UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : International Relations MCQs on UN General Assembly, SCO and more (Week 75)

1. Admission of new members to the UN

2. Election of the non-permanent members of the Security Council

3. Election of members of the Economic and Social Council

Select the correct answer using the code given below: (UPSC-CDS (II) – 2024)

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Note: The aspirants should also refer to the questions from other competitive exams conducted by the UPSC which might be useful for UPSC–CSE.

Explanation

— The United Nations General Assembly supported a Palestinian application to become a full UN member, recognising it as qualified and suggesting that the UN Security Council “reconsider the matter favourably.”

— The vote by the 193-member General Assembly was a global survey of support for Palestine’s attempt to become a full UN member, which would essentially recognise a Palestinian state after the US rejected it in the UN Security Council.

— The General Assembly’s decisions on key topics must be approved by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting. These questions will include:

(i) recommendations regarding the maintenance of international peace and security;

(ii) the election of non-permanent members of the Security Council;

(iii) Electing members of the Economic and Social Council;

(iv) Electing members of the Trusteeship Council in accordance with paragraph 1 (c) of Article 86;

(v) the admission of new members into the United Nations;

(vi) suspension of membership rights and privileges, as well as expulsion of Members;

(vii) questions about the operation of the trusteeship system and budgetary issues.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: http://www.un.org)

QUESTION 2

Recently, which of the following Southeast Asian countries has been hit by Typhoon Yagi?

(a) Myanmar

(b) Philippines

(c) Brunei Darussalam

(d) Vietnam

Explanation

— Typhoon Yagi, the most powerful storm to hit Asia this year, has wreaked havoc in Vietnam, leaving a trail of damage and killing at least 179 people.

— As the Red River rose to a 20-year high, hundreds of Hanoi residents were forced to leave their houses, leaving streets swamped in water.

— The storm, which made landfall on Saturday in the country’s north, delivered torrential rains and high winds, causing widespread floods and landslides.

— As a result of the flooding, Hanoi schools have been forced to close for the remainder of the week, and thousands of low-lying households have been evacuated for safety.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

Which of the following countries have signed a pact with India to expand energy cooperation including LNG supply and maintenance of Barakah Nuclear Power Plant?

(a) Saudi Arabia

(b) Kuwait

(c) United Arab Emirates

(d) Iran

Explanation

— India and the United Arab Emirates signed four pacts to expand energy cooperation as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with the visiting Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

— The four agreements include a long-term LNG supply arrangement between Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, as well as another between ADNOC and India Strategic Petroleum Reserve Ltd (ISPRL).

— Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the operation and maintenance of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, the Ministry of External Affairs announced.

— The fourth arrangement is a production concession agreement for Abu Dhabi Onshore Block 1 between Urja Bharat and ADNOC.

— The two presidents addressed India-UAE relations and how to expand the comprehensive strategic cooperation into new and developing areas.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

Which of the following countries have agreed to resolve disagreements peacefully and within the framework of international law in the South China Sea?

(a) China-Philippines

(b) China-Malaysia

(c) Malaysia-Vietnam

(d) Philippines-Vietnam

Explanation

— Vietnam and the Philippines agreed to boost their defence links and deepen collaboration on maritime security.

— The statement came when Vietnam’s Defence Minister Phan Van Giang was in Manila for meetings with his Philippine colleague Gilberto Teodoro.

— They also promised to address differences peacefully and in accordance with international law. The statement comes amid rising tensions between the Philippines and China over a territorial dispute in the South China Sea.

— This year has seen an escalation of tensions between China and the Philippines over disputed shoals in the South China Sea.

— The incidents have overshadowed both countries’ efforts to repair confidence and effectively manage conflicts, including the establishment of new channels of communication to improve their handling of maritime disputes.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

Which of the following statements with regard to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is/are correct? (UPSC-CDS (II) – 2024)

1. The official languages of the SCO are Russian and Chinese.

2. The SCO enjoys observer status in the UN General Assembly.

3. The SCO consists of 13 member states.

Select the answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 3

(c) 1 and 2

(d) 2 and 3

Note: The aspirants should also refer to the questions from other competitive exams conducted by the UPSC which might be useful for UPSC–CSE.

Explanation

— The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation.

— The main objectives of the SCO are to promote good relations among member countries, strengthen mutual confidence, make collective efforts to maintain peace, security, and stability in the region, and promote effective cooperation in various fields such as trade and economy, science and technology, culture, energy, transportation, tourism, environmental protection, etc.

— The member countries are India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus. Belarus joined SCO as the 10th member on 4th July 2024. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— India and Pakistan became full members of the organisation in 2017 at the meeting of the Heads of State Council of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Astana. In 2023, the status of a full member of the Organisation was granted to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

— The SCO has been an observer in the UN General Assembly since December 2, 2004. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— Russian and Chinese are the SCO’s official working languages. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: eng.sectsco.org)

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 75)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 75)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 75)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 74)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 74)

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