UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : International Relations MCQs on WTO, Orenburg, and more (Week 53)

1. It is the most populous country in East Africa.

2. The country might decide on currency devaluation to secure a rescue loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

3. The birr is the country’s primary currency.

The above mentioned statements refer to:

(a) Uganda

(b) Ethiopia

(c) Zambia

(d) Djibouti

QUESTION 2

Trypilska thermal power plant was recently in news due to massive missile and drone attack. It is located in:

(a) Ukraine

(b) Syria

(c) Egypt

(d) Russia

QUESTION 3

The city of Orenburg was in news due to collapse of a dam and rise in the water level. It is located in:

(a) Iceland

(b) United States

(c) Russia

(d) China

QUESTION 4

Consider the following statements about the World Trade Organization (WTO):

1. It was founded in the year 1945.

2. It aims to promote free trade through trade agreements discussed and signed by the member states.

3. All the decisions are taken through consensus and any member can exercise a veto.

4. The Ministerial Conference, the decision-making body of WTO meets every year.

How many of the statements given above are not correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

QUESTION 5

Which of the following countries battling a worsening insurgency waged by jihadi linked groups?

(a) Ghana

(b) South Africa

(c) Egypt

(d) Niger

ANSWERS TO THE MCQs

1. (b)

FYI:

— Ethiopia may have to decide on a big currency devaluation sooner rather than later to secure a rescue loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

— It is East Africa’s most populous country.

— The country already struggling with high inflation, became the third African state in as many years to default on its debt in December.

— Ethiopia hasn’t received any IMF funds since 2020 and its last lending arrangement with the fund went off track in 2021.

— The birr is the country’s primary currency.

— The IMF, which acknowledged progress was achieved during its most recent visit, has not stated that currency reform is required for its support. However, the Fund normally prefers flexible, market-determined exchange rates. Ethiopia has requested $3.5 billion in assistance from the IMF.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

2. (a)

FYI:

— A massive missile and drone attack destroyed one of Ukraine’s largest power plants and damaged other parts of a renewed Russian campaign targeting energy infrastructure.

— The Trypilska plant, the largest energy provider for Kyiv, Cherkasy, and Zhytomyr, was hit several times, destroying the transformer, turbines, and generators and setting the plant on fire.

— The Trypilska plant supplied electricity to 3 million users, with no power outages because the grid was able to adapt for low demand at this time of year.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

3. (c)

FYI:

— Nearly 12,000 houses have been flooded in a Russian region bordering Kazakhstan as water levels in the Ural River keep rising and threatening more deluge.

— The floods sparked evacuations of thousands in the Orenburg region, located some 1,200 kilometers (745 miles), southeast of the capital of Moscow after a dam on the river burst last week under the pressure of surging waters.

— According to Pasler, the situation is particularly serious in Orenburg, the region’s administrative capital, where the water level in the Ural River has hit a historical high of 10.87 metres (approximately 36 feet).

— The floodwaters drove over 4,000 people, including 885 children, to flee the Orenburg region, the regional government said Sunday.

— The floods forced the Orsk oil refinery to cease operations.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

4. (b)

FYI:

— The World Trade Organization is the only international organization that deals with the rules of trade between countries.

— It was founded in 1995, the WTO is run by its 164 members, and according to its rules, all decisions are taken through consensus and any member can exercise a veto. Hence, statement 1 is not correct and statement 3 is correct.

— It aims to promote free trade, which is done through trade agreements that are discussed and signed by the member states. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The WTO also provides a forum for countries to negotiate trade rules and settle economic disputes.

— The Ministerial Conference is the WTO’s top decision-making body and usually meets every two years. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.

— All members of the WTO are involved in the Ministerial Conference and they can take decisions on all matters covered under any multilateral trade agreements.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

5. (d)

FYI:

— State television in Niger has broadcast footage of Russian military trainers arriving in the country aboard a plane equipped with security supplies.

— Niger is battling a worsening insurgency waged by jihadi linked groups.

— Until now, the United States has trained Nigerien soldiers and regarded the country as a close and stable friend in a region plagued by corps and failed coups.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 53)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 53)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 53)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 53)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 52)

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