she could have continued to remain in power if she had given Bangladesh’s “St Martin’s Island and Bay of Bengal” to America.

— The island is located in the northeastern part of the Bay of Bengal, near the boundary between Bangladesh and Myanmar.

— It is nine kilometres from the southernmost point of Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf peninsula. It is Bangladesh’s only coral island, with reefs stretching 10-15 km to the west-northwest. It also serves as a breeding site for sea turtles.

— The island was previously part of the Teknaf peninsula (around 5,000 years ago), but it progressively sank into the sea. The southern suburbs of present-day St Martin’s Island resurfaced some 450 years ago, with the northern and rest of the island rising above sea level during the next 100 years, according to The Daily Sun.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

Consider the following statements about the non-permanent members of the UNSC:

1. The term of non-permanent members is 5 years.

2. The seats of non-permanent members are distributed according to regional groupings.

3. India has been a non-permanent member of UNSC for 15 times till now.

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

Explanation

— The five members were elected by a secret ballot in the UN General Assembly for a 2-year term starting on January 1, 2025, until December 31, 2026. They will replace Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland, whose terms end on 31 December. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— In a secret poll, the chosen countries obtained the needed two-thirds majority of Member States present and voting in the 193-member General Assembly.

— The new members will join current non-permanent members Algeria, Guyana, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, and Slovenia, whose tenure began on January 1.

— According to the UN Charter, the 15-member Security Council is primarily responsible for ensuring international peace and security, and all Member States are required to comply with its decisions.

— The ten non-permanent seats on the Security Council are divided into four regional groups: Africa and Asia; Eastern Europe; Latin America and the Caribbean; and Western European and other States. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— India has been elected as a non-permanent member of the Council for the years 1950-1951, 1967-1968, 1972-1973, 1977-1978, 1984-1985, 1991-1992, 2011-2012, and 2021-2022. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: news.un.org)

QUESTION 3

Which of the following countries raised a flag on its embassy in Damascus, Syria, after it had been closed for 12 years during the country’s civil war?

(a) Germany

(b) United States

(c) France

(d) United Kingdom

Explanation

— The French foreign ministry says it hoisted a flag over its embassy in Damascus, Syria, after it had been closed for 12 years due to the country’s civil conflict.

— France dispatched a diplomatic delegation to Syria to investigate the political and security situation following the ouster of long-time Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad. The team will not be staying, and the gesture does not indicate that the embassy has reopened.

— France, which cut ties with Assad in 2012, has stated that a political transition in Syria must be credible and inclusive, in accordance with a UN framework.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

Chancay Port was in the news recently. It is located in:

(a) China

(b) Oman

(c) South Africa

(d) Peru

Explanation

— Chinese President Xi Jinping inaugurated Peru’s Chancay Port, describing it as the starting point for a “new land-sea corridor between China and Latin America”.

— The vast $3.6 billion project, funded by China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has also generated concerns in US policymaking circles about Chinese influence in an area that has long been considered its backyard.

— The port is located about 78 km north of the Peruvian capital of Lima, Chancay is a small fishing town with a population of around 60,000. It is a natural deep-water port, however, previous feasibility studies on building up infrastructure pointed out heavy construction costs.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

Recently, Cyclone Chido, the strongest storm has caused massive damage across:

(a) Maldives

(b) Fiji

(c) Madagascar

(d) Mayotte (French Island)

Explanation

— Cyclone Chido, the most powerful cyclone to visit Mayotte, has wrought widespread devastation on the French island in the Indian Ocean.

— Authorities believe at least several hundred people have died, and the death toll might rise to thousands. The typhoon, which slammed on Saturday with winds surpassing 225 km/h (140 mph), destroyed entire neighbourhoods and damaged crucial services such as water and electricity, according to the Associated Press.

— The most severe damage has happened in Mayotte’s poorest districts, particularly the slums, where many people live in flimsy metal shacks.

— France has sent rescue teams and essential supplies to the island, but their operations are hampered by damaged roads, airports, and power lines.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 89)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 89)

Daily subject-wise quiz —  Science and Technology (Week 89)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 89)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 89)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 88)

Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week.