UPSC Essentials: Daily subject-wise quiz — International Relations (Week 7)

QUESTION 1

“Matabari Port” was in the news recently. It is located in:

(a) India

(b) Sri Lanka

(c) Bangladesh

(d) Myanmar

QUESTION 2

Consider the following statements about United Nations Statistical Commission:

1. It is the highest decision-making body for international statistical activities and responsible for setting statistical standards.

2. India has been elected to the UN statistical body for a 2-year term beginning on January 1, 2024.

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 3

With reference to the Bucharest Nine (B9), consider the following statements:

1. It is a group of nine countries in Eastern Europe that became part of the Russia-led military alliance.

2. All the countries of B9 are also members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

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 4

Which international organisation will host the secretariat of the Financial Intermediary Fund (FIF) for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response?

(a) International Monetary Fund

(b) World Bank

(c) BRICS

(d) Asian Development Bank

QUESTION 5

With reference to the G-7, which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?

1. It is an informal forum of leading industrialised nations.

2. India is the founding member of G-7.

3. Japan holds the presidency of the G7 in 2022.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 3 only

QUESTION 6

Consider the following statements about New Development Bank:

1. It was established in 2018 by the BRICS countries.

2. The bank aimed at mobilising resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other EMDCs.

3. It has announced the launch of its Indian Regional Office (IRO) in Gujarat.

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

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2 only

(d) 2 and 3 only

QUESTION 7

Consider the following statements about India-UN Development Partnership Fund:

1. It is managed by United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation.

2. It will be implemented under the leadership of partner developed countries leveraging the strengths of United Nations Agencies.

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 8

Spratly, Paracel, and Scarborough Shoal were recently in the news corresponding to:

(a) Islands of the Atlantic Ocean

(b) Islands of the western Pacific Ocean

(c) Islands in the Indian Ocean

(d) Islands in the South China Sea

ANSWERS TO MCQs

1. (c)

FYI:

— Shillong-based think-tank Asian Confluence organised the two-day conclave in association with the Japanese embassy on connectivity and regional partnership between Northeast India, the Bay of Bengal region, Bangladesh and Japan.

— In his address at the 3rd India-Japan Intellectual Conclave organised in Agartala, Japanese Ambassador to India Hiroshi Suzuki said that the development of northeast India is a priority of the Japanese government and said good prospects for trade and economy lie in the Bay of Bengal region, including Bangladesh, Northeast India and West Bengal.

— Tripura has a huge potential for international connectivity to become a regional trade and commerce gateway.

— The Matabari deep sea port, funded by Japan can be used along with the Chittagong and Mongla ports of Bangladesh and these would help the region to a great extent. Bangladesh and Northeast India can have a win-win prospect. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

2. (a)

FYI:

— The United Nations Statistical Commission, established in 1947, is the highest body of the global statistical system bringing together the Chief Statisticians from member states from around the world.

— It is the highest decision-making body for international statistical activities, responsible for setting statistical standards and developing concepts and methods, including their implementation at the national and international levels. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The Statistical Commission oversees the work of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), a functional commission of the UN Economic and Social Council.

— India has been elected to the UN Statistical Commission for a four-year term beginning on January 1, 2024.  Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

Other Source: (unstats.un.org)

3. (b)

FYI:

— The “Bucharest Nine” is a group of nine NATO countries in Eastern Europe that became part of the US-led military alliance after the end of the Cold War. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— The Bucharest Nine or Bucharest Format, often abbreviated as the B9, was founded on November 4, 2015, and takes its name from Bucharest, the capital of Romania.

— The Bucharest Format (B-9) offers a platform for deepening the dialogue and consultation among the participant allied states, in order to articulate their specific contribution to the ongoing processes across the North-Atlantic Alliance, in total compliance with the principles of solidarity and indivisibility of the security of the NATO Member States.

— The countries in the B-9 grouping are Romania and Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and the three Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

— All members of the B9 are part of the European Union (EU) and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

4. (b)

FYI:

— The new financial intermediary fund (FIF) for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR) was officially established by the FIF Governing Board at its inaugural meeting on September 8-9, 2022.

— The fund will provide a dedicated stream of additional, long-term financing to strengthen PPR capabilities in low- and middle-income countries and address critical gaps through investments and technical support at the national, regional, and global levels.

— The fund will draw on the strengths and comparative advantages of key institutions engaged in PPR, provide complementary support, improve coordination among partners, incentivize increased country investments, serve as a platform for advocacy, and help focus and sustain much-needed, high-level attention on strengthening health systems.

—  The World Bank will serve as the FIF’s trustee and host the Secretariat, including technical staff seconded by the World Health Organization (WHO).

— The Governing Board will appoint a Technical Advisory Panel, chaired by WHO, and comprising leading experts to assess and make recommendations to the Governing Board on the technical merits of proposals for funding, ensuring linkages to the International Health Regulations, as part of the broader global PPR architecture.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

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

5. (b)

FYI:

— The G7 is an informal forum of leading industrialised nations, which include Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The representatives of the European Union are always present at the annual meeting of the heads of state and government of the G7. Germany holds the presidency of the G7 in 2022. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has invited India, along with Argentina, Indonesia, Senegal, and South Africa to the 2022 Summit as partner countries. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— A number of international organisations, including the United Nations, the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank, are also participating in the Summit.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

6. (d)

FYI:

— It was established in 2015 by BRICS countries. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— The New Development Bank is a multilateral development bank aimed at mobilising resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other EMDCs. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The New Development Bank (NDB) announced the launch of its Indian Regional Office (IRO) in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City). Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— It will work in close coordination with the NDB Headquarters, the Indian Regional Office will focus on project origination (including initial project preparation and technical assistance), pipeline development, project implementation and monitoring as well as regional portfolio management.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

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

7. (a)

FYI:

— The India-UN Development Partnership Fund is managed by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC). Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— It is implemented under the leadership of partner developing countries leveraging the strengths of United Nations Agencies, Funds and Programmes. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

8. (d)

FYI:

— There has been an ongoing territorial dispute between China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia concerning the ownership of the Spratly Islands archipelago and nearby geographical features like coral reefs, cays, etc.

— The Spratly Islands are largely uninhabited, there is a possibility that they may have large reserves of untapped natural resources.

— The Paracel Islands dispute is slightly more complex. This archipelago is a collection of 130 islands and coral reefs and is located in the South China Sea, almost equidistant from China and Vietnam.

— Scarborough Shoal is a rock in the South China Sea, approximately 120 nautical miles west of the Philippine island of Luzon.

— The South China Sea lies just south of the Chinese mainland and is bordered by the countries of Brunei, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.