Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: Bidibidi is not in Kenya. It is one of the largest refugee settlements in the world located in north-western Uganda, near the border with South Sudan.

Statement 2 is correct: Bidibidi was established in 2016 to accommodate refugees fleeing the civil war in South Sudan. Bidibidi refugee settlement in Uganda shelters people displaced by the South Sudan civil war (2013-2018). Uganda hosts over 1 million South Sudanese refugees with Bidibidi being the largest settlement.

Statement 3 is correct: The Dadaab refugee complex, located in north-eastern Kenya, has been a major shelter for Somali refugees since the outbreak of civil war in Somalia in 1991. It remains one of the largest and longest-standing refugee camps globally.

Explanation

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN). It is responsible for granting observer status to non-member entities including states and intergovernmental organizations (IGOs).

Statement 1 is correct: The UNGA can grant observer status to non-member states. Having observer status allows them to participate in its sessions and work without voting rights. For example, the Holy See (Vatican City) and Palestine have Permanent Observer status in the UN.

Statement 2 is correct: Inter-governmental organizations (IGOs) can apply for observer status in the UNGA. Examples:

European Union (EU), African Union (AU) and International Organization for Migration (IOM) have observer status at the UN.

Statement 3 is correct: Permanent Observers at the UNGA can establish diplomatic missions at the UN Headquarters in New York. Example: The Holy See and Palestine maintain Permanent Observer Missions at the UN.

Explanation

The United Nations Credentials Committee is a subsidiary committee of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and not the UN Security Council. It is responsible for reviewing the credentials of representatives of UN member states and reporting its findings to the General Assembly.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Credentials Committee is established by the UN General Assembly (UNGA), not the UN Security Council (UNSC). It operates independently of the UNSC and reports directly to the General Assembly.

Statement 2 is incorrect: There is no fixed schedule for the Credentials Committee. It usually meets before the annual General Assembly session in September and whenever necessary. The statement that it meets three times a year (March, June, and September) is not correct.

Statement 3 is correct: The committee reviews and validates the credentials of representatives of all UN member states. It then submits a report to the General Assembly which then votes on whether to accept or reject the credentials. This process ensures that only legitimate representatives of member states participate in UN meetings and decisions.

Explanation

Option 1 is correct: Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a multilateral development bank headquartered in Beijing, China. It focuses on infrastructure financing in the Asia-Pacific region. India is a founding member (member since 2016) and the second-largest shareholder after China.

Option 2 is correct: Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) is an informal political agreement among 35 member countries to prevent the proliferation of missile technology capable of carrying WMDs (weapons of mass destruction). India became a full member in 2016, helping strengthen its missile development programs.

Option 3 is correct: Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance originally led by China and Russia. India joined as a full member in 2017 alongside Pakistan.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: Low, thick clouds, not the high clouds primarily reflect solar radiation and cool the surface of the Earth.

Statement 2 is incorrect: High, thin clouds, not the low clouds primarily transmit incoming solar radiation. At the same time, they trap some of the outgoing infrared radiation emitted by the Earth and radiate it back downward, thereby warming the surface of the Earth.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: Vietnam has been one of the fastest-growing economies in recent years, with GDP growth averaging 6-7% annually. Strong manufacturing, exports, and foreign direct investment (FDI) have driven growth.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Vietnam is a one-party communist state led by the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). There is no multi-party system in the country.

Statement 3 is correct: Vietnam’s economic growth is highly linked to its role in global supply chains, particularly in electronics, textiles, and manufacturing. It is a key exporter to the US, China, and the EU.

Statement 4 is correct: Vietnam has long attracted global manufacturers due to low labour costs, a skilled workforce, and currency stability. Major companies like Samsung, Apple (via suppliers), and Nike have expanded production in Vietnam.

Statement 5 is incorrect: While Vietnam has a growing digital economy, it does not have the most productive e-service sector in the Indo-Pacific. Countries like India and Singapore lead in e-services and digital innovation in the region.

Explanation

The Levant refers to the eastern Mediterranean region covering Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Palestine and parts of Turkey and Egypt (Sinai Peninsula). It is derived from the French word lever (to rise) and signifies the eastward direction of the rising sun. This region has been historically significant for trade, ancient civilizations, and conflicts. The term is also associated with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated terrorist organization.

Option (b) is incorrect: Region along North African shores stretching from Egypt to Morocco is generally referred to as the Maghreb, not the Levant. The Maghreb includes Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Mauritania with Egypt sometimes included in broader definitions.

Option (c) is incorrect: Region along Persian Gulf and Horn of Africa includes countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Yemen (Persian Gulf), and Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea (Horn of Africa).

Option (d) is incorrect: The Mediterranean coastline includes regions from Southern Europe, North Africa, and the Levant but the term "Levant" does not cover the entire Mediterranean.

Explanation

The G20 Common Framework for Debt Treatments beyond the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) was introduced in November 2020 to help low-income countries (LICs) manage unsustainable debt burdens caused by economic shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Statement 1 is correct: The G20 Common Framework was jointly developed by the G20 and the Paris Club, a group of major creditor nations that coordinate debt relief efforts. It aims to provide debt restructuring, relief, and sustainability measures for eligible countries.

Statement 2 is correct: The Common Framework focuses on low-income countries (LICs) with high debt burdens, particularly those eligible for the International Development Association (IDA) assistance. It allows for case-by-case debt restructuring, ensuring that LICs can stabilize their economies and recover from financial crises.

Explanation

Pair 1 is correctly matched: Anatolia is a historical and geographical region covering most of modern-day Turkiye. It is often in the news due to geopolitical issues, earthquakes, and archaeological discoveries.

Pair 2 is correctly matched: Amhara is a region in Ethiopia that has been in the news due to conflicts involving the Ethiopian government and Tigray forces. It is one of the major ethnic regions in Ethiopia.

Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: Cabo Delgado is in Mozambique, not Spain. It has been in the news due to Islamist insurgencies and attacks by terrorist groups in northern Mozambique.

Pair 4 is incorrectly matched: Catalonia is in Spain, not Italy. It is a region in northeastern Spain that has been in the news due to independence movements and political conflicts with the Spanish government.

Explanation

Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: There is no confirmed report of China establishing a permanent military base in Chad. China has increased its influence in Africa through economic investments and Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects but not through a military base in Chad. The only confirmed Chinese overseas military base is in Djibouti.

Pair 2 is correctly matched: In September 2021 Guinea’s military staged a coup by overthrowing President Alpha Condé and suspending the constitution and government. The coup was led by Colonel Mamady Doumbouya citing political instability, corruption, and economic issues.

Pair 3 is correctly matched: Lebanon has been facing a deep economic crisis since 2019, marked by: Hyperinflation and currency collapse, mass unemployment, energy and food shortages, Political instability. The World Bank described Lebanon’s crisis as one of the worst economic collapses since the 19th century.

Pair 4 is correctly matched: In July 2021 Tunisia’s President Kais Saied suspended the Parliament and dismissed the Prime Minister citing emergency powers due to political and economic instability.In 2022, a new constitution was introduced which further consolidating Saied’s power and reducing parliamentary authority.