IR Quiz or MCQs for UPSC Civil Services

All of the above statements are correct.
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) was established in July 1989 by a Group of Seven (G-7) Summit in Paris, initially to examine and develop measures to combat money laundering.
In 2001, the FATF expanded its mandate to incorporate efforts to combat terrorist financing, in addition to money laundering. In 2012, it added efforts to counter the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
The FATF currently comprises 37 member jurisdictions including India and 2 regional organisations (GCC & European Commission), representing most major financial centres in all parts of the globe.

Statement 1 is correct. The Blue Heart Campaign is a global awareness raising initiative to fight human trafficking and its impact on society.
It seeks to encourage involvement from governments, civil society, the corporate sector and individuals alike, to inspire action and help prevent this heinous crime.
It was launched by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in 2019. All proceeds to the Blue Heart Campaign go to the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The Blue Heart Campaign is currently supported by governments, private sector, NGOs, goodwill ambassadors and concerned individuals around the world.
India currently is not a member to the campaign.

Both statements are correct.
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12 of Agenda 2030 seeks to “ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns”. Target 12.3 of that goal aims to “by 2030, halve
the per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer level, and reduce food losses along production and supply chains including post-harvest losses”.
SDG target 12.3 has two components, Losses and Waste that should be measured by two separate indicators.
Sub-Indicator 12.3.1.a: The Food Loss Index (FLI) focuses on food losses that occur from production up to (and not including) the retail level. It measures the changes in percentage losses for a basket of 10 main commodities by country in comparison with a base period. The Food Loss Index has been developed by FAO.
Sub-Indicator 12.3.1.b: The Food Waste Index (FWI), a proposal for measuring Food Waste, which comprises the retail and consumption levels, is under development. UN Environment is taking the lead on this sub-indicator.

Both statements are correct.
UN-Habitat launched Waste Wise Cities Campaign in 2018 with a call for action in sustainable solid waste management in cities.
Under the initiative, UN-Habitat invites cities to join the Waste Wise Cities. To join, cities are requested to confirm their commitment to follow the Key Principles, which assist them on their way to becoming a Waste Wise City.
UN-Habitat partners with local governments to implement the Waste Wise Cities Tool, which is based on the monitoring methodology for waste SDG indicator 11.6.1 (Proportion of urban solid waste regularly collected and with adequate final discharge out of total urban solid waste generated, by cities), and provides an image of waste flows and amounts in the city.
Alliance to End Plastic Waste, a Singapore-based-NGO aims to invest up to USD 100m on environmental projects in India. It will use UN-Habitat Waste Wise Cities (WWC) Tool to map waste flows and assess potential plastic leakage from waste management system.

Statement 1 is incorrect. IMF loans are meant to help member countries tackle balance of payments problems, stabilize their economies, and restore sustainable economic growth.
Any member country, whether rich, middle-income, or poor, can turn to the IMF for financing if it has a balance of payments need.
Statement 2 is incorrect. All IMF members are eligible to access the Fund’s resources in the General Resources Account (GRA) on non-concessional terms, but the IMF also provides concessional financial support through the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT) which is better tailored to the diversity and needs of low-income countries.

Global Education Coalition (GEC) is an initiative of UNESCO to facilitate inclusive learning opportunities for children and youth during this period of sudden and unprecedented educational disruption by COVID-19 pandemic.
It is an open partnership that includes international organizations (ILO, UNICEF, WB among others), private sector partners (Facebook, Google) and Philanthropic and non-profit organizations (Khan Academy among others).
Around 1 billion students and youth across the planet are affected by school and university closures due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Investment in remote learning should both mitigate the immediate disruption caused by COVID-19 and establish approaches to develop more open and flexible education systems for the future.

Both statements are correct.
The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of WHO. It is attended by delegations from all WHO Member States and focuses on a specific health agenda prepared by the Executive Board.
The main functions of the World Health Assembly are to determine the policies of the Organization, appoint the Director-General, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed programme budget.
The Executive Board is composed of 34 technically qualified members elected for three-year terms. India (Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Health and Family Welfare) has been elected as chair of World Health Organization’s Executive Board in May 2020.

Statement 1 is incorrect. The PCA was established by the Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes, concluded at The Hague in 1899 during the first Hague Peace Conference.
The Conference had been convened at the initiative of Czar Nicolas II of Russia “with the object of seeking the most objective means of ensuring to all peoples the benefits of a real and lasting peace, and above all, of limiting the progressive development of existing armaments.”
It provides a forum for the resolution of international disputes through arbitration and other peaceful means. The cases span a range of legal issues involving territorial and maritime boundaries, sovereignty, human rights, international investment, and international and regional trade.
Statement 2 is correct. India is a contracting party to the Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes, 1899.
Important cases of India in PCA:
-Bangladesh v. India (Bay of Bengal Maritime Boundary) settled in 2014.
-Italian Marine Case: PCA recognized (July, 2020) the functional immunity of the two Italian marines, noting that they were engaged in a mission on behalf of the Italian Government. However, Italy was required to find an agreement with India in order to compensate for the two deaths and for the physical and moral damages suffered by the crew members and the vessel.

Statement 1 is incorrect. OSOWOG is India’s initiative. ‘One Sun One World One Grid’ (OSOWOG) was first put out by Indian Prime Minister in October 2018 while addressing the inaugural function of the 2nd Global RE-Invest meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association and the first assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
The vision behind the OSOWOG is “The Sun Never Sets”.
Statement 2 is correct. OSOWOG is India’s initiative to build a global ecosystem of interconnected renewable energy resources. The blueprint for the OSOWOG will be developed under the World Bank’s technical assistance programme.
OSOWOG is planned to be completed in three phases. The first phase will entail interconnectivity within the Asian continent; the second phase will add Africa and the third phase will globalise the whole project.

Statement 1 is incorrect. Membership to the International Solar Alliance (ISA) was earlier limited to 121 countries, which were partially or entirely located within the tropics. It is now open to all UN member countries.
Till now, 87 countries have signed the Framework Agreement of the ISA and of these 67 have deposited their instruments of ratification.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The launch of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) was announced by Prime Minister of India and President of France on 30th November 2015, at the 21st session of United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP-21) in Paris, France.

Option 1 is correct. The Quad or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue is an informal strategic forum between the United States, Japan, Australia and India.
Option 2 is incorrect. MIKTA is an informal partnership between Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey and Australia.
Option 3 is incorrect. The Five Eyes (FVEY) is an intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Both statements are correct.
The East Mediterranean Gas Forum is a regional cooperation platform for developing the natural gas fields in the Mediterranean area.
It was established as an international body in January 2020 and is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt. The Energy Ministers of Israel, Egypt, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Jordan, and the PA (Palestinian Authority) approved the transformation of the Forum into a regional organization.
It aims to create a regional gas market that serves the interests of its members by ensuring supply and demand, optimising resources development, rationalising the cost of infrastructure, offering competitive prices and improving trade relations
.

Since 2010 the International Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators Conference (STI Conference) has been organized under the auspice of European Network of Indicator Designers (ENID).
It provides a European and worldwide forum for presenting and discussing advances in constructing, using, and interpreting science and technology indicators. The STI Indicators conference series is devoted to bring together researchers, STI producers and users, as well as other stakeholders.
The next STI Indicators conference was to be held in September 2020 in Aarhus but has been postponed until September 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Statement 1 is correct. The Millennium Alliance is an innovation-driven consortium of partners (Public-Private Partnership) including the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), UK Government’s Department for International Development (DFID), Facebook and Marico Innovation Foundation.
The program is currently running in its sixth year and has played a catalytic role in providing funding, capacity building, and business development support to Indian social enterprises.
Statement 2 is correct. The Millenium Alliance provides a platform to leverage Indian creativity, expertise and resources to:
– Identify game changing innovations
– Rigorously test promising solutions
– Scale innovations that work to a level that it reaches and affects the needy population.
Millennium Alliance offers three types of grants: Stage 1, Stage 2, and South-South. Funding amount for Stages 1 is fixed at Rs. 30 lakhs and, for Stage 2, it is upto Rs. 1 Crore. South-South grant size is determined on a case-by-case basis.
Recently 49 innovations in 5 focus areas received Millennium Alliance Round 6 & COVID19 Innovation Challenge-Awards.

Statement 1 is correct. The East Asia Summit (EAS) is the Indo-Pacific’s premier forum for strategic dialogue.
The EAS has 18 members – the ten ASEAN countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) along with Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, the United States and Russia.
Statement 2 is correct. The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) was set up in 1993 as a regional security cooperation and dialogue platform based on deliberations in the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference between the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN and its full dialogue partners.
India became a member of ARF in 1996. ARF comprises 27 members: the 10 ASEAN member states, the 10 ASEAN dialogue partners (Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States); Bangladesh, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Timor-Leste; and one ASEAN observer (Papua New Guinea).
# The Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with the Foreign Ministry of Thailand recently organized the 6th Round Table of ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks (AINTT).

Statement 1 is incorrect. The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), established in 1973, is a grouping of twenty countries: fifteen Member States and five Associate Members. It has ethnic groups of Indigenous Peoples, Africans, Indians, Europeans, Chinese, Portuguese and Javanese.
Members: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad & Tobago.
All members subscribe to the Community’s principles outlined in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (2002).

Statement 2 is correct. CARICOM rests on four main pillars: economic integration; foreign policy coordination; human and social development; and security.

# India has recently extended USD 1 million assistance to Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Countries.

The Financial Inclusion Support Framework (FISF) is a World Bank Group (WBG) initiative that aims to accelerate and increase the effectiveness of reforms and other country-led actions to achieve national financial inclusion goals.
FISF-supported activities aim to help catalyze private sector financing, knowledge and innovation, to spur the usage of a broad range of financial services – payments, savings, insurance, credit – by low-income individuals and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), who are currently un- or under-banked.
FISF has two main components:

The Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) was developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) through the Voices of the Hungry (VoH) project.
FAO launched the Voices of the Hungry (VOH) project in 2013 to provide up-to-date information about food insecurity that is policy-relevant and actionable.
Drawing on similar tools in the USA and Latin America, the project developed the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) and innovative analytic methods aiming to provide a new global standard for measuring food insecurity (access) that is valid, endorsed at the international level, and used for global and country monitoring.
The FIES is a measure of access to food at the level of individuals or households. It measures severity of food insecurity based on people’s responses to questions about constraints on their ability to obtain adequate food.
The FAO commissions Gallup to include FIES questions in the Gallup World Poll (FAO-GWP) survey conducted in more than 140 countries across the world.

Both statements are correct.
UNICEF, as part of its Reimagine campaign aims to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic from aggravating a lasting crisis for children, especially the poorest and most vulnerable, appealed for urgent investment to bridge the digital divide, reach every child with remote learning, and, most critically, prioritize the safe reopening of schools.
UNICEF Reimagine is an urgent appeal to governments, the public, donors and the private sector to support UNICEF’s efforts to respond, recover and reimagine a world currently besieged by COVID-19.

The Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance, Government of India, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme India recently launched the Sustainable Finance Collaborative (SFC).
The consultation was held on 26th, 27th and 28th August over virtual platform which brought forth thematic discussions around some key aspects of Sustainable Finance. The Collaborative saw a host of thematic discussions centered around the broad scope of Sustainable Finance architecture in India.
Around 220 delegates representing different ministries and departments of Government of India, Indian financial sector regulators, Multilateral Development Banks, bilateral partner agencies, UN entities, financial institutions, impact and commercial investors, corporates, industry associations, Civil Society Organizations and academia participated in the dialogue.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) launched the Voices of the Hungry (VOH) project in 2013 to provide up-to-date information about food insecurity that is policy-relevant and actionable. The project developed a methodology to measure the severity of food insecurity as experienced by individuals or households in a way that is comparable across countries.
An important goal of the VOH Project is to promote the adoption of the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) methodology by national governmental institutions. The FIES developed by VOH is a measure of access to food at the level of individuals or households. It measures severity of food insecurity based on people’s responses to questions about constraints on their ability to obtain adequate food.

Statement 1 is incorrect. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation, the creation of which was announced on 15 June 2001 in Shanghai (China) by the Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It was preceded by the Shanghai Five mechanism.
In the Heads of State Council of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting in June 2017 (Astana), the status of a full member of the Organization was granted to the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Statement 2 is correct. The organisation has two permanent bodies — the SCO Secretariat based in Beijing and the Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) based in Tashkent.

The Australian government is launching a campaign ‘Zero Chance’ to raise awareness among people trying to enter the country illegally by boats.
“The message of Zero Chance is simple. Anyone who tries to come illegally to Australia by boat has zero chance of success

United Nations Peacekeeping is a joint effort between the Department of Peace Operations and the Department of Operational Support.

 We operate in some of the toughest and most dangerous places in the world, going where others cannot or will not.

 We tailor each deployment to suit the specific needs on the ground and we adapt to new threats and challenges protecting more people than ever before.

 Our peacekeepers are actively engaged in protecting civilian populations, helping prevent conflict, reducing violence and strengthening security in the field where it matters most.

 Ethiopia is the largest contributor of UN peacekeeping.

As the leading international organization in the field of tourism, UNWTO promotes tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability and offers leadership and support to the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide.

 UNWTO encourages the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, to maximize tourism’s socio-economic contribution while minimizing its possible negative impacts.

 And is committed to promoting tourism as an instrument in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), geared towards reducing poverty and fostering sustainable development worldwide.

 UNWTO’s membership includes 159 countries, 6 Associate Members and over 500 Affiliate Members representing the private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations and local tourism authorities.

The G4 nations of Brazil, Germany, Japan and India have asserted that the mandate of the United Nations’ Inter-Governmental Negotiations is to achieve the long-pending reforms of the UNSC and not endlessly debate it.

 The Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGN) format has long outlived its sell-by date and must be made transparent to ensure progress on the reform discussions, they said.

 India has been calling for the reform of the UN Security Council (UNSC) along with Brazil, Germany and Japan for long, emphasising that it rightly deserves a place at the UN high table as a permanent member.

 The G4 nations support each other’s bids for permanent seats on the UNSC.

NOTE: In 2008 the General Assembly adopted Decision 62/557 “to commence inter-governmental negotiations (IGN) in informal plenary of the General Assembly”.

 Up until the 22008 Decision was adopted, discussions on Security Council reform were nothing more than an oral exchange of views.

 With the creation of the IGN, the aim was have a text on which discussions could be based.

 The first round of the IGN was held on 19 February 2009.

 The General Assembly has renewed its mandate annually, and it remains the principal vehicle for Council reform discussions today.

 To date, the IGN has not been able to agree on a text to be negotiated

According to the UN Security Council Resolution 47 adopted on April 21, 1948, both India and Pakistan were asked to resolve the crisis (Jammu & Kashmir) through a multi-step process.

Accordingly, Pakistan was to withdraw all its nationals from the territory under its control and India was to reduce forces in its part of Kashmir which was to be followed by a plebiscite.

NOTE: Under Resolution 39 on January 20, 1948, the UNSC set up a three-member UN Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP).

 Disagreement between India and Pakistan led to the first failure as the commission failed to materialize.

 The commission was finally reconstituted with five members on April 21, 1948 and it was mandated to plan a mechanism to ensure a plebiscite in the State. (This was part of the UNSC Resolution 47).

The UN Charter envisioned a symbiotic relationship between the Security Council and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the UN.

 However, the Council has scarcely made use of the ICJ as an instrument, or “tool”, in the exercise of its responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.

 In its latest research report on the rule of law of 20 December 2016, Security Council Report examines the relationship between the Security Council and the ICJ, including options for enhancing that relationship to assist the Council in its work.

 The ICJ was established in 1945 by the same constitutive instrument as the Security Council, the UN Charter, to act as the principal judicial organ of the UN.

 The Statute of the Court is annexed to the Charter itself, meaning that all UN member states are automatically parties to the Statute.

 The ICJ is mandated to settle contentious legal disputes submitted by states against other states in accordance with international law.

 Judgments given in contentious cases between states are binding on the parties.

 The Court also gives advisory opinions to the Council, the General Assembly and other authorized bodies on legal questions referred to it by these entities.

NOTE: Chapter VI of the UN Charter deals with the pacific settlement of disputes and Article 33 states that parties to any dispute, which if continues is likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security, shall, first of all, seek a solution by negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements, or other peaceful means of their own choice.

 It also states that the Security Council shall, when it deems necessary, call upon the parties to settle their dispute by such means.

In certain situations, the Security Council authorizes sanctions under Chapter VII of the UN Charter and in such cases; sanctions could serve as an important tool in the maintenance of peace and security.

The ICC is the world’s first permanent, international judicial body capable of bringing perpetrators to justice and providing redress to victims when states are unable or unwilling to do so.

 This represents a major stride for international justice. On July 17, 1998, at a diplomatic conference in Rome, the international community adopted the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

 The ICC can prosecute and bring to justice individuals accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. These crimes are defined in the Rome Statute, and reflect existing international law.

 The ICC is located in The Hague, the Netherlands. The Court is composed of three branches: the judiciary, which is made up of 18 judges, the Office of the Prosecutor and the Office of the Registrar, which runs the administration of the Court.

 The ICC is a court of last resort. It acts essentially as a safety net when national courts are unable to prosecute, either because the criminal justice system is unequipped or collapsed, or because the perpetrators continue to wield influence over the government.

 The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is a civil court that hears disputes between countries. The ICC is a criminal court that prosecutes individuals.

 Other international criminal tribunals, namely the ad hoc tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, are similar to the ICC but are temporary and have a limited geographical scope. The ICC is a permanent court, and is global in its reach.

Led by India, South Asia is moving towards becoming the center of global growth and could contribute about one-third of the world’s growth by 2040, according to a latest research by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

 Notably, under the IMF’s geographical division of the world, South Asia does not include Afghanistan and Pakistan.

 For IMF, South Asia includes India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Maldives.

Violence and harassment in the world of work deprives people of their dignity, is incompatible with decent work, and a threat to equal opportunities and to safe, healthy, and productive working environments.

 It remains a widespread phenomenon, present in all countries and disregarding sectors, occupations and work arrangements

• The adoption of Convention No. 190 and Recommendation No. 206 recognizes the right of everyone to a world of work free from violence and harassment, including gender-based violence and harassment.

Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations has offered to collaborate with Telangana for South-South Cooperation in the development of seed sector in African countries.

It is the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping.

 Its main role is to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally adopted and universally implemented.

• It is the only UN special agency to have its headquarters in the United Kingdom. It is the first ever international organization devoted exclusively to maritime matters.

 The objective of IMO is the improvement of Maritime safety and the prevention of marine pollution.

 IMO measures cover all aspects of international shipping including ship design, construction, equipment, manning, operation and disposal.

 It covers accidental and operational oil pollution along with different types of pollution by chemicals, goods in packaged form, sewage, garbage and air pollution.

India and other members of the SCO condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and called on the international community to promote cooperation in combating the menace.

According to the Bishkek Declaration of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s Heads of State Council, the member states stressed that acts of terrorism and extremism cannot be justified.

The G-20 is the G-7 plus developing nations such as Brazil, China, India, and Russia.

• The G-20’s members represent two-thirds of the world’s people and 85 percent of its economy.

 Since 2007, the media has covered each G-20 summit. That recognizes the members’ role as significant drivers of the world economy.

 The G-20’s primary mandate is to prevent future international financial crises. It seeks to shape the global economic agenda.

 It lends the perspective of Asian and Latin American growing economies. That “broadens the scope of international economic and financial cooperation.”

The East Asia Summit is a unique Leaders-led forum of 18 countries of the Asia-Pacific region formed to further the objectives of regional peace, security and prosperity.

 It has evolved as a forum for strategic dialogue and cooperation on political, security and economic issues of common regional concern and plays an important role in the regional architecture.

 Established in 2005, EAS allows the principal players in the Asia-Pacific region to discuss issues of common interest and concern, in an open and transparent manner, at the highest level.

 The membership of EAS consists of ten ASEAN Member States (i.e. Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam), Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation and the USA.

 EAS is an initiative of ASEAN and is based on the premise of the centrality of ASEAN.

 There are six priority areas of regional cooperation within the framework of the EAS. These are – Environment and Energy, Education, Finance, Global Health Issues and Pandemic Diseases, Natural Disaster Management, and ASEAN Connectivity.

 India endorses regional collaboration in all six priority areas.

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional organization comprising seven Member States lying in the littoral and adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal constituting a contiguous regional unity.

 This sub-regional organization came into being on 6 June 1997 through the Bangkok Declaration.

 It constitutes seven Member States: five deriving from South Asia, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and two from Southeast Asia, including Myanmar and Thailand.

 Initially, the economic bloc was formed with four Member States with the acronym ‘BIST-EC’ (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand Economic Cooperation).

 Following the inclusion of Myanmar on 22 December 1997 during a special Ministerial Meeting in Bangkok, the Group was renamed ‘BIMST-EC’ (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand Economic Cooperation).

 With the admission of Nepal and Bhutan at the 6th Ministerial Meeting (February 2004, Thailand), the name of the grouping was changed to ‘Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation’ (BIMSTEC).

The Maldives re-joined the Commonwealth, more than three years after the Indian Ocean island nation quit the association amid mounting criticism of its human rights record then.

 In 2016, the Maldives pulled out of the Commonwealth terming “unjust” the grouping’s decision to penalise the country over former President Mohamed Nasheed’s controversial ouster in 2012.

 It followed the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG)’s warning to Maldives of suspension from the bloc, voicing “deep disappointment” over the country’s lack of progress in resolving the political crisis during former President Abdulla Yameen’s presidency, whose authoritarian slant sparked concern domestically and internationally.

The Group of Twenty, or the G20, is the premier forum for international economic cooperation.

 The G20 brings together the leaders of both developed and developing countries from every continent.

 Collectively, G20 members represent around 80% of the world’s economic output, two-thirds of global population and three-quarters of international trade.

 Throughout the year, representatives from G20 countries gather to discuss financial and socioeconomic issues.

 Originated in 1999 at the level of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, the G20 gathered for high-level discussions on macro-financial issues.

 In the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis, the G20 was elevated to include the leaders of member countries.

 The first G20 Leaders’ Summit took place in Washington D.C. in November 2008.

 Consequently, the G20 agenda expanded beyond macro-financial issues, to include socio-economic and development issues.

The Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) first met in November 1975 in London, and is thus popularly referred to as the “London Club”. It is a Group of nuclear supplier countries that seek to prevent nuclear proliferation by controlling the export of materials, equipment and technology that can be used to manufacture nuclear weapons

In response to mounting concern over money laundering, the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF) was established by the G-7 Summit that was held in Paris in 1989.The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog.

 The inter-governmental body sets international standards that aim to prevent these illegal activities and the harm they cause to society.

 As a policy-making body, the FATF works to generate the necessary political will to bring about national legislative and regulatory reforms in these areas.

 With more than 200 countries and jurisdictions committed to implementing them.

 The FATF has developed the FATF Recommendations, or FATF Standards, which ensure a coordinated global response to prevent organized crime, corruption and terrorism.

 They help authorities go after the money of criminals dealing in illegal drugs, human trafficking and other crimes. The FATF also works to stop funding for weapons of mass destruction.

 The FATF reviews money laundering and terrorist financing techniques and continuously strengthens its standards to address new risks, such as the regulation of virtual assets, which have spread as crypto-currencies gain popularity.

 The FATF monitors countries to ensure they implement the FATF Standards fully and effectively, and holds countries to account that do not comply.

Statement 1 is correct. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is the

global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog.

The FATF identifies jurisdictions with weak measures to combat money laundering and

terrorist financing (AML/CFT) in two FATF public documents that are issued three times a

year: “High-Risk Jurisdictions subject to a Call for Action” also known as ‘black list’ and

“Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring” also known as ‘grey list’.

Statement 2 is incorrect. The FATF does not address at all issues related to low tax

jurisdiction or tax competition. The FATF mandate focuses only on the fight against

laundering of proceeds of crimes and the financing of terrorism.

The Global Forum on Remittances, Investment and Development (GFRID) brings together key decision makers, stakeholders and practitioners who are engaged in the field of remittances and migration for development.

 Since its first forum in 2007, IFAD has gathered over 1,000 participants from the public and private sector, and the civil society, to facilitate the creation of partnerships and the exchange of best practices in maximizing the impact of remittances to the benefit of migrants’ communities of origin.

 In doing so, IFAD partners with key international financial institutions and other prominent organizations, such as the European Commission (2015) and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (2017).

 The forum is held biannually, in conjunction with the observance of the International Day of Family Remittances (IDFR) on 16 June.

Nepal has invited the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan along with several other heads of government and heads of state for the Sagarmatha Sambaad.

The first ever multi-stakeholder dialogue event is expected to be the biggest diplomatic initiative in Nepal’s recent history that will be attended by many global figures apart from the leaders of the member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

The West Asia peace plan unveiled by U.S. President Donald Trump on January 2020 seeks to give the Israelis what they have long wanted — an expansive state with Jerusalem as its “undivided capital” and tight security control over a future Palestinian state.

 With his plan, Mr. Trump is actually pushing to revive the stalled two-state talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians, but on his own terms.

 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had earlier spoken against the two-state solution, has accepted the Trump plan, while appearing beside the President in the White House.

 The Palestinians were absent.

Asian Development Bank.

• ADB was conceived in the early 1960s as a financial institution that would be

Asian in character and foster economic growth and cooperation in one of the

poorest regions in the world.

• A resolution passed at the first Ministerial Conference on Asian Economic

Cooperation held by the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far

East in 1963 set that vision on the way to becoming reality.

• The Philippines capital of Manila was chosen to host the new institution,

which opened on 19 December 1966, with 31 members that came together to

serve a predominantly agricultural region.

• Takeshi Watanabe was ADB’s first President. During the 1960s, ADB focused much

of its assistance on food production and rural development.

Statement 1 is incorrect: India was a founding member of ADB in 1966 and is now the

bank’s fourth-largest shareholder. Australia is also a founder member, but Russia not yet

joined the Asian Development Bank.

Statement 2 is correct: India, China and Indonesia are the top three aid receivers of Asian

Development Bank

The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

Statement 1 is correct: The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

(ESCAP) serves as the United Nations’ regional hub promoting cooperation among countries

to achieve inclusive and sustainable development. The largest regional intergovernmental

platform with 53 Member States and 9 associate members, ESCAP has emerged as strong

regional think-tank offering countries sound analytical products that shed insight into the

evolving economic, social and environmental dynamics of the region.

Statement 2 is incorrect: India has joined UN ESCAP in March, 1947.

Blue Dot Network.

• Led by the US’s International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the Blue

Dot network was jointly launched by the US, Japan (Japanese Bank for

International Cooperation) and Australia (Department of Foreign Affairs and

Trade) in November 2019 on the sidelines of the 34th ASEAN Summit in Thailand.

• It is meant to be a multi-stakeholder initiative that aims to bring governments, the

private sector and civil society together to promote “high quality, trusted standards

for global infrastructure development”.

• The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), headquartered in Tashkent,

Uzbekistan, is a permanent organ of the SCO which serves to promote

cooperation of member states against the three evils of terrorism, separatism

and extremism. At SCO summit, held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on June 2004, the

Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) was established. The Head of RATS is

elected to a three-year term. Each member state also sends a permanent

representative to RATS.

• The grouping of four democracies –India, Australia, US and Japan– known as the

quadrilateral security dialogue or quad, was first mooted by Japanese Prime

Minister Shinzo Abe in 2007. However, the idea couldn’t move ahead with Australia

pulling out of it, apparently due to Chinese pressure. With the aim to counter

China’s aggressive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region, India, Australia, US and

Japan, formed the “quadrilateral” coalition on November 12, 2017.

• India is not a member of both Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and ASEAN.

The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is the intergovernmental

organisation of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. It was set up in 1960 by its

then seven Member States for the promotion of free trade and economic integration between

its members.

Global Refugee Forum
•The first ever Global Refugee Forum took place on 17 and 18 December 2019
and was a true milestone in the advancement of the international refugee regime.
•It brought the international community together to demonstrate solidarity with the
world’s refugees and the countries and communities that host them, to announce
pledges and contributions that support them, and to commit to a continued search
for solutions.
•We—Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Germany, Pakistan, Turkey and the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees—were honoured to serve as co-convenors of this historic
event, which took place in Geneva, Switzerland.
•We thank Switzerland for co-hosting the Forum with the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees and all those who actively contributed to making
the Forum a success, including governments, international organizations,
representatives from across the humanitarian and development worlds, business
leaders, civil society, sports organizations, faith groups, academia, and refugees
themselves.

Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
•The Eurasian Economic Union is an international organization for regional
economic integration. It has international legal personality and is established by
the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union.
•The EAEU provides for free movement of goods, services, capital and labor,
pursues coordinated, harmonized and single policy in the sectors determined by
the Treaty and international agreements within the Union.
•The Member-States of the Eurasian Economic Union are the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and the Russian Federation.
•The Union is being created to comprehensively upgrade, raise the competitiveness of and cooperation between the national economies, and to promote stable development in order to raise the living standards of the nations of the Member-States.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was founded
in Baghdad, Iraq, with the signing of an agreement in September 1960 by five countries
namely Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. They were to
become the Founder Members of the Organization.
•OPEC is a permanent, intergovernmental organization.
•The current OPEC members are the following: Algeria, Angola, Equatorial Guinea,
Gabon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, and the Republic of the Congo, Saudi
Arabia (the de facto leader), the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela. Ecuador,
Indonesia and Qatar are former members.
•OPEC’s objective is to co-ordinate and unify petroleum policies among Member
Countries, in order to secure fair and stable prices for petroleum producers; an
efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to consuming nations; and a fair
return on capital to those investing in the industry.
•OPEC membership is open to any country that is a substantial exporter of oil
and which shares the ideals of the organization.

The statement “Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring” (Grey List)
identifies countries that are actively working with the FATF to address strategic deficiencies
in their regimes to counter money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation
financing.
Iceland and Mongolia were recently taken off the Grey List.
Jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies: Albania, The Bahamas, Barbados, Botswana,
Cambodia, Ghana, Jamaica, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Syria,
Uganda, Yemen and Zimbabwe.

Statement 1 is incorrect. The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear
Weapons (ICAN) is promoting nuclear disarmament. ICAN is a coalition of nongovernmental
organizations in more than 100 countries and has been a leader in efforts
that resulted in 122 United Nations member countries concurring with a draft agreement
on the prohibition of nuclear weapons in 2017.
Statement 2 is correct. International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) was
awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize 2017 “for its work to draw attention to the
catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons and for its groundbreaking
efforts to achieve a treaty-based prohibition of such weapons.”

Statement 1 is correct. In 1985 the United Nations designated the first
Monday of October every year as World Habitat Day. The World Habitat Day 2020 theme is
Housing For All — A Better Urban Future.
Statement 2 is incorrect. Indonesian city of Surabaya is the host of Global Observance of
World Habitat Day 2020.
# The Habitat Scroll of Honour award was launched by the United Nations Human
Settlements Programme in 1989. The award, a plaque engraved with the name of the winner
and their achievement is presented to the winners during the Global Observance of World
Habitat Day.

Statement 1 is correct. The Universal Postal Union established by the Treaty of Bern of 1874, is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN). It is the primary forum for cooperation between postal sector players. It helps to ensure a truly universal network of up-to-date products and services.

Statement 2 is correct. Any member country of the United Nations may become a member of the UPU. Any non-member country of the United Nations may become a UPU membe provided that its request is approved by at least two-thirds of the member countries of the UPU.
India is also a member country of UPU with India Post as designated operator.

# World Post Day is observed every year on October 9. It marks the anniversary of the establishment of Universal Postal Union.

The Collective Security Treaty was signed by Armenia, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan on May 15, 1992. Current CSTO members are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation and Tajikistan.
It is a Russia-led military alliance of seven former Soviet states that was created in 2002.
The CSTO’s purpose is to ensure the collective defence of any member that faces external aggression. It is described by political scientists as the Eurasian counterpart of NATO.

The Five Eyes (FVEY) is an intelligence alliance comprising Australia,
Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. These countries are
parties to the multilateral UKUSA Agreement, a treaty for joint cooperation in signals
intelligence.
India and Japan along with the FVEY countries are opposing the end-to-end encryption of
messages by social media giants such as Facebook, which they say hinder law enforcement
by blocking all access to them.

Statement 1 is correct. The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading
humanitarian organization delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with
communities to improve nutrition and build resilience.
WFP’s efforts focus on emergency assistance, relief and rehabilitation, development aid and
special operations. Two-thirds of its work is in conflict-affected countries where people
are three times more likely to be undernourished than those living in countries without
conflict.
Statement 2 is incorrect. In 75 years, the United Nations, its specialized agencies, related
agencies, funds, programmes and staff were awarded the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize
twelve times. One agency, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
received the famous prize in both 1954 and 1981.
In 2001, the United Nations, as an organization, and Kofi Annan, as Secretary-General, won
the Nobel Peace Prize. Other winners include UNICEF, ILO, OPCW etc.

The FATF listed High-risk jurisdictions have significant strategic deficiencies in their regimes to counter money laundering, terrorist financing, and financing of proliferation. This list is often externally referred to as the “black list”.

Currently only two countries are under the black list: Iran and Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea.
Pakistan is listed as Jurisdictions under increased monitoring, that are actively working with the FATF to address strategic deficiencies in their regimes to counter money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing. This list is often externally referred to as the ‘grey list’.

The International Solar Alliance was launched jointly by the Prime Minister of India and the President of France during COP21 in Paris.

Statement 1 is incorrect. The membership criteria were earlier limited to countries within the tropics but it has now been expanded to all Member States of the United Nations.

Statement 2 is correct. India and France were re-elected as president and co-president of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) for a term of two years at its third assembly recently.

The East Asia Summit is a unique Leaders-led forum of 18 countries of the
Asia-Pacific region formed to further the objectives of regional peace, security and
prosperity.
Established in 2005, EAS allows the principal players in the Asia-Pacific region to discuss
issues of common interest and concern, in an open and transparent manner, at the highest
level.
The membership of EAS consists of ten ASEAN Member States (i.e. Brunei Darussalam,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines
and Vietnam), Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russian
Federation and the USA. EAS is an initiative of ASEAN and is based on the premise of the
centrality of ASEAN.

Australia-India-Japan Economic Ministers trilateral meeting proposed an
initiative for Supply chain resilience in the Indo- Pacific.
The joint statement reads “In light of the COVID-19 crisis and the recent global-scale
changes in the economic and technological landscape, the Ministers underscored the
necessity and potential to enhance the resiliency of supply chains in the Indo-Pacific region.
Recognizing the pressing need for regional cooperation on supply chain resilience in the
Indo- Pacific, the Ministers shared their intention to work toward the launch of a new
initiative to achieve the objective through cooperation. They instructed their officials to
promptly work out the details of the new initiative for its launch later this year. The
Ministers noted the important role of business and academia in realizing the objective.”

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic
Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional organization comprising seven Member States lying
in the littoral and adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal constituting a contiguous regional
unity.
Statement 1 is incorrect. It constitutes seven Member States: five deriving from South
Asia, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and two from Southeast Asia,
including Myanmar and Thailand.
Bhutan and Nepal are land-locked countries.
Statement 2 is correct. After a span of 17 years of the founding of BIMSTEC, Permanent
Secretariat was established in Dhaka, Bangladesh in 2014 to serve the BIMSTEC Member
States.

Statement 1 is correct. The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) aims to
eliminate an entire category of weapons of mass destruction by prohibiting the
development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer or use of
chemical weapons by States Parties. States Parties, in turn, must take the steps necessary
to enforce that prohibition in respect of persons (natural or legal) within their jurisdiction.
All States Parties have agreed to chemically disarm by destroying any stockpiles of chemical
weapons they may hold.
States Parties have also agreed to create a verification regime for certain toxic chemicals
and their precursors in order to ensure that such chemicals are only used for purposes not
prohibited under the Convention.
A unique feature of the Convention is its incorporation of the ‘challenge inspection’,
whereby any State Party in doubt about another State Party’s compliance can request a
surprise inspection. Under the Convention’s ‘challenge inspection’ procedure, States Parties
have committed themselves to the principle of ‘anytime, anywhere’ inspections with no right
of refusal.
Statement 2 is correct. India has signed and ratified the CWC (1996).

Statement 1 is correct. The Group of Twenty, or G20, is the premier forum

for international cooperation on the most important aspects of the international economic

and financial agenda.

The objectives of the G20 are:

-Policy coordination between its members in order to achieve global economic stability,

sustainable growth;

-To promote financial regulations that reduce risks and prevent future financial crises; and

-To create a new international financial architecture.

Statement 2 is correct. The G20 Foreign Ministers’ Extraordinary Meeting was convened

by the current G20 Chair, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 3rd September, 2020.

India has proposed for the development of voluntary ‘G-20 Principles on Coordinated

Cross-Border Movement of People’ with three elements: a) Standardisation of testing

procedures and universal acceptability of test results; b) Standardisation of ‘Quarantine

procedures’; c) Standardisation of ‘movement and transit’ protocols The G20 comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, EU, France, Germany,

India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea,

Turkey, UK and USA.

Statement 1 is incorrect. The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad is an

informal strategic forum between the United States, Japan, Australia and India that is

maintained by semi-regular summits and information exchanges among the member

countries.

Quad, being an informal forum, has no formal mutual-assistance treaty, secretariat, or

even a website.

Statement 2 is correct. BRICS members are Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa;

India is the only country in Quad that is a member of BRICS.

Statement 1 is correct. The International Bill of Human Rights consists of

the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social

and Cultural Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

and its two Optional Protocols.

The ICCPR obligates countries that have ratified the treaty to protect and preserve basic

human rights, such as: the right to life and human dignity; equality before the law; freedom

of speech, assembly, and association; religious freedom and privacy; freedom from torture,

ill-treatment, and arbitrary detention; gender equality; the right to a fair trial; right family

life and family unity; and minority rights.

Statement 2 is correct. India acceded to the ICCPR on 10 Apr 1979

Statement 1 is correct. Bandung Asian-African Conference is the most

immediate antecedent to the creation of the Non-Aligned Movement. This Conference was

held in Bandung on April 18-24, 1955 and gathered 29 Heads of States.

The principles that would govern relations among large and small nations, known as the

“Ten Principles of Bandung“, were proclaimed at that Conference. Such principles were

adopted later as the main goals and objectives of the policy of non-alignment.

The fulfillment of those principles became the essential criterion for Non-Aligned Movement

membership; it is what was known as the “quintessence of the Movement”

Statement 2 is correct. India and Pakistan both are NAM members.

Pakistan has participated in the deliberation of NAM as a guest until its assumption of full

membership during 1979 Havana Summit

The 8th of September was proclaimed International Literacy Day by UNESCO

in 1966.

Statement 1 is correct. International Literacy Day 2020 focuses on “Literacy teaching and

learning in the COVID-19 crisis and beyond,” especially on the role of educators and

changing pedagogies. The theme highlights literacy learning in a lifelong learning

perspective, and therefore, mainly focuses on youth and adults.

Statement 2 is correct. The issue of literacy is a key component of the UN’s Sustainable

Development Goals and the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The SDG 4 focusses on ‘ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promote

lifelong learning opportunities for all’. It has as one of its targets ensuring all young people

achieve literacy and numeracy and that adults, who lack these skills are given the

opportunity to acquire them.

None of the above countries are members of IORA.

The Indian Ocean Rim Association is an inter-governmental organisation which was

established on 7 March 1997.

Member States: Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya,

Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore,

Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

All sovereign States of the Indian Ocean Rim are eligible for membership of the Association.

To become members, States must adhere to the principles and objectives enshrined in the

Charter of the Association.

IORA’s apex body is the Council of Foreign Ministers (COM) which meets annually. The

United Arab Emirates (UAE) assumed the role of Chair since November 2019 – November

2021.

Statement 1 is correct. GSC is an unincorporated voluntary organization

dedicated to enhancing global cooperation and collaboration regarding communications

standards and the related standards development environment.

GSC is not a standards development organization and therefore will not develop standards.

GSC events provide a strategic opportunity for dialogue among senior officials from

national, regional and international standards bodies in support of the work of ITU

(International Telecommunication Union).

Statement 2 is incorrect. Telecommunications Standards Development Society, India

(TSDSI) is a constituent Standards Development Organisation (SDO) of Global Standards

Collaboration (GSC).

Statement 1 is correct. The Global Action on Disability (GLAD) Network is a

coordination body of bilateral and multilateral donors and agencies, the private sector and

foundations working to enhance the inclusion of persons with disabilities in international

development and humanitarian action.

The (GLAD) Network was launched in London in December 2015, by a group of like-minded

partners who recognize that to realize the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals

(SDGs) to leave no one behind, and to further the principles reflected in the Convention on

the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

Statement 2 is incorrect. No organization/Ministry from India is a member of the Network.

The permanent co-chair of the GLAD Network is the International Disability Alliance

(IDA). The rotating co-chairs are the UK Department for International Development (DFID)

and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway.

Statement 1 is correct. The International Civil Aviation Organization

(ICAO) is a UN specialized agency, established by States in 1944 to manage the

administration and governance of the Convention on International Civil Aviation

(Chicago Convention).

ICAO works with the Convention’s 193 Member States and industry groups to reach

consensus on international civil aviation Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs)

and policies in support of a safe, efficient, secure, economically sustainable and

environmentally responsible civil aviation sector.

Statement 2 is incorrect. India is a member of ICAO, and currently part of Council States

2019-2022.

# The ICAO, under its Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme and the Universal Security

Audit Programme, regularly conducts safety and security audits of all countries which are

signatory to the Chicago Convention.

# The audits conducted by the ICAO in 2012 and 2015 indicated a need to amend the Aircraft

Act to give proper recognition to the regulators under the Act.

# The Aircraft (Amendment) Bill 2020 seeks to provide statutory status to the Directorate

General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), and the Aircraft

Accidents Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

The UNGA is comprised of all 193 Members of the United Nations. The
Assembly meets from September to December each year (main part), and thereafter, from
January to September (resumed part).
Statement 1 is correct. According to the Charter of the United Nations, decisions of the
General Assembly on important questions shall be made by a two-thirds majority of the
members present and voting. These questions include:
-recommendations with respect to the maintenance of international peace and security, the
election of the non-permanent members of the Security Council, the election of the
members of the Economic and Social Council, the election of members of the Trusteeship
Council, the admission of new Members to the United Nations, the suspension of the rights
and privileges of membership, the expulsion of Members.
Statement 2 is correct. Under the UN Charter, while the Security Council is exercising in
respect of any dispute or situation the functions assigned to it in the present Charter, the
General Assembly shall not make any recommendation with regard to that dispute or
situation unless the Security Council so requests.
# Despite the UN Charter’s provision limiting the General Assembly’s powers with regard to
peace and security matters; there may be cases when the Assembly can act.
# In accordance with the General Assembly’s “Uniting for Peace” resolution of November 1950,
in the case there appears to be a threat to the peace, breach of the peace or act of aggression
and if the Security Council fails to act, owing to the negative vote of a permanent member,
then the General Assembly may act.
# This resolution was invoked only once in UN peacekeeping history, when in 1956 the
General Assembly established the First UN Emergency Force (UNEF I) in the Middle East.

The International Day of Peace is a United Nations-sanctioned holiday
observed annually on 21 September.
The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General
Assembly. Two decades later, in 2001, the General Assembly unanimously voted to
designate the Day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire.
The 2020 theme for the International Day of Peace is “Shaping Peace Together.”

Statement 1 is incorrect. More than 50 United Nations Member States have
never been Members of the Security Council.
A State which is a Member of the United Nations but not of the Security Council may
participate, without a vote, in its discussions when the Council considers that country’s
interests are affected.
Both Members and non-members of the United Nations, if they are parties to a dispute
being considered by the Council, may be invited to take part, without a vote, in the
Council’s discussions; the Council sets the conditions for participation by a non-member
State.
Statement 2 is correct. The Council is composed of 15 Members: Five permanent members:
China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and ten
non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly.
# India’s two-year term will begin on January 1, 2021.

Statement 1 is correct. The United Nations Charter established six main
organs of the United Nations, including the Security Council. It gives primary responsibility
for maintaining international peace and security to the Security Council, which may meet
whenever peace is threatened.
According to the Charter, the United Nations has four purposes:
-to maintain international peace and security;
-to develop friendly relations among nations;
-to cooperate in solving international problems and in promoting respect for human rights;
-to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
Statement 2 is correct. Uniting for Consensus (UFC) also called the Coffee Club developed
in the 1990s in opposition to the possible expansion of permanent seats in the United
Nations Security Council.
It aims to counter the bids for permanent seats proposed by G4 nations (Brazil, Germany,
India, and Japan) and is calling for a consensus before any decision is reached on the form
and size of the Security Council.
In 2005, Italy, Argentina, Canada, Colombia and Pakistan, representing a larger group of
countries called Uniting for Consensus led by Italy, proposed to the General Assembly another project that maintains five permanent members and raises the number of nonpermanent
members to 20.

Statement 1 is incorrect. The PCA was established by the Convention for the
Pacific Settlement of International Disputes, concluded at The Hague in 1899 during
the first Hague Peace Conference.
The 1899 Convention was revised at the second Hague Peace Conference in 1907.
India is a contracting party to the 1899 convention.
Statement 2 is correct. The 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS) provides a regulatory framework for the use of the world’s seas and oceans, to
ensure the conservation and equitable usage of resources and the marine environment and
to ensure the protection and preservation of the living resources of the sea.
When signing, ratifying, or acceding to UNCLOS, a State may make a declaration choosing
one or more of the following means for settling such disputes:
-the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in Hamburg, Germany;
-the International Court of Justice in Hague, Netherlands;
-ad hoc arbitration (in accordance with Annex VII of UNCLOS); or
-a “special arbitral tribunal” constituted for certain categories of disputes (established
under Annex VIII of UNCLOS).
Pursuant to Article 287(3) of UNCLOS, arbitration under Annex VII is the default means
of dispute settlement if a State has not expressed any preference with respect to the means
of dispute resolution. PCA has administered all but one of the UNCLOS Annex VII
arbitrations to date, including the Bay of Bengal Maritime Boundary Arbitration
(Bangladesh v. India) 2014.

Statement 1 is correct. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is the
United Nations specialized agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable
and universally accessible tourism.
Statement 2 is correct. This year United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has
designated 2020 as the Year of Tourism and Rural Development.
As an intergovernmental organization, UNWTO has 159 Member States (including India), 6
Associate Members, 2 Observers and over 500 Affiliate Members

Statement 1 is incorrect. Global Innovation & Technology Alliance (GITA) is a “not–for–profit” Section-8 Public Private Partnership (PPP) company promoted jointly by the Technology Development Board (TDB), Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
Statement 2 is correct. The mandate of GITA includes:
–GITA extends financial support in form of Grant/ Conditional Grant to promote industrial R&D, Innovation, Technology Acquisition and International S & T collaborative efforts.
–GITA catalyzes innovation and empowers ideas by offering specialized Information, matchmaking, IP protection etc. in the areas of technology design and IPR management.
–GITA is involved in Technical, Financial, Strategic policy research and recommendation to industry, research institution, State & Central Government and offers global networking platforms.
–GITA is mandated to facilitate the implementation of various innovative and revolutionary scientific and technological industrial research and development projects worldwide.

Statement 1 is correct. Currently, eight countries enjoy the status of the SCO full members: India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan; four countries — Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia — have an observer status with the SCO, and six countries — Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, Nepal, Turkey and Sri Lanka — have a dialogue partner status.
The Organisation has two permanent bodies — the Secretariat in Beijing (China) and the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) in Tashkent.
Statement 2 is incorrect. Russian and Chinese are the official working languages of the SCO.
It has been reported that India has proposed English to be adopted as an official language at SCO.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a proposed agreement between the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its free trade agreement (FTA) partners: Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation currently comprises eight Member States China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Statement 1 is incorrect. Established in 1994, the IAIS headquartered in Switzerlandis a voluntary membership organization of insurance supervisors and regulators from more than 200 jurisdictions, constituting 97% of the world’s insurance premiums.
It is the international standard-setting body responsible for developing and assisting in the implementation of principles, standards and other supporting material for the supervision of the insurance sector.
Statement 2 is correct. The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) obtained membership of International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS).

Statement 1 is correct. As a follow of the fifth session of Heads of Ministries and Departments of Science and Technology of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Member States, at which the huge talent pool of young scientists has been recognized as a potential tool to foster innovative research among the SCO nations, the first SCO-Young Scientists Conclave is being held in India in 2020, as an integral part of SCO Young Scientists Forum (SCO YSF).
Statement 2 is correct. The following thematic areas are chosen to promote collaborative work in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) among Member States:
–Agriculture and food processing
–Sustainable energy and energy storage
–Biotechnology and bio-engineering
–Combating COVID-19 and emerging pandemics through research and innovation
–Environmental protection and natural resource management

Statement 1 is incorrect. The United Nations Alliance of Civilization (UNAOC) was established in 2005, at the initiative of the Governments of Spain and Turkey, under the auspices of the United Nations.
A High-level Group of experts was formed by former Secretary-General Kofi Annan to explore the roots of polarization between societies and cultures today, and to recommend a practical programme of action to address this issue. The Report of the High-level Group provided analysis and put forward practical recommendations that form the basis for the implementation plan of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.
Statement 2 is correct. The Alliance benefits from a political support of the Group of Friends, a community of countries and international organizations which actively promotes the Alliance’s objectives and work at the global, regional and local levels, as well as worldwide.
India is a member to the ‘Group of Friends’.
# India has asked the UNAOC to expand its criticism of hatred and violence against religions beyond the three Abrahamic religions.

Statement 1 is correct. Partners in Population and Development (PPD) is an Inter-governmental Alliance of 27 developing countries with a mission to expand and improve South-South collaboration in the fields of family planning and reproductive health, population and development through the governments, NGOs and private sector organizations. It was created at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo in 1994.
Statement 2 is correct. There were only 10 developing countries at the time of formation of the Organization in 1994, over the years PPD’s membership has increased to 27 developing countries across Asia, Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America covering nearly 60% of total world population.
Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam are the PPD members from Asia.

Statement 1 is incorrect. The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) is the international body that brings together the world’s securities regulators and is recognized as the global standard setter for the securities sector.

IOSCO develops, implements and promotes adherence to internationally recognized standards for securities regulation. It works intensively with the G20 and the Financial Stability Board (FSB) on the global regulatory reform agenda.

Statement 2 is correct. The ordinary members (129) to the IOSCO are the national securities commissions. Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is an ordinary member of IOSCO and a member of the IOSCO Board.

Statement 1 is correct. Based at the United Nations, the Better Than Cash Alliance is a partnership of governments, companies and international organizations that accelerates the transition from cash to responsible digital payments to advance the Sustainable Development Goals.

Statement 2 is correct. The Alliance has 75 members, including India, which are committed to digitizing payments in order to boost efficiency, transparency, women’s economic participation and financial inclusion, helping build economies that are digital and inclusive. Members do not want to abolish physical cash – it is legal tender – but rather want to provide responsible digital payment options that are “better than cash”.

Both statements are correct.

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has declared ‘Invest India’ as winner of the 2020 United Nations Investment Promotion Award.

The Award recognizes and celebrates the outstanding achievements of the World’s best-practice investment promotion agencies. The evaluation was based on UNCTAD’s assessment of work undertaken by 180 national Investment Promotion Agencies across the world. IPAs response to the pandemic became the basis for the evaluation of the 2020 United Nations Investment Promotion Award.

The International Solar Alliance was launched jointly by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India and the President of France during COP21 in Paris. It aims to contribute to the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement through rapid and massive deployment of solar energy.

Prime Minister of India announced a global Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), at the UN Climate Action Summit 2019. The CDRI is a multi-stakeholder global partnership of national governments, UN agencies and programmes, multilateral development banks and financing mechanisms, the private sector, and academic and knowledge institutions.

The governments of Sweden and India, with support from the World Economic Forum (WEF) launched the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) at the UN Secretary General’s Climate Action Summit in September, 2019. The group is open for both government and business leaders and aims to enable the transition of heavy industry towards net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Statement 1 is correct. The PCA was established by the Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes, concluded at The Hague in 1899 during the first Hague Peace Conference. India is party to this convention.

Statement 2 is correct. The ‘Enrica Lexie’ Incident (Italy v. India) case proceedings were instituted under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (“UNCLOS”) at PCA.

The dispute arises from an incident that occurred on 15 February 2012 approximately 20.5 nautical miles off the coast of India involving the “Enrica Lexie”, an oil tanker flying the Italian flag, and India’s subsequent exercise of criminal jurisdiction over the incident and over two Italian marines from the Italian Navy.

# The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague has ruled in favour of Cairn Energy stating that the Indian government failed to uphold its obligations under the India-UK bilateral investment treaty.

Statement 1 is incorrect. The European Union is a unified trade and monetary body of 27 member countries. It eliminates border controls between members. The open border allows the free flow of goods and people.

The European Council is a collegiate body that defines the overall political directions and priorities of the European Union. It comprises the heads of state or government of the EU member states, along with the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission.

Statement 2 is incorrect. The eurozone consists of all countries that use the euro. All EU members pledge to convert to the euro, but only 19 have so far.

Statement 1 is incorrect. The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) is a non-profit, non-government, professional association of broadcasting organisations, formed in 1964 to facilitate the development of broadcasting in the Asia-Pacific region and to organise co-operative activities amongst its members.

Statement 2 is incorrect. All India Radio and Doordarshan under Prasar Bharati are members of the ABU. Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Sekhar Vempati has been elected as Vice President of Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU).

The Arctic Council calls itself “the leading intergovernmental forum” for

discussing and addressing issues concerning the Arctic region, including scientific

research, and peaceful and sustainable use of resources in the region.

• The Council was established by the eight Arctic States — the countries whose

territories fall in the Arctic region — through the Ottawa Declaration of 1996.

• The eight Arctic States — Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia,

Sweden and the United States — are the only members of the Arctic Council.

• India had been given the Observer status in 2013, along with five other countries —

China, Italy, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.

• Prior to this group, only France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and

the United Kingdom were granted Observer status. In 2017, Switzerland too

became an Observer.

Greenland, an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark is one of the EU countries’ overseas countries and territories (OCT) associated to the European Union. Greenland joined the then European Community in 1973 as a county along with Denmark, but after gaining autonomy in 1979 with the introduction of home rule within the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland voted to leave in 1982 and left in 1985, to become an OCT.

Brexit happened because a public vote – or referendum – was held in June 2016, to decide whether the UK should be in the EU. Leave won by 52% to 48%.

: The report, ‘The Toxic Truth: Children’s exposure to lead pollution undermines a generation of potential’ has been launched by UNICEF in collaboration with Pure Earth, an international non-profit organization.
Around 1 in 3 children – up to 800 million globally – has blood lead levels at or above 5 micrograms per decilitre (µg/dL), a level that the World Health Organization have stated it requires global and regional interventions.
Nearly half of these children live in South Asia.
It notes that lead is a potent neurotoxin which causes irreparable harm to children’s brains. It is particularly destructive to babies and children under the age of five as it damages their brains before they have had the opportunity to fully develop, causing them lifelong neurological, cognitive and physical impairment.
The report notes that informal and substandard recycling of lead-acid batteries is a leading contributor to lead poisoning in children living in low and middle-income countries

The FutureBrand Index is a global brand perception study based on the PricewaterhouseCoopers’ (PwC) Global Top 100 Companies by market capitalisation. Now in its sixth year and fifth iteration, the ranking re-orders the PwC Top100 in terms of brand perception strength, rather than just financial strength.
Reliance Industries of India has ranked second after Apple in FutureBrand Index 2020. Its PWC 2020 position was 91.

The Global Gender Gap Report published by the World Economic Forum since 2006 is designed to “measure gender-based gaps in access to resources and opportunities in countries rather than the actual levels of the available resources and opportunities in those countries.”
As per the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index 2020 rankings, India ranks 112 among 153 countries. China was ranked 106 while Iceland topped the table.

Digital Quality of Life (DQL) Index, 2020 has been released by SurfShark, an online privacy solutions provider.
The index ranks countries by looking at five fundamental pillars: Internet affordability, Internet quality, Electronic government availability and advancement, Electronic infrastructure development and State of electronic security.
Information points used to index the digital quality of life around the world were gathered from open data sources provided by the United Nations, World Bank, International Telecommunications Union etc.
Scandinavian countries Denmark and Sweden topped the index with Canada rounding up the top three.
India: Overall ranks of 57 out of the 85 countries but stands out in relatively affordable internet and in the field of e-government advancement despite lower than average digital quality of life level.

Statement 1 is incorrect. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World is an annual flagship report jointly prepared by FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO to inform on progress towards ending hunger, achieving food security and improving nutrition and to provide in depth analysis on key challenges for achieving this goal in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Statement 2 is correct. Since 2017, SOFI presents two key measures of food insecurity: the conventional measure called the Prevalence of Undernourishment (PoU) and a new measure called the Prevalence of Moderate and Severe Food Insecurity (PMSFI).
The prevalence of undernourishment (PoU) is an estimate of the proportion of the population whose habitual food consumption is insufficient to provide the dietary energy levels that are required to maintain a normal active and healthy life. It is expressed as a percentage. This indicator measures progress towards SDG Target 2.1.
# SDG Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.

The Remote Learning Reachability report has been issued by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recently.
– At least a third of the world’s schoolchildren, 463 million children globally, were unable to access remote learning when COVID-19 shuttered their schools.
– Just 24% of Indian households have internet connections to access e-education.

# UNICEF’s Framework for Reopening Schools, issued jointly with UNESCO, UNHCR, WFP and the World Bank, offers practical advice for national and local authorities.

The Global Food Security Index considers the core issues of affordability, availability, and quality across a set of 113 countries. It was first published in 2012, and is managed and updated annually by the Economist’s intelligence unit.
The index is a dynamic quantitative and qualitative benchmarking model, constructed from 34 unique indicators, that measures these drivers of food security across both developing and developed countries.

India’s profile on the GFSI is given below (Dec. 2019).

The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) is a common measure of market
concentration and is used to determine market competitiveness, often pre- and post-
Merger & Acquisition transactions.
•It is calculated by squaring the market share of each firm competing in a market
and then summing the resulting numbers. It can range from close to zero to 10,000.
•Regulators use the HHI Index using the 50 largest companies in a particular
industry to determine if that industry should be considered competitive or as close
to being a monopoly.