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

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: The OPCW is not an EU organization. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is an independent, autonomous international organization established in 1997 to implement the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). While OPCW collaborates with the UN, WHO, and other international agencies, it is not directly linked to NATO or the EU.

Statement 2 is correct: OPCW verifies and inspects chemical industries worldwide to ensure compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention. It prevents the development and stockpiling of chemical weapons by monitoring the production and trade of dual-use chemicals.

Statement 3 is correct: OPCW helps member states (States Parties) with protective measures against chemical weapon threats. It provides technical and logistical assistance in case of chemical attacks or threats.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The Third India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) was held in 2015 in New Delhi, India. The first Summit was held in 2008 (New Delhi, India), and the second was in 2011 (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia).

Statement 2 is incorrect: The India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) was first initiated in 2008, not in 1951. Jawaharlal Nehru did not start this summit; however, he played an important role in strengthening India-Africa relations through the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). The India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) began in 2008 under the leadership of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh as a formal platform to strengthen relations between India and African nations.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was a trade agreement, not a security alliance. Not all Pacific Rim countries were part of TPP. The TPP originally included 12 countries: United States, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Brunei, Australia, and New Zealand. China and Russia were excluded, but many Pacific Rim countries like Indonesia, South Korea, and the Philippines were also not part of TPP. In 2017, the U.S. withdrew from TPP, and the remaining 11 countries renegotiated it as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). In 2024, the United Kingdom became the first European country to join the CPTPP.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The TPP was purely a trade and economic agreement, focusing on reducing tariffs, setting trade rules, and boosting investment. It was not related with maritime security or military alliances. Maritime security issues in the Pacific are mainly handled by ASEAN, APEC, and military alliances like AUKUS and the Quad, not by TPP.

Explanation

The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is an annual report published by IFPRI (International Food Policy Research Institute) until 2018, and now by Concern Worldwide and Wel-thungerhilfe. It measures and tracks hunger at global, regional, and national levels using the following four key indicators:

Undernourishment Child Wasting Child Stunting Child Mortality

Explanation

The European Stability Mechanism (ESM) is a permanent crisis resolution mechanism for the eurozone. It was established in 2012 to provide financial assistance to eurozone countries experiencing severe economic difficulties. The ESM offers loans, purchases bonds, and provides credit lines to stabilize member economies and prevent financial conta-gion within the euro area. The European Stability Mechanism (ESM), headquartered in Luxembourg, was established to re-place the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) and is funded by eurozone member states. It acts as a ‘lender of last resort’ for eurozone countries, offering loans and other types of support under strict conditions, such as implementing economic reforms.

Explanation

RCEP is a free trade agreement between ASEAN’s 10 member states and their five trade partners--Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea--aiming to boost trade, investment, and economic cooperation across Asia-Pacific. RCEP covers trade in goods and services, investment, e-commerce, intellectual property, dispute settlement, and SMEs, fostering regional economic integration. The agreement gradually eliminates tariffs, enhances market access for goods and services, and simplifies rules of origin, benefiting global supply chains. RCEP promotes cross-border data flows, online consumer protection, and cybersecurity while improving investment protection and economic cooperation through capacity building and technology transfer. Ensuring equitable benefits, bridging economic disparities, and maintaining transparency remain key challenges. Despite this, RCEP represents a major milestone in global trade and economic collaboration.

Explanation

The Global Financial Stability Report (GFSR) is a bi-annual publication by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that assesses global financial stability, systemic risks, and vulnerabilities in the international financial system. The report examines macroeconomic conditions, financial markets, regulatory developments, and emerging risks. It provides policy insights to help policymakers and financial institutions mitigate potential crises. The IMF conducts quantitative and qualitative analysis, including stress tests and scenario evaluations, consulting with financial regulators and market experts for a comprehensive risk assessment.

Explanation

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a China-led global infrastructure and investment project aimed at enhancing trade and connectivity across Asia, Europe, and Africa. It consists of the Silk Road Economic Belt (land routes) and the Maritime Silk Road (sea routes), involving railways, roads, ports, power plants, and telecom infrastructure. BRI projects are financed by Chinese state-owned banks, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and the Silk Road Fund. However, concerns about debt sustainability and financial transparency persist. Supporters highlight economic growth, trade facilitation, and regional integration, while critics warn of debt traps, environmental risks, and China’s geopolitical influence.

Explanation

Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières - MSF) MSF is a non-governmental, independent organization providing emergency medical aid in conflict zones, epidemics, natural disasters, and areas with limited healthcare access. Its teams include doctors, nurses, surgeons, logisticians, and administrators, working in high-risk environments to deliver critical healthcare services, including surgery, infectious disease treatment, maternal care, and mental health support. MSF relies primarily on private donations, ensuring neutrality and operational autonomy. It maintains strict financial transparency, publishing detailed reports on its funding and expenditures. Beyond medical aid, MSF raises awareness about humanitarian crises, neglected diseases, and human rights abuses. It advocates for improved healthcare access and humanitarian policies, using on-the-ground experience to influence public and policymaker decisions.

Explanation

Option (a) is incorrect: The linking of Cauvery and Tungabhadra rivers has not been a recent initiative.

Option (c) is incorrect: The Mahanadi and Son rivers have not been linked recently in any major project.

Option (d) is incorrect: The Narmada and Tapti rivers are not currently part of any linking project.

Option (b) is correct: The linking of the Godavari and Krishna rivers was undertaken as part of India’s efforts to improve water distribution and ensure efficient utilization of water re-sources. This project is part of the larger National River Linking Project aimed at transferring water from water-surplus areas to drought-prone regions, particularly to address water scarcity in the southern states.