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Each day, we cover one new subject. Attempt today’s subject quiz on International Relations to check your progress. Come back tomorrow to solve the MCQs on Weekly Current Affairs. Don’t miss checking the answers and explanations at the end of the quiz.
Consider the following pairs:
(Strait) (Location)
1. Malacca Between Malaysia and Indonesia
2. Sunda Between Australia and Papua New Guinea
3. Bab-el-Mandeb Between Yemen and Eritrea
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Consider the following countries:
1. Australia
2. Canada
3. India
4. Japan
How many of the above countries are members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
Which of the following lakes is shared by three riparian countries, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, with Rwanda and Burundi being part of the upper watershed draining into the lake?
(a) Lake Malavi
(b) Lake Tanganyika
(c) Lake Kivu
(d) Lake Victoria
The Nord Stream Pipeline connects
(a) Russia-Germany
(b) Russia-France
(c) Ukraine-Romania
(d) Ukraine-Poland
With reference to Operation Barkhane, consider the following statements:
1. The operation was started by Germany to station its troops in the SAHEL region of Africa.
2. The operation has become infamous for civilian deaths, regular armed attacks, and mine explosions.
3. The objective of the operation is to help Sahel nations maintain territorial integrity and prevent rise of Islamist groups.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
FYI:
| Strait | Location |
| Malacca | Between Malaysia and Indonesia |
| Sunda | Between Sumatra and Java Islands of Indonesia |
| Bab-el-Mandeb | Between Yemen and Djibouti |
Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.
FYI:
— Britain agreed to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a trade pact based around the Pacific rim, as it seeks to build ties around the world after leaving the European Union.
— CPTPP is a free trade agreement (FTA) that was agreed in 2018 between 11 countries – Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.
— It does not have a single market for goods or services, and so regulatory harmonisation is not required, unlike the European Union.
— Britain will become the 12th member, and the first to join since the partnership since its inception.
Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.
FYI:
— Lake Victoria is shared by three riparian countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, with Rwanda and Burundi being part of the upper watershed draining into the lake.
— This body of water has the potential to be an economic powerhouse, capable of supporting subsistence and market economies and safeguarding the future of significant population.
Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.
(Source: worldbank.org)
FYI:
— Nord Stream 1 is a 1,224 km underwater gas pipeline that runs from Vyborg in northwest Russia to Lubmin in northeastern Germany via the Baltic Sea. Majority owned by the Russian energy giant Gazprom, the pipeline is the primary route through which its gas enters Germany.
— According to Deutsche Welle, Germany is Russia’s biggest European gas consumer, and most of it comes through the Nord Stream Pipeline. Its share of Russian gas supplies was 55 per cent in 2021 and currently lies at 35 per cent.
— In 2015, Gazprom and 5 other European energy firms decided to build Nord Stream 2, valued at around $11 billion. The 1,200 km pipeline will run from Ust-Luga in Russia to Greifswald in Germany and will carry 55 billion cubic metres of gas per year.
Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.
FYI:
— Chad’s longest-serving president Idriss Déby died of injuries sustained during clashes with the rebel group FACT (Front for Change and Concord in Chad) on the frontlines.
— The former French colony is now prime outpost of the West in fighting Islamist militants across the Sahel — the vast region between the Sahara and the Sudanian savanna.
— The motive behind military operations in the Sahel countries is to fight Islamist groups, monitor political ambitions, and train future African leaders. Chad has been France’s most effective and stable Sahel ally in achieving these goals. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
— France has provided tremendous military and intelligence support to Chad over the years, including when it deployed troops and fighter jets to push back a Libyan and Sudanese offensive. It continues to maintain military bases in Chad’s border cities as well. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
— Operation Barkhane has become infamous for civilian deaths, regular armed attacks, and mine explosions. Civilians in the Sahel region are growing hostile toward foreign troops who have failed to protect them. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
UPSC CSE Mains 2023 season has begun. Are you ready for it? UPSC Essentials brings to you its new initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. Mains Answer Writing will cover essential topics of static and dynamic parts of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus covered under various GS papers. This answer-writing practice is designed to help you as a value addition to your UPSC CSE Mains. Try it out!
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 1)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 2)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 3)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 4)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 5)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 6)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 1)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 2)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 3)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 5)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 7)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 2)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 3)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 4)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 5)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 5)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 5)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 5)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 5)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 5)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 6)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 7)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 4 (Week 2)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 4 (Week 3)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 4 (Week 5)
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