UPSC Prelims 2019
International Relations Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — The European Union

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was adopted by the European Union in April 2016 and implemented from 25th May 2018. It is a comprehensive legal framework designed to protect the personal data and privacy rights of EU citizens, setting stringent standards for data collection, processing, and storage that apply to any organization handling EU residents' data, regardless of geographic location.

📝 Short Notes: General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

• Adoption and Implementation: Adopted by the EU in April 2016; came into effect on 25th May 2018.
• Scope: Applies to all organizations processing personal data of EU/EEA residents, regardless of the organization's location.
• Key Principles: Lawfulness, fairness, transparency, purpose limitation, data minimization, accuracy, storage limitation, integrity, and confidentiality.
• Individual Rights: Right to access, rectification, erasure (right to be forgotten), restriction of processing, data portability, and objection.
• Penalties: Organizations can face fines up to €20 million or 4% of annual global turnover, whichever is higher, for serious violations.
• Data Protection Officers: Certain organizations must appoint a DPO to oversee GDPR compliance.
• Impact on India: Indian companies handling EU citizens' data must comply with GDPR; influenced India's Personal Data Protection Bill discussions.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — Russia

India signed the 'Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field' with Russia to strengthen bilateral cooperation in civil nuclear energy. Russia has been a key strategic partner in India's nuclear energy sector, particularly through Rosatom's involvement in constructing the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) in Tamil Nadu. This agreement aims to enhance collaboration in nuclear fuel cycle management, construction of nuclear power projects, and advanced research in nuclear science and technology.

📝 Short Notes: India-Russia Nuclear Cooperation

• Strategic Partnership: India and Russia share a long-standing strategic partnership in civil nuclear cooperation since the Soviet era.
• Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP): Located in Tamil Nadu, built with Russian assistance through Rosatom; Units 1 and 2 are operational, and additional units are under construction.
• Nuclear Fuel Supply: Russia provides assured nuclear fuel supply to India's reactors, including those under IAEA safeguards.
• Technology Transfer: Cooperation includes technology transfer for fast breeder reactors and nuclear fuel cycle management.
• Other Nuclear Partners: India has civil nuclear agreements with the USA (123 Agreement, 2008), France, Japan, Canada, and the UK, but Russia remains the most active operational partner.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — 2 and 4 only

This question tests knowledge of international conventions related to corruption and organized crime. Only statements 2 and 4 are correct, while statements 1 and 3 incorrectly attribute specific protocols and chapters to the wrong conventions.

✅ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air supplements the UNTOC (United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime), not the UNCAC.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: The UNCAC, adopted in 2003 and entered into force in 2005, is indeed the first legally binding global anti-corruption instrument.

❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Asset recovery (Chapter V) is a specific highlight of the UNCAC, not the UNTOC.

✅ Statement 4 – Correct: The UNODC is mandated by member states to assist in implementing both UNCAC and UNTOC, along with the three UN Drug Conventions.

📝 Short Notes: UNCAC and UNTOC

• Three UNTOC Protocols: (1) Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children; (2) Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air; (3) Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms
• Asset Recovery: UNCAC's Chapter V provides mechanisms for countries to recover assets stolen through corruption, making it the first international instrument with a dedicated chapter on this issue
• UNODC Role: Assists member states in implementing UNCAC, UNTOC, and the three UN Drug Conventions (1961, 1971, 1988)

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — 1 only

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a multilateral development bank established in 2016 with headquarters in Beijing. Among the three statements, only the first statement about AIIB having more than 80 member nations is correct.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: AIIB has more than 80 member nations (as of 2024, it has 109 approved members from across the globe).

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: India is the second-largest shareholder in AIIB with approximately 7.5% voting share, while China is the largest shareholder with around 26.6% voting share.

❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: AIIB has members from outside Asia, including numerous European countries (like UK, Germany, France), as well as members from South America, Africa, and Oceania.

📝 Short Notes: Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)