UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : International Relations MCQs on United Nations Security Council, Darfur region, bamboo diplomacy and more (Week 120)

QUESTION 1

With reference to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), consider the following statements:

1. It has 10 members, and each member has one vote.

2. The presidency of the Security Council shall be held in turn by the members of the Security Council in the English alphabetical order of their names.

3. Each President shall hold office for three months.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— India told a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting, presided over by Pakistan, that there should be a “serious cost” to nations which foment cross-border terrorism, with the country’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, calling the neighbouring nation a “serial borrower” that is “steeped in fanaticism”.

UNSC

— The Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. It has 15 Members, and each Member has one vote. Under the Charter of the United Nations, all Member States are obligated to comply with Council decisions. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— Rule 18 of the Security Council’s Provisional Rules of Procedure states: “The presidency of the Security Council shall be held in turn by the members of the Security Council in the English alphabetical order of their names. Each President shall hold office for one calendar month.” Hence, statement 2 is correct and statement 3 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: main.un.org)

QUESTION 2

Consider the following statements:

1. This country received independence from French colonial rule in 1960.

2. For a majority of its post-independence era, it has seen single-party rule, military coups and limited space for the survival of democratic governments.

3. It is part of the Sahel region.

4. Its capital city is Niamey.

The above mentioned country refers to:

(a) Libya

(b) Chad

(c) Algeria

(d) Niger

Explanation

— Two Indian migrant workers were killed in the West African country of Niger, and another was abducted after a terror attack on their worksite, officials said.

— The Indian Embassy in Niger said the Mission, in the capital city of Niamey, was in touch with local authorities to repatriate the mortal remains and ensure the safe release of the abducted Indian. It also advised all Indians in Niger to maintain vigilance.

— According to the Union Ministry of External Affairs, around 150 Indians are currently in Niger. They are mostly engaged in the hospitality/service/business sectors. This presents a decline from 2023, when around 250 Indians were in the country.

— In its modern history, Niger received independence from French colonial rule in 1960. For a majority of its post-independence era, it has seen single-party rule, military coups and limited space for the survival of democratic governments. Bazoum Mohamed’s 2021 victory in the presidential election marked the country’s first transition from one democratically elected president to another.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

Khorasan, Yazd, Sistan and Baluchestan are the provinces in:

(a) Iraq

(b) Afghanistan

(c) Iran

(d) Syria

Explanation

— For more than 40 years, Afghanistan has endured conflict, economic turmoil, natural disasters, poverty, and food scarcity. Successive waves of people fled the country to escape the Soviet invasion, civil wars, the US-led intervention, and the Taliban insurgency.

— Over time, a considerable number of them have sought sanctuary in adjacent Iran. However, the influx increased dramatically after the Taliban regained power in August 2021, resulting in a catastrophic humanitarian catastrophe and deteriorating human rights circumstances, particularly for girls and women. Currently, around 20,000 Afghans cross the border each day.

— Refugees to Iran have arrived from Kabul, Herat, Balkh, Nangarhar, and the Hazara districts. Large communities have since formed in regions including Razavi Khorasan, Sistan and Baluchestan, Khorasan, Tehran, and Yazd, particularly in low-income areas.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

The “Darfur region” was in the news. It lies within:

(a) Democratic Republic of Congo

(b) Tanzania

(c) Kenya

(d) Sudan

Explanation

— A Sudanese coalition led by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced a parallel government, a move fiercely opposed by the army that could drive the country further towards partition as a two-year-old civil war rages.

— The RSF controls much of the west of the country such as the vast Darfur region and some other areas but is being pushed back from central Sudan by the army, which has recently regained control over the capital Khartoum.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

With reference to Henley Passport Index 2025, consider the following statements:

1. The ranking of passports is based on the number of destinations their holders can travel to without obtaining a visa in advance.

2. Finland holds the number one spot.

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

Explanation

— In the Henley Passport Index, created by the London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners, India climbed eight spots to rank 77th, up from 85th last year.

— The number of destinations Indian passport holders can now visit visa-free or with visa-on-arrival has increased marginally to 59 from 57.

— Singapore holds the number one spot, offering visa-free travel to 193 destinations. Japan and South Korea are tied for second, each granting access to 190 countries. Hence, statement 2 is not correct. 

— Seven European countries — Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain — share the third spot with 189 destinations.

— The Henley Passport Index is a globally respected ranking of passports based on the number of destinations their holders can travel to without obtaining a visa in advance. The index is compiled using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and is updated quarterly. Hence, statement 1 is correct. 

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 6

The term ‘bamboo diplomacy’ is seen with reference to which of the following nations?

(a) Brazil

(b) Thailand

(c) Cambodia

(d) Vietnam

Explanation

— Nguyen Phu Trong, the Marxist-Leninist who led Vietnam for more than a decade overseeing rapid economic growth and more recently trod a fine line in elevating ties with both China and the U.S. with his ‘bamboo diplomacy’, has died. He was 80.

— In foreign policy, Trong advocated having “more friends, fewer foes” while being as flexible as bamboo. That stance culminated in a visit by President Joe Biden to Hanoi last September that saw Vietnam lift the United States to its highest diplomatic status alongside China, Russia, India and South Korea.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 7

With reference to the BRICS grouping, consider the following statements:

1. The New Development Bank established by BRICS aims to provide funding exclusively for BRICS member countries.

2. BRICS has created an alternative payment system called SWIFT to reduce reliance on Western-dominated systems.

3. The latest member to join BRICS is Saudi Arabia taking the total count of members to 10.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) All of the above

(d) None of the above

Explanation

— The New Development Bank also funds non-BRICS countries, not just BRICS members.

— BRICS is working on BRICS Pay, a payment system aimed at reducing reliance on SWIFT and the US dollar.

— Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Indonesia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates are its members.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 8

Consider the following statements regarding the UAE Golden Visa scheme 2025 :

1. Indian and Bangladeshi nationals can obtain lifetime UAE residency by paying a one-time fee without any investment in property or business.

2. The scheme is open to any applicant and does not require nomination by an authorised agency.

3. Citizens of China and Pakistan are also eligible under this pilot scheme.

Which of the statements given above is/are not correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) All of the above

Explanation

— Indian and Bangladeshi nationals are reportedly eligible to secure lifetime residency by paying a one-time fee of AED 100,000 (≈ ₹23.3 lakh), without requiring property or business investment.

— It is a nomination-only scheme, meaning applicants must be put forward by authorised partners, such as Rayad Group, VFS, or One Vasco—self-application is not permitted.

— All candidates undergo rigorous vetting, which includes anti‑money laundering checks, criminal background screening, and evaluation of their societal or professional contributions

— The pilot scheme currently applies only to Indian and Bangladeshi nationals. Citizens of countries like Pakistan and China are explicitly excluded in this phase.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 118)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 120)

Daily subject-wise quiz —  Science and Technology (Week 120)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 120)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 120)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 119)

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