UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : International Relations MCQs on location of Greenland, Mercosur and more (Week 145)

4. The Labrador Sea is to the south of Greenland.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Relevance:Greenland’s location is crucial for understanding Arctic geopolitics, including emerging sea routes, NATO interests, and US–Russia strategic competition. Such map-based questions link physical geography with international relations, a common UPSC prelims trend.

Explanation

— Thousands of people in Greenland and Denmark have protested against comments by US President Donald Trump about taking control of Greenland, an autonomous territory under Danish rule.

Location of Greenland

— The Greenland Sea lies to the east/northeast of Greenland. Hence, 2 is not correct.

— Iceland is to the south-east, not south-west. Hence, 3 is not correct.

— The Baffin Bay lies to the west of Greenland. Hence, 1 is not correct.

— The Labrador Sea lies to the south of Greenland. Hence, 4 is correct.

Therefore, option (a) is correct answer.

QUESTION 2

Which of the following countries is Latin America’s largest official source of aid and credit, offering an estimated $303 billion in financing across the region between 2000 and 2023?

(a) United States

(b) Russia

(c) China

(d) France

Relevance: The question reflects shifting global economic influence and the growing role of external powers in Latin America, a recurring theme in international relations and current affairs. 

Explanation

— China has economically displaced the United States in 10 of 12 countries in South America alone, according to research by Francisco Urdinez, an associate professor of political science at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. China now engages in more trade, investment and development financing than the United States in most of the region, including Central America.

— China is Latin America’s largest official source of aid and credit, offering an estimated $303 billion in financing across the region between 2000 and 2023, according to AidData, a research institute at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Between 2014 and 2023, for every $1 lent or given in aid by the United States in Latin America and the Caribbean, China provided $3, said Brad Parks, the executive director of AidData.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

Which of the following countries are members of the Mercosur (South American trade bloc)?

1. Argentina

2. Bolivia

3. Venezuela

4. Brazil

5. Chile

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 2, 3 and 4

(b) 1, 2 and 4

(c) 3, 4 and 5

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Relevance:Mercosur frequently appears in the context of regional trade blocs and South–South economic integration. A clear distinction between full members, associate members, and suspended members helps avoid common MCQ traps in IR questions.

Explanation

— The European Union and Mercosur, the South American trade bloc, are set to finally sign a free trade agreement in Paraguay, concluding negotiations dating back to 1999.

— Mercosur comprises Brazil, its largest member by territory, economy and population, along with Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia, the newest member. Venezuela, once a member, has been suspended indefinitely.

Meeting to sign a free trade deal between the European Union and Mercosur in Asuncion, Paraguay. (AP Photo)

— Chile, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Suriname are the associate members, not full members.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

Which of the countries is involved in a long-running dispute over sharing Nile River waters?

1. Ethiopia

2. Chad

3. Libya

4. Egypt

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 4

(b) 3 and 4 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1 and 4 only

Relevance: Nile water-sharing disputes are central to transboundary river politics, hydro-diplomacy, and regional stability in Africa. Such questions link geography with international relations, especially issues of water security, upstream–downstream conflicts, and international law.

Explanation

— Donald Trump has said the United States is ready to resume mediation between Egypt and Ethiopia to help resolve their long-running dispute over sharing Nile river waters.

— Trump stressed that no country should control the Nile in a way that harms others. “The United States affirms that no state in this region should unilaterally control the precious resources of the Nile and disadvantage its neighbours in the process,” he said.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

With reference to the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC), consider the following statements:

1. India recently hosted the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) in New Delhi.

2. It was established in 1969 by the then Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons.

3. It is an autonomous entity with formal affiliation with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Relevance:CSPOC reflects India’s growing role in parliamentary diplomacy and engagement with the Commonwealth, a recurring theme in polity–IR current affairs. Questions test awareness of international parliamentary forums, their origin, and institutional linkages—often used for statement-based elimination in prelims.

Explanation

— India recently hosted the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) in New Delhi from January 14-16, 2026, marking the fourth time India has hosted this significant parliamentary event. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— India’s Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla chaired the meeting attended by representatives of 53 Commonwealth countries and 14 autonomous parliaments from different parts of the world.

— The conference is confined largely to members of the Commonwealth. But the issues related to Parliament that it is likely to debate have a certain relevance far beyond the Commonwealth. Issues likely to be taken up include the role of Speakers and Presiding Officers in maintaining strong democratic institutions; use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in parliaments; social media and its impact on Members of Parliament; and innovative strategies to enhance public understanding of parliament and citizens’ participation beyond voting.

— The CSPOC was established in 1969 by the then Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons, and since its inception, it is Canada that has provided secretarial support for all its activities. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— It bears mentioning that the CSPOC is an autonomous entity with no formal affiliation with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, even if the membership of both fora is identical. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 140)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 145)

Daily subject-wise quiz —  Science and Technology (Week 145)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 145)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 145)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 144)

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