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

Explanation

The International Grains Council (IGC) is an inter-governmental organization established in 1949 to promote cooperation and stability in the global grain trade. It operates under the Grains Trade Convention (GTC), 1995, which aims to enhance market transparency and international policy coordination. Headquartered in London, United Kingdom, the IGC has 30 member countries, including India, the USA, the EU, China, and Russia, working together to monitor grain supply, demand, and trade policies worldwide.

Statement 1 is correct: The IGC is an intergovernmental organization that promotes cooperation in the global grain trade. India, along with 29 other countries, is a member of the International Grains Council (IGC).

Statement 2 is incorrect: A country does not need to be a member of the IGC to export or import rice and wheat. Membership in the IGC is not a prerequisite for engaging in international trade of grains. Many countries actively participate in the global grains market without being members of the IGC.

Explanation

Statement I is correct: The Sahel region has been experiencing escalating instability and poor security situation due to a combination of factors, including violent extremism, weak governance, climate change, and displacement crises. Terrorist groups such as Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and Islamic State Sahel Province (IS Sahel) have expanded their influence, leading to widespread violence and insecurity across countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

Statement II is correct: Over the last three years, the African Sahel region has witnessed a wave of coups d’état in seven countries that extend from Guinea on the Atlantic Ocean to Sudan on the Red Sea. Five military coups succeeded in five countries, in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Niger, and Gabon, while three other nations--Tunisia, Chad, and Sudan--had constitutional coups. These coups have further destabilized the region by weakening governance structures and creating power vacuums that terrorist groups have exploited. The coups disrupted counterterrorism efforts, weakened state institutions, and led to the withdrawal of foreign military support (e.g., France’s Operation Barkhane), all of which have emboldened extremist groups to expand their activities. Thus, both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II correctly explains Statement-I.

Explanation

Statement I is correct: The European Parliament recently approved the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA) to bolster EU production in technologies needed for decarbonization. The "Net-Zero Industry Act", sets a target for Europe to produce 40% of its annual deployment needs in net-zero technologies by 2030, based on National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs).

Statement 2 is incorrect: The European Union aims to be carbon-neutral by 2050, not 2040, an economy with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. By 2040, the EU aims to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 90% compared to 1990 levels, as part of its interim climate goals. This objective is at the heart of the European Green Deal, and is a legally binding target thanks to the European Climate Law.

Explanation

Venezuela is an example of a petrostate, where the government is highly dependent on fossil fuel income, power is concentrated, and corruption is widespread. Petrostates are vulnerable to what economists call Dutch disease, in which a government develops an unhealthy dependence on natural resource exports to the detriment of other sectors.

Statement I is incorrect: While Venezuela has shown modest economic growth in recent years, it is far from achieving a full recovery from its prolonged economic crisis. Poverty, hyperinflation, and deteriorating public services persist, and millions of Venezuelans continue to emigrate due to poor living conditions and political instability. As of 2025, more than 7.7 million Venezuelans have fled the country, making it one of the largest refugee crises in the world.

Statement II is correct: Venezuela has the largest amount of oil reserves in the world with more than 300 billion barrels in reserve. Saudi Arabia has the second-largest amount of oil re-serves in the world with 297.5 billion barrels.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: The World Toilet Organization (WTO) is an independent global non-profit organisation committed to improving toilet and sanitation conditions world-wide. It was founded in 2001. It is not an agency of the United Nations but it was granted consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 2013.

Statement 2 is correct: Through its initiatives, such as World Toilet Day, World Toilet Summit, World Toilet College and SaniShop, WTO continues to mobilise an international network of partners, supporters, donors, governments and international organisations to advocate for effective sanitation policies to ensure health, dignity and well-being for everyone, everywhere. The World Toilet Summit and World Toilet Day were launched in 2001, and the World Toilet College was introduced in 2005 to address sanitation challenges through education and training.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The main focus of the organisation is to continue to build the global sanitation movement through collaborative action. The WTO’s primary focus is on advocacy, education, and capacity building rather than directly granting funds. It provides a platform for stakeholders to collaborate and exchange knowledge but does not primarily act as a funding body.

Explanation

The "100 Million Farmers" initiative, spearheaded by the World Economic Forum, aims to revolutionize global food systems by encouraging sustainable agricultural practices. Its key goals include achieving net-zero carbon emissions, improving biodiversity, and strengthening farmers’ resilience to the effects of climate change. The platform unites diverse stakeholders--such as businesses, governments, farmers, international organizations, and innovators--to collaboratively advance this transformation. By prioritizing regenerative agriculture and climate adaptation strategies, the initiative seeks to help farmers transition to sustainable practices through innovative financial models and partnerships. It also aims to position food systems and farmers at the forefront of global efforts to address climate and environmental challenges, aligning with broader sustainability objectives.

Explanation

Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: The Donbas region in eastern Ukraine includes Donetsk and Luhansk, which border Russia. These areas host the Russia-backed separatist entities, the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People’s Re-public (LPR). Collectively, the entire region, including these territories, is referred to as Donbas.

Pair 2 is incorrectly matched: Kachin Region lies in the northern part of Myanmar. The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has been fighting against Myanmar’s military for greater autonomy.

Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: Tigray is not located in North Yemen. It is a region in northern Ethiopia where a conflict erupted in November 2020 between the Ethiopian federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

Explanation

Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: North Kivu and Ituri are located in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. In these two provinces a "State of Siege" was declared in response to escalating violence.

Pair 2 is incorrectly matched: Nagorno-Karabakh is a landlocked, mountainous region at the heart of a long-standing conflict between Azerbaijan and its predominantly Armenian population, which is backed by neighboring Armenia. Although internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, the region remains a source of ongoing dispute.

Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: Russia has disclosed voting results indicating significant backing from four Ukrainian provinces-- Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson to unite with Russia.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: Israel has established diplomatic relations with several Arab states over the years. Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, followed by Jordan in 1994. The Abraham Accords of 2020 led to normalization agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco. These agreements marked significant milestones in Arab-Israeli relations.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Arab Peace Initiative (API) was proposed by Saudi Arabia in 2002 and endorsed by the Arab League but it was not signed by Israel. The API offered normalization of relations between Arab states and Israel in exchange for Israel’s withdrawal from occupied territories, the establishment of a Palestinian state, and a "just solution" for Palestinian refugees.

Explanation

In recent years, several African nations have experienced military takeovers. In Chad, after President Idriss Déby’s death in 2021, his son led a military coup and established a Transitional Military Council. In Sudan, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan led a 2021 coup, dissolving the civilian government and sparking protests. Mali saw two military coups in 2020 and 2021, with Colonel As-simi Goita overthrowing President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta and later taking power himself. In Guinea, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya led a 2021 coup, ousting President Alpha Conde after his controversial bid for a third term.