UPSC 2019 International Relations and Current Affairs Questions with Answers

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.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) was established in 2006 to regulate natural gas and petroleum products. It is not the first regulatory body in India. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) (1997) and Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) (1992) were established earlier.

Statement 2 is correct: PNGRB ensures competitive gas markets, tariff regulation, and fair trade practices in natural gas distribution.

Statement 3 is correct: Appeals against PNGRB’s decisions are heard by the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL), which also deals with power sector disputes.

Explanation

India’s forest cover varies significantly across states, with eastern and central states having higher coverage. According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR), 2019, the correct ascending order based on percentage of forest cover to the total area is:

Maharashtra (16.47%) Madhya Pradesh (25.11%) Odisha (32.98%) Chhattisgarh (41.09%) Thus, the correct order is Maharashtra Madhya Pradesh Odisha Chhattisgarh (3-2-4-1).