UPSC 2017 Prelims Questions with Answers

Explanation

The Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) is a key part of the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements, aimed at streamlining customs procedures and reducing trade barriers.

Statement 1 is correct: India has ratified the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) of WTO in April 2016, making it one of the WTO members committed to simplifying customs procedures and reducing trade barriers.

Statement 2 is correct: The TFA is a part of the WTO’s Bali Ministerial Package of 2013. This was one of the major out-comes of the Bali Ministerial Conference, which aimed to improve global trade efficiency.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) came into force on 22 February 2017. While the agreement was finalized in 2013 and ratified by enough countries to be implemented, the official entry into force of TFA happened later, after the ratification process was completed. This occurred after two-thirds of WTO member countries ratified the agreement, marking a significant milestone in global trade by aiming to simplify and expedite international trade processes.

Explanation

Option (c) is correct: Developing the Chabahar Port in Iran is strategically important for India as it provides an alternative route to access Afghanistan and Central Asia, by-passing Pakistan, thus enhancing India’s trade and connectivity with the region while also serving as a counterpoint to China’s growing influence in the area through the Gwadar Port in Pakistan; it also acts as a gateway to the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), further boosting trade with Russia and Eurasia. Options (a), (b) and (d) are incorrect:

Chabahar is important for trade with Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia, but it does not significantly impact India’s trade with Africa. India already has strong ties with Gulf nations for oil imports, and Chabahar is not directly linked to improving these relations. Pakistan is unlikely to facilitate any strategic project for India, especially in the energy sector. Instead, India is pursuing the Iran-India undersea gas pipeline project to avoid transit through Pakistan.

Explanation

The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) is a voluntary initiative established by the Indian Navy in 2008 to enhance maritime cooperation among the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). It provides an open and inclusive platform for discussing regional maritime issues, fostering collaboration, and promoting security. IONS focuses on humanitarian assistance, disaster relief (HADR), and counter-ing regional challenges like piracy and terrorism. It includes 25 member nations grouped into four sub-regions (South Asia, West Asia, East Africa, and Southeast Asia & Australia) and 9 observer nations. The chairmanship rotates bi-ennially, with India set to chair from 2025-2027.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) was inaugurated in 2008, not 2015. The first meeting was held in New Delhi, India, in 2008, under the chairman-ship of the Indian Navy.

Statement 2 is correct: IONS is a series of biennial meetings & voluntary initiative that promotes maritime cooperation among navies of the Indian Ocean littoral states. It enhances regional security and stability by fostering dialogue, joint exercises, and naval cooperation.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) was established in 1978 and is mandated by the UN General Assembly. Its primary goal is to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements and ensure adequate shelter for all. It works towards sustainable urban development, slum upgrading, and smart cities.

Statement 2 is incorrect: UN-Habitat partners with a wide range of stakeholders, including NGOs, civil society organizations, academic institutions, private sector entities, and international development agencies, not just governments or local authorities.

Statement 3 is correct: UN-Habitat contributes to reducing poverty by supporting inclusive urban planning, slum rehabilitation, and sustainable housing solutions. It also promotes access to clean drinking water and basic sanitation, especially in developing countries, through initiatives like the Water and Sanitation Trust Fund.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: As under Article 23 (Right Against Exploitation) of the constitution, the expression ‘traffic in human beings’ includes: Selling and buying of men, women and children like goods, Immoral traffic in women and children, including prostitution, Devadasis, Slavery.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Abolition of Untouchability is provided in the Constitution of India but it comes under Right to Equality, under Article 17.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The Cultural and Educational Rights (under Articles 29 and 30) cover protection of interests of minorities; they don’t come under Rights Against Exploitation.

Statement 4 is correct: Article 24 (Right Against Exploitation) ensures prohibition of employment of children in factories etc. The Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005 was enacted to provide for the establishment of a National Commission and State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights and Children’s Courts for providing speedy trial of offences against children or of violation of child rights.

Explanation

The Global Infrastructure Facility (GIF) is a World Bank-led initiative that helps governments develop complex infrastructure projects through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) by attracting private sector and institutional investor capital. Launched in 2014, GIF offers comprehensive project support through the combined expertise of its technical and advisory partners. This group, which includes commercial banks and institutional investors, ensures that infrastructure projects are structured effectively and are financially viable, meeting the long-term needs of governments and users. Funding partners contribute financially to the GIF. Functions:

The Global Infrastructure Facility (GIF) mobilizes private sector investment by de-risking projects and promoting innovative financing mechanisms. The GIF emphasizes sustainable infrastructure by integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, with a focus on climate-smart projects. It also builds capacity in partner countries through technical assistance and knowledge sharing. Acting as a global collaboration platform, the GIF connects governments, Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), and private investors to address the infrastructure financing gap in emerging economies.

Explanation

In India, rights and duties are interdependent and complementary. The Constitution guarantees fundamental rights and duties, ensuring that individuals’ freedoms are balanced with responsibilities towards society. Rights, such as freedom of speech and equality, are linked with corresponding duties to prevent harm to others and maintain social order. Fundamental duties, like respecting the Constitution and upholding national sovereignty, are crucial for the stability of the state. Both rights and duties work together to promote justice, equality, and fraternity, as reflected in the Preamble, ensuring the progress and well-being of society and the nation. Similarly, One cannot enjoy their Right to a clean environment if others do not perform their duty of protecting and conserving the environment. Hence, Rights are correlative with Duties.

Explanation

The Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development (APMCHUD) is an intergovernmental initiative established in 2006 under the auspices of UN-Habitat. It serves as a platform for collaboration among Asia-Pacific countries to address challenges in housing and urban development. APMCHUD is a biennial conference that convenes ministers and senior government officials from the Asia-Pacific region to discuss and exchange experiences on housing and urban development policies and strategies.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The first APMCHUD was indeed held in India (New Delhi) in 2006, but the theme mentioned in the statement is incorrect. The actual theme was "A Vision for Sustainable Urbanization in the Asia-Pacific by 2020", not "Emerging Urban Forms - Policy Responses and Governance Structure".

Statement 2 is incorrect: APMCHUD conferences are hosted by different countries in the Asia-Pacific region, not exclusively by India. It is a UN-Habitat initiative, not a partnership with ADB (Asian Development Bank), APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation), or ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). Since India does not host all APMCHUD meetings and the partnerships are incorrect.

Explanation

Option (a) is correct: Equality in the society can be maintained by ending the institutional system of inequality and ensuring absence of privileges. The lack of any special privileges for any individual is a concept related to Equality Before Law (which is a British Concept and denotes positive notion). This concept entails equal subjection of all persons to the ordinary law of the land administered by ordinary law courts, and no one is above the law, regardless of their status (rich or poor, high or low, official or not. Options (b), (c) and (d) are incorrect:

Absence of Restraint does not necessarily imply equality in society as restraining the actions of the society curtails the liberty of the individual. Absence of Competition in society may result in monopoly, which would not imply equality, rather inequality in the society. Absence of ideology does not imply equality in society. Ideology is a set of principles or beliefs of a group/institution in the society.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) was not organized by the United Nations (UN). It was a global initiative launched by the United States under President Barack Obama in 2010 to prevent nuclear terrorism by securing nuclear materials. The summits were held in 2010 (Washington, D.C.), 2012 (Seoul), 2014 (The Hague), and 2016 (Washington, D.C.). These summits aimed at addressing nuclear terrorism and securing vulnerable nuclear materials but were independent of the UN framework. The UN, IAEA, and Interpol were involved in discussions.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The International Panel on Fissile Materials (IPFM) is an independent group of experts focused on policy research related to nuclear disarmament and fissile material production. It works to reduce and secure global stocks of fissile materials like highly enriched uranium and plutonium but operates as a non-governmental organization. It is not an official organ of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The IAEA deals with nuclear safeguards and monitoring, but IPFM operates separately as an independent research body.