UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : International Relations (Week 32)

1. It is a subsidiary body of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

2. UNCITRAL model is most widely accepted legal framework to deal with cross-border insolvency issues.

3. UNCITRAL South Asia Conference, 2023 a flagship event co-hosted by China.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

QUESTION 2

Both the countries have decided to elevate bilateral ties to strategic partnership, promised to double bilateral trade by 2030. The two sides also agreed to have an institutional dialogue framework at the level of National Security Advisers besides vowing to strengthen defence industrial cooperation. Both the countries decided to expand cooperation in areas of defence and security, infrastructure, agriculture, education and new and emerging technologies.

The above-mentioned lines refer to relations between

(a) India-Jordan

(b) India-UAE

(c) India-Greece

(d) India-Israel

QUESTION 3

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

1. It represents around 65 per cent of the world’s population.

2. The decision among the BRICS grouping are unanimous.

3. The group has invited Argentina to join the alliance.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

QUESTION 4

Consider the following places:

    (Place)                                    (Location)

1. Kidal                                        Malaysia

2. Oahu                                      United States

3. Reykjanes Peninsula         Sweden

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

QUESTION 5

Consider the following countries:

1. India

2. South Korea

3. United States

4. Russia

5. Chile

How many of the above countries are part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)?

(a) Only two

(b) Only three

(c) Only four

(d) All five

ANSWERS TO THE MCQs

1. (b)

FYI:

— The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) is the core legal body of the United Nations system in the field of international trade law.

— It is subsidiary body of the UNGA was established in 1966 with the general mandate to further the progressive harmonization and unification of the law of international trade. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) plays a key role in developing that framework in pursuit of its mandate to further the progressive harmonization and modernization of the law of international trade.

— UNCITRAL membership is structured to represent different legal traditions and levels of economic development. The UNCITRAL model is most widely accepted legal framework to deal with cross-border insolvency issues. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— UNCITRAL maintains close links with international and regional organizations, both inter-governmental and non-governmental, that are active participants in the work programme of UNCITRAL and in the field of international trade and commercial law.

— UNCITRAL South Asia Conference, 2023, a flagship event co-hosted with the Ministry of External Affairs, Republic of India and the UNCITRAL National Coordination Committee of India on 14 – 16 September in New Delhi. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: uncitral.un.org)

2. (c)

FYI:

— Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis decided to elevate bilateral ties to strategic partnership, promised to double bilateral trade by 2030, and agreed to finalise a migration and mobility pact soon during their first Prime Ministerial visit to Greece in 40 years.

— The two decided to expand cooperation in areas of defence and security, infrastructure, agriculture, education and new and emerging technologies.

— The two sides also agreed to have an institutional dialogue framework at the level of National Security Advisers besides vowing to strengthen defence industrial cooperation.

— India and Greece support diplomacy and dialogue to resolve the Ukraine crisis, adding both sides have “excellent coordination” on geopolitical, international and regional issues including that of the Indo-Pacific.

— Mitsotakis stated that both sides are fully committed to maintaining maritime security and the importance of adhering to the Convention on the Law of the Sea, which is critical in light of concerns about the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Indo-Pacific.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

3. (b)

FYI:

— The five-member BRICS invited six more countries to join the alliance. The group has invited Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Egypt, and Ethiopia. Their membership will begin in January. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— BRICS is a unique Grouping consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa with shared opportunities and common challenges.

— BRICS currently represents around 40% of the world’s population and more than a quarter of the world’s GDP. With the additions, it will represent almost half the world’s population, and will include three of the world’s biggest oil producers, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Iran. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— The formation of BRICS in 2009 was driven by the idea that the four emerging markets of Brazil, Russia, India, and China would be the future economic powerhouses of the world. South Africa was added a year later.

— BRICS decisions are unanimous, that is, all members have to agree for any move to go ahead. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

4. (a)

FYI:

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

5. (c)

FYI:

— The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) grouping meeting concluded in San Francisco in the United States.

— APEC is a regional economic forum that was established in 1989. Its stated aim was to “leverage the growing interdependence of the Asia-Pacific and create greater prosperity for the people of the region through regional economic integration”.

— The 21 members of APEC are termed “economies” (rather than countries or member states) because trade and economic issues are the focus of the grouping.

— The APEC economies are Australia, Brunei, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong (as part of China), the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Canada, the United States, Mexico, Peru, and Chile – as located geographically around the Pacific Ocean.

— India is not a member.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 32)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 32)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 32)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 32)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 31)

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