UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : International Relations (Week 20)

QUESTION 1

With reference to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), consider the following statements:

1. It is a free trade agreement (FTA) between countries based around the Pacific rim.

2. Britain is the founding member of the partnership.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

QUESTION 2

With reference to the Global Biofuels Alliance, consider the following statements:

1. India and France will work together towards the development of a Global Biofuels Alliance.

2. The alliance is aimed at facilitating cooperation and intensifying the use of sustainable biofuels, including in the transportation sector.

3. The Global Biofuel Alliance is one of the priorities under India’s G20 Presidency.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

QUESTION 3

Consider the following pairs:

         (Place)                    (Region)

1. Zmiinyi Island           Red Sea

2. Karakalpakstan        Afghanistan

3. Vale do Javari           Amazon Rainforest

How many of the pairs given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

QUESTION 4

Which of the following nations is not a part of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation?

(a) Myanmar

(b) Nepal

(c) Bangladesh

(d) Vietnam

QUESTION 5

Port of Hafia was in the news due to privatisation. The port is located in:

(a) Iran

(b) Oman

(c) Israel

(d) Yemen

ANSWERS TO THE MCQs

1. (a)

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. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— 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.

— Britain will become the 12th member, and the first to join since the partnership since its inception. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

2. (b)

FYI:

— Brazil, India and the United States are the leading producers of biofuels. They will work together towards the development of a Global Biofuels Alliance along with other interested countries. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— This Alliance will promote collaboration and the increased use of sustainable biofuels, notably in the transportation sector. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— It will focus on market growth, enabling global biofuels trade, developing meaningful policy lessons, and providing technical assistance to national biofuels programs throughout the world.

— The Alliance will collaborate with and supplement existing regional and international agencies, as well as initiatives in the bioenergy, bio-economy, and energy transition fields more broadly, such as the Clean Energy Ministerial Bio-future Platform, Mission Innovation Bioenergy initiatives, and the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP).

— The Global Biofuel Alliance is one of the priorities under India’s G20 Presidency. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Source: pib.gov.in)

3. (a)

FYI:

Place	Region
Zmiinyi Island	Black Sea
Karakalpakstan	Uzbekistan
Vale do Javari	Brazilian Amazon rainforest

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

4. (d)

FYI:

— The first-ever Foreign Ministers’ meeting of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) began in Bangkok, Thailand.

— BIMSTEC is a regional organisation that was established in 1997 with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration. Initially known as BIST-EC (Bangladesh-India-Sri Lanka-Thailand Economic Cooperation), the organisation is now known as BIMSTEC and comprises seven members, with Myanmar joining towards the end of 1997, and Bhutan and Nepal in 2004.

— Around 22 per cent of the world’s population live in the seven countries around the Bay of Bengal, with a combined GDP close to $2.7 trillion.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

5. (c)

FYI:

— The former ambassador of Israel to India Ron Malka said he has taken over the charge as Executive Chairman of Haifa Port Company (HPC), which is owned by a consortium of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) and Israel’s Gadot Group.

— In July 2022, a consortium of India’s Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) and Israel’s Gadot Group won the tender for privatizing the Port of Haifa, the second largest port in Israel handling over half of Israel’s container cargo.

— The APSEZ-Gadot Group consortium completed the acquisition of HPC from the government of Israel. APSEZ holds 70 per cent in the project, Gadot holds the balance 30 per cent. The concession period of Haifa port is up to 2054.

— The port is located in northern Israel and it is one of Israel’s two biggest commercial ports, handles nearly half of Israel’s container cargo, and is also a principal port for passenger traffic and cruise ships.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 20)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 20)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 20)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 20)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 19)

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