UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : International Relations MCQs on International Monetary Fund, Rohingya community and more (Week 125)

QUESTION 1

Which of the following reports are published by the World Bank?

1. World Development Report

2. Global Financial Stability Report

3. World Economic Outlook

4. Poverty and Shared Prosperity

5. Global Economic Prospects

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1, 2 and 4 only

(c) 2, 3, 4 and 5

(d) 1, 4 and 5

Explanation

— Some of the reports published by the World Bank are:

(i) World Development Report: An annual flagship magazine with a special theme relating to global development.

(ii) Global Economic Prospects (GEP): A semiannual report that examines worldwide economic trends, particularly in emerging and developing economies.

(iii) Global Financial Development Report: The report examines the state of financial systems and their contribution to development.

(iv) Doing Business: A report that evaluates the regulatory environment for businesses in multiple nations.

(v) Poverty and shared prosperity: Poverty reduction and inclusive growth are the primary objectives.

— Global Financial Stability Report and World Economic Outlook are published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

(Source: http://www.worldbank.org)

QUESTION 2

With reference to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), consider the following statements:

1. The foundations of NATO were officially laid down by the Washington Treaty.

2. The Treaty derives its authority from Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.

3. There were 8 founding member countries when the treaty was signed.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) was officially established on April 4, 1949, with the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty, often known as the Washington Treaty. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The Treaty was signed on April 4, 1949, in Washington, D.C., by the twelve founding members. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— The Treaty draws its legitimacy from Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which underlines independent states’ fundamental right to individual or collective defence. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— NATO’s founding members included Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Source: http://www.nato.int)

QUESTION 3

Recently, Zamfara State was in the news. It is part of:

(a) Nigeria

(b) Benin

(c) Niger

(d) Cameroon

Explanation

— At least 13 people died and more than 20 were missing in northwestern Nigeria’s Zamfara State after the boat they crowded aboard to escape an attack by armed men sank in a river, local residents and officials said.

— Zamfara is an epicentre of attacks by armed men, known locally as bandits, amid a surge across Africa’s most populous country in recent months of factional bloodshed that often involves Islamist militias or criminal gangs.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

With reference to the Rohingya, consider the following statements:

1. They are a Buddhist ethnic group from the Rakhine State in Myanmar.

2. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the vast majority of Rohingyas live in refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar.

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

— Muhammad Yunus, the interim leader of Bangladesh, said that his country can no longer provide additional support to the more than 1.1 million Rohingya refugees living within its borders, and called on the international community to work on a roadmap for their “safe return” to Myanmar.

— The Rohingya are a predominantly Muslim ethnic group from the Rakhine State in Myanmar’s southwestern corner. They have suffered systematic discrimination, disenfranchisement, and targeted persecution for decades. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— Even before 2017, small and large groups have been coming to Bangladesh to flee ethnic violence in Rakhine: waves of Rohingya arrived in 1978, 1992, 2012, and 2016. The exodus of 2017 was triggered by a military campaign targeting the community, which resulted in mass torture, gangrape, executions, and the razing of hundreds of Rohingya villages.

— According to the latest figures from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there are currently 1,148,529 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, a vast majority of whom (1,111,490) live in 33 congested refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— This is due to the region’s proximity to the Rakhine state: refugees either cross the Naf river and make the journey to the camps over land or arrive at Cox’s Bazar’s sandy white beaches on rickety boats after journeying along the coast.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

With reference to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), consider the following statements:

1. It provides policy advice and technical support to help members create the right economic conditions and institutions for maintaining economic and financial stability, boosting growth, jobs, and living standards.

2. Its member countries are assigned individual “quotas”, which are the primary building blocks of the Fund’s financial structure.

3. The IMF relies on annual fees or grants from budget appropriations by its members.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— The IMF is not only a global financial firefighter. It also provides policy advice and technical support to help members create the right economic conditions and institutions for maintaining economic and financial stability, boosting growth, jobs, and living standards. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Its 191 member countries are assigned individual “quotas” based broadly on their relative positions in the world economy. These quotas are the primary building blocks of the Fund’s financial structure. They determine the maximum financial contribution of each member, and they also help define how much a country can borrow from the Fund. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— It’s a model that benefits both borrowers and creditors. In exchange for lending resources to the IMF, member countries obtain an interest-bearing, liquid, and secure claim on the fund. Importantly, that claim contributes to members’ foreign exchange reserves.

— Unlike many other international organisations, the IMF does not rely on annual fees or grants from member governments’ budgets. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— The Fund does not provide development assistance or project funding, such as loans to create infrastructure, etc.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Source: http://www.imf.org)

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 123)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 125)

Daily subject-wise quiz —  Science and Technology (Week 125)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 125)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 125)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 124)

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