International Relations

Yemen and South Sudan faced severe humanitarian crises and famine conditions around 2017-2018 due to prolonged armed conflicts. In Yemen, the Saudi-led military intervention against Houthi rebels, coupled with air and naval blockades, severely restricted the import of food and medicine, leading to widespread starvation. In South Sudan, a civil war that began in 2013 between government and opposition forces displaced millions and disrupted agricultural production, resulting in the United Nations formally declaring a famine in parts of the country in early 2017.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: The International Seabed Authority (ISA) regulates seabed mining in international waters. The Global Ocean Commission was a 2013-2016 international initiative of leaders aiming to reverse ocean degradation, focusing on the high seas.

Statement 2 is Correct: Like other countries, India can apply for and receive exploration licenses from the ISA for areas beyond national jurisdictions. Since 2014, India has obtained licences from the International Sea Bed Authority for seabed mineral exploration in international waters.

Statement 3 is Correct: Rare earth minerals are among the potential resources found on the seabed in international waters, although their commercial viability is still being explored.

Therefore, the correct statements are 2 and 3 only.

Statement 1 is incorrect. The inaugural IONS was held in February 2008 in New Delhi, India. The Indian Navy served as the Chair for the first two years (2008-2010).

Statement 2 is correct. IONS is indeed a voluntary initiative that aims to promote maritime cooperation among the navies of countries bordering the Indian Ocean. It provides a platform for discussions on regional maritime security issues and fosters friendly relationships between participating nations.

The trade facilitation decision is a multilateral deal to simplify customs procedures by reducing costs and improving their speed and efficiency.

Statement 1 is correct. India has ratified the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) of the WTO. This signifies India's official acceptance and implementation of the agreement's provisions.

Statement 2 is correct. The TFA is indeed a part of the WTO's Bali Ministerial Package of 2013. This package refers to a collection of agreements reached during the Ninth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization in Bali, Indonesia. The TFA was a landmark achievement within this package.

Statement 3 is incorrect. The Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) came into force in February 2017, not January 2016. It required ratification by two-thirds of WTO members before taking effect.

Pair 1 is correct: Chechnya is a republic located in the northern part of the Caucasus Mountains, and it is a part of Russia.

Pair 2 is incorrect: Darfur is a region located in western Sudan, not Mali.

Pair 3 is incorrect: Swat Valley is located in the northwestern part of Pakistan, not Iraq.


Statement 1 is correct. AIIB has more than 80 member nations. (Actually, as of April 2024, it has 109 members).

Statement 2 is incorrect. India is not the largest shareholder in AIIB. China is the largest shareholder.

Statement 3 is incorrect. While the focus is on Asia, several non-Asian countries are members, including some European and South American nations.


Statement 1 is not correct. Bilateral trade between India and Sri Lanka has increased by around 9 times between 2000-01 and 2018-19. Total trade between the two countries was US$ 6.2 billion in 2018-19, out of which India's exports to Sri Lanka were US$ 4.7 billion and imports were US$ 1.5 billion. Although India has always had a trade surplus with Sri Lanka, the gap has widened since 2008-09. In 2012-13 and 2016-17, the trade slumped, thus disturbing the steady increase in the graph.

Statement 2 is correct. According to the World Bank, India exports $2.25 billion worth of textile and clothing products to Bangladesh. In turn, it imports $336 million worth of textile and clothing products from Dhaka.

Statement 3 is not correct. Bangladesh is India's biggest trade partner in South Asia. Bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh has grown steadily over the last decade. India's exports to Bangladesh in FY 2018-19 stood at $9.21 billion and imports during the same period were at $1.04 billion.

Statement 1 is correct. The G20 Common Framework is an initiative endorsed by the G20 together with the Paris Club. It was created in November 2020 to help Low Income Countries (LICs) facing unsustainable debt burdens.

Statement 2 is correct. The G20 Common Framework specifically targets Low Income Countries with unsustainable debt. It provides a mechanism for these countries to restructure their debts in a coordinated manner with participation from various creditors, including official bilateral creditors, private creditors, and multilateral institutions.

Hence, both statements about the G20 Common Framework are correct.

India is a member of all the Organizations mentioned. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation: SCO has 10 full members: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan (founding members), India, Pakistan (joined 2017), Iran (joined 2023), and Belarus (joined 2024).

Missile Technology Control Regime: India became a full member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) on June 27, 2016, becoming the 35th partner country and strengthening international efforts to prevent the spread of missile technology.

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: India joined the AIIB as a founding member in 2015, signing the Articles of Agreement on June 29, 2015, in Beijing, becoming one of the 50 initial signatories to establish the multilateral development bank. India is the second-largest shareholder in the AIIB after China.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The first BRIC Summit (before South Africa joined) was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009 — not in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The grouping originally included Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRIC).

Statement 2 is correct: South Africa joined the group in 2011, turning BRIC into BRICS. It was indeed the last country to join the grouping, representing the African continent.