International Relations: UPSC Previous Year Questions (International Relations and Current Affairs)

Explanation

The G20 (Group of Twenty) is an international forum consisting of 19 countries, African Union and the European Union. It represents the world’s largest economies, including both industrialized and developing nations. The G20 focuses on global economic issues, financial stability, and sustainable devel-opment. G20 Member Countries include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada; China, France, Germany, India; Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkiye, United Kingdom, United States, Europe-an Union and African Union.

Option (a) is correct: Argentina, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey all are members of G20

Option (b) is incorrect: Malaysia and New Zealand are not a part of G20

Option (c) is incorrect: Iran & Vietnam are not a part of G20

Option (d) is incorrect: Singapore is not a member of G20.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: While India-Sri Lanka trade has grown over time but it has not shown consistent growth every year. Trade fluctuated due to factors such as economic slow-downs, policy changes, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Statement 2 is correct: Textiles and textile articles form a major component of India’s exports to Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a leading global exporter of garments, and it imports raw materials (cotton, yarn, and fabric) from India for its textile and apparel industry. Textiles and made-ups account for 56% of Indian imports from Bangladesh.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Bangladesh, not Nepal, has been In-dia’s largest trading partner in South Asia over the past five years. In the fiscal year 2022-23 India’s exports to Bangladesh were valued at US$ 13.84 billion which makes it one of India’s top export destinations.

Explanation

Pair 1 is correctly matched: The Alma-Ata Declaration (1978) was adopted at the International Conference on Primary Health Care (PHC) in Alma-Ata (now Almaty, Kazakhstan). It emphasized "Health for All" and the importance of primary healthcare.

Pair 2 is incorrectly matched: The Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907 primarily focus on the laws of war and the conduct of hostilities including the prohibition of certain means of warfare. The control of biological and chemical weapons is covered by the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), not the Hague Convention.

Pair 3 is correctly matched: The Talanoa Dialogue was launched by Fiji during its presidency of the 23rd Conference of the Parties (COP23) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2017. It is a facili-tative dialogue aimed at encouraging countries to enhance their climate action and ambition under the Paris Agreement. The term "Talanoa" refers to a traditional Pacific Island approach to inclusive and participatory dialogue.

Pair 4 is incorrectly matched: The Under2 Coalition is an initiative for climate action which brings together subnational governments (states, provinces, and cities) to limit global warming below 2°C and not on child rights. Child rights are addressed by other organizations and agreements such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).