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

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).

Explanation

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is a cryptographic framework that ensures secure electronic transactions, authentication, and digital signatures. It involves the use of public and private keys, digital certificates, and certificate authorities to enable safe communication online. PKI plays a crucial role in areas such as e-governance, online banking, Aadhaar authentication, and cybersecurity. In India, the Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA) oversees digital signature certificates (DSCs) and encryption technologies under the Information Technology Act, 2000, making PKI integral to the country’s digital security infrastructure.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air is not part of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). It is a supplementary protocol to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) adopted in 2000. The UNCAC was adopted in 2003 and focuses specifically on combating corruption and does not include provisions related to migrant smuggling.

Statement 2 is correct: The UNCAC adopted in 2003 is the first legally binding global instrument to combat corruption. It provides a comprehensive framework for preventing and criminalizing corruption, promoting international cooperation, and recovering illicitly acquired assets. It has been ratified by nearly all UN member states.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The UNTOC primarily focuses on combating transnational organized crime, including human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and illicit arms trafficking. It includes provisions for international cooperation and asset recovery but it does not have a specific chapter dedicated to returning assets to their rightful owners. This is a key feature of the UNCAC, which has a detailed chapter (Chapter V) on asset recovery.

Statement 4 is correct: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is responsible for helping countries implement both UNCAC and UNTOC. UNODC provides technical assistance, legal advice, and training to strengthen anti-corruption and anti-crime efforts.

Explanation

Option (a) is incorrect: The IMF focuses on global financial stability and publishes reports like the World Economic Outlook (WEO) and Global Financial Stability Report (GFSR).

Option (b) is incorrect: UNCTAD publishes reports on trade and development such as the World Investment Report (WIR) and Trade and Development Report (TDR).

Option (c) is correct: The World Economic Forum’s annual Global Competitiveness Report (GCR) ranks economies using the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI). It evaluates factors like infrastructure, innovation, and market efficiency.

Option (d) is incorrect: The World Bank publishes reports like the World Development Report (WDR). However, this report has been discontinued recently.

Explanation

Option (b) is correct: The Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field was signed between India and Russia in 2018. This agreement is part of the long-standing strategic partnership between India and Russia in the field of civil nuclear energy. The deal aims to enhance cooperation in areas such as nuclear power plant construction, nuclear fuel supply, and joint research and devel-opment in nuclear technology. The agreement was signed during the 19th India-Russia Annual Summit in New Delhi between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Key areas of cooperation included:

Construction of more nuclear power plants in India (like Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu). Localization of nuclear component manufacturing in India. Joint collaboration in third-country nuclear projects.

Explanation

Option (a) is incorrect: Australia has its own privacy regulations under the Privacy Act of 1988. While it does have laws to protect personal data, they are not as comprehensive or as strict as the GDPR.

Option (b) is incorrect: Canada follows the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), which also protects data privacy but is not as extensive as the GDPR. PIPEDA regulates the handling of personal information in the private sector, but it is not as stringent or comprehensive as the GDPR.

Option (c) is correct: The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a law on data protection and privacy adopted by the European Union (EU) It is one of the most comprehensive and stringent data protection laws globally, aimed at enhancing individuals’ control over their personal data and regulating how businesses process and store personal information. It includes rights such as data portability, the right to be forgotten, and the right to access personal data.

Option (d) is incorrect: The United States of America has a more fragmented approach to data privacy, with sector-specif-ic regulations such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). There is no single overarching federal law like the GDPR in the US.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Central (Amendment) Rules, 2018 introduced fixed-term employment, allowing companies to hire workers for a specific period based on written contracts. Employers are not required to provide retrenchment benefits or notice periods for non-renewal of contracts, making it easier to terminate employment. Once the contract ends, the employer is not obliged to provide further employment. This effectively makes it easier for companies to let go of workers without facing legal hurdles.

Statement 2 is correct: As per the amendment rules, temporary workers, including those on fixed-term contracts, do not require a notice of termination if their contract expires naturally. The employer is not obligated to provide a prior notice period or severance pay unless stated in the contract.

Explanation

Denisovans were an extinct hominin species closely related to Neanderthals and modern humans. Denisovans are an extinct species of archaic humans who lived around 50,000 to 300,000 years ago. They were first identified from DNA extracted from fossils found in the Denisova Cave in Siberia, Russia in 2010. They are closely related to Neanderthals and also interbred with early modern humans (Homo sapiens). Genetic studies show that traces of Denisovan DNA can still be found in present-day humans, especially in Melanesians, Australian Aboriginals, and some East Asian populations.

Explanation

Option (a) is correct: Maintenance of law and order is not a sub-index of the Ease of Doing Business Index. While law and order are important for the business environment, the index does not specifically measure this factor. Options (b), (c) and (d) are incorrect:

Paying taxes is indeed a sub-index. It evaluates the tax system’s efficiency, ease of compliance, and tax rates. Registering property is a sub-index that measures the ease of transferring property ownership and registering real estate. Dealing with construction permits is a sub-index. It assesses the procedures, time, and cost to build a warehouse, considering factors like zoning and construction approvals.