UPSC Prelims 2022
International Relations Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — 1, 2 and 3

All three statements correctly describe key provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The Convention establishes comprehensive rules governing maritime zones, navigation rights, and resource management in the world's oceans.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: UNCLOS Article 3 permits coastal states to establish territorial sea up to 12 nautical miles from the baseline, representing sovereignty over this maritime zone.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: UNCLOS Articles 17-19 guarantee innocent passage rights for all ships (coastal and land-locked states) through territorial seas, provided the passage is continuous, expeditious, and non-prejudicial to the coastal state's peace and security.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: UNCLOS Article 57 stipulates that the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) cannot extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline, granting coastal states sovereign rights over natural resources within this zone.

📝 Short Notes: UNCLOS Maritime Zones

• Baseline: Normal baseline is the low-water line along the coast; straight baselines may be used where coastline is deeply indented or has fringe of islands.
• Innocent Passage: Must be continuous, expeditious; excludes activities like weapons practice, fishing, research, or acts prejudicial to coastal state security.
• UNCLOS Adoption: Signed in 1982 at Montego Bay, Jamaica; entered into force in 1994; often called the "Constitution for the Oceans."
• India and UNCLOS: India ratified UNCLOS in 1995; claims 12 nm territorial sea and 200 nm EEZ.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — 1, 2 and 3

India is a member of all three organizations mentioned in the question. India joined the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) as a founding member in 2015 and is its second-largest shareholder after China. India became a full member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) on June 27, 2016, as the 35th partner country. India joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as a full member in 2017 along with Pakistan.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: India is a founding member of AIIB (2015) and holds the second-largest shareholding after China.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: India became the 35th member of MTCR in June 2016, gaining access to critical missile and space technologies.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: India became a full member of SCO in 2017, upgrading from its earlier observer status.

📝 Short Notes: India's Membership in International Organizations

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — 1, 2 and 3

All three statements regarding the United Nations General Assembly's observer status provisions are correct. The UN General Assembly has the authority to grant observer status to non-member states, inter-governmental organizations, and other entities, allowing them to participate in sessions and maintain permanent missions at UN Headquarters.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to non-member states, such as Palestine and the Holy See (Vatican City), which held this status before Palestine's upgraded status.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Inter-governmental organizations like the African Union, European Union, and International Committee of the Red Cross have been granted observer status in the UN General Assembly for matters within their areas of competence.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Permanent Observers are permitted to maintain permanent missions at UN Headquarters in New York and participate in General Assembly sessions, though they cannot vote on resolutions.

📝 Short Notes: UN Observer Status

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — It is the international code of safety for ships operating in polar waters.

The Polar Code is an international maritime regulation adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that establishes mandatory safety and environmental standards specifically for ships operating in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. It addresses the unique challenges of polar navigation including ship design, crew training, operational procedures, and pollution prevention measures.

✅ Option 1 – Correct: Accurately describes the Polar Code as an international safety code for ships in polar waters.

❌ Option 2 – Incorrect: The Polar Code is not about territorial demarcation; it is a maritime safety regulation applicable to ships.

❌ Option 3 – Incorrect: The code relates to commercial shipping safety, not research norms for scientists.

❌ Option 4 – Incorrect: It is not a trade and security agreement of the Arctic Council, but an IMO maritime safety regulation.

📝 Short Notes: Polar Code

• Full Name: International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters
• Adopted by: International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2014; entered into force on January 1, 2017
• Scope: Covers both Arctic and Antarctic waters, addressing risks present in polar environments
• Key Requirements: Ship design and construction standards, equipment requirements, crew training and certification, operational safety procedures, environmental protection measures
• Purpose: To ensure safe ship operation and protect the pristine polar environment from shipping-related pollution and accidents
• Coverage: Applies to new ships constructed after 2017 and existing ships engaged in polar voyages
• Environmental Focus: Restrictions on discharge of oil, chemicals, sewage, and garbage; prohibition on use and carriage of heavy fuel oil in Antarctic waters

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — China and Japan engage in maritime disputes over these islands in East China Sea

The Senkaku Islands (called Diaoyu in China) are a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea that are at the center of a territorial dispute between Japan and China. Japan has administered these islands since 1972, but China also claims sovereignty over them, leading to ongoing maritime tensions between the two countries.

❌ Option 1 – Incorrect: The Senkaku Islands are natural islands in the East China Sea, not artificial islands in the South China Sea.
✅ Option 2 – Correct: This accurately describes the Japan-China territorial dispute over these islands in the East China Sea.
❌ Option 3 – Incorrect: There is no permanent American military base on the Senkaku Islands; they are uninhabited.
❌ Option 4 – Incorrect: The ICJ has not declared them as no man's land, and Southeast Asian countries are not claimants to these islands.

📝 Short Notes: Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands Dispute

• Location: East China Sea, approximately 120 nautical miles northeast of Taiwan
• Japanese name: Senkaku Islands; Chinese name: Diaoyu Islands
• Status: Group of 8 uninhabited islands and rocks covering about 7 sq km
• Current administration: Japan (since 1972, following reversion from US control)
• Dispute parties: Japan, China, and Taiwan all claim sovereignty
• Strategic importance: Located near important shipping lanes, rich fishing grounds, and potential oil and gas reserves
• Recent tensions: Frequent incursions by Chinese coast guard vessels into waters around the islands have increased since Japan's nationalization of three islands in 2012

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — 3 only

The United Nations Credentials Committee is a committee of the UN General Assembly, not the Security Council. It is appointed at the beginning of each regular session (not in specific months like March, June, September). Only Statement 3 is correct as the Committee examines credentials of Member State representatives and reports to the General Assembly for approval.

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The Credentials Committee is set up by the UN General Assembly on the proposal of its President, not by the Security Council.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The Committee is appointed at the beginning of each regular session of the General Assembly (typically in September), not in March, June, and September throughout the year.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: The Committee examines credentials of representatives of all UN Member States (submitted by Head of State/Government or Foreign Minister) and reports to the General Assembly for approval as per Rule 27 and 28 of the Rules of Procedure.

📝 Short Notes: UN Credentials Committee

• Nature: A committee of the UN General Assembly, consisting of 9 members appointed on the President's proposal
• Appointment: Established at the beginning of each regular session of the General Assembly
• Mandate: Examines credentials of representatives of Member States and reports to the General Assembly (Rule 28)
• Credential Submission: Credentials are submitted to the Secretary-General by the Head of State/Government or Foreign Minister (Rule 27)
• Function: Ensures proper representation of Member States at the General Assembly by verifying diplomatic credentials
• Significance: Can become politically contentious when there are competing claims to represent a state (e.g., Myanmar after 2021 coup, Afghanistan after Taliban takeover)

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — 2 and 5

The Organization of Turkic States (OTS), formerly known as the Turkic Council, is an intergovernmental organization promoting cooperation among Turkic-speaking nations. Among the listed countries, only Azerbaijan (founding member) and Uzbekistan (joined 2019) are full members of the OTS.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Azerbaijan is a founding member of the Organization of Turkic States, established in 2009.
✅ Statement 5 – Correct: Uzbekistan became a full member of the Organization of Turkic States in 2019.
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Armenia is not a member of the Organization of Turkic States; it is predominantly an Indo-European nation with Armenian ethnicity.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Croatia is not a member of the Organization of Turkic States; it is a Slavic European nation and EU member.
❌ Statement 4 – Incorrect: Romania is not a member of the Organization of Turkic States; it is a Romance-speaking European nation.

📝 Short Notes: Organization of Turkic States

• Established: October 2009 as the Turkic Council; renamed Organization of Turkic States in November 2021
• Full Members (5): Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan
• Observer States (3): Hungary, Turkmenistan, and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
• Objective: Promote comprehensive cooperation among Turkic-speaking states in political, economic, cultural, and security spheres
• Secretariat: Located in Istanbul, Turkey
• Common Heritage: Based on shared Turkic linguistic, cultural, and historical ties

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — Both 1 and 2

The G20 Common Framework for Debt Treatments beyond the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) was established in November 2020 as a coordinated mechanism to address unsustainable debt in Low Income Countries. It represents a joint effort by the G20 and Paris Club creditors to provide comprehensive debt treatment solutions.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The G20 Common Framework is indeed an initiative endorsed by the G20 together with the Paris Club, creating a coordinated approach among official bilateral creditors.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: The Framework specifically targets Low Income Countries (LICs) with unsustainable debt, providing structured mechanisms for debt restructuring and relief.

📝 Short Notes: G20 Common Framework

• Launch: November 2020 during the Saudi Arabian G20 Presidency, in response to COVID-19 debt crisis
• Objective: Provide debt treatment beyond the temporary DSSI (Debt Service Suspension Initiative) for countries facing protracted debt vulnerabilities
• Participants: G20 countries and Paris Club creditors as official bilateral creditors, with expectation of comparable treatment from private creditors
• Eligibility: DSSI-eligible countries (73 Low Income Countries as per World Bank classification)
• Key Features: Case-by-case debt treatment, creditor coordination, debt sustainability analysis, and comparable treatment across all creditor types
• Implementation: Chad, Ethiopia, and Zambia were among the first countries to request treatment under this framework

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — 1, 3 and 4

Vietnam has emerged as one of the fastest-growing economies globally, driven by its strategic integration into global supply chains and export-oriented growth model. The country's competitive advantages include low labor costs and a stable exchange rate, which have attracted significant foreign direct investment from global manufacturers. However, Vietnam operates under a single-party communist political system, not a multi-party democracy, and its e-services sector, while growing, is not the most productive in the Indo-Pacific region.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Vietnam has been one of the fastest-growing economies in the world in recent years, with consistent GDP growth even during the 2020 pandemic.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Vietnam is a one-party communist state led by the Communist Party of Vietnam, not a multi-party political system.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Vietnam's economic success is directly linked to its integration with global supply chains and export-led growth strategy.
✅ Statement 4 – Correct: Low labor costs and stable exchange rates have been key factors attracting global manufacturers to Vietnam, especially as wages rose in other East Asian countries.
❌ Statement 5 – Incorrect: According to the Asian Development Bank, e-services including digital financial services are at a nascent stage in Vietnam, not the most productive in the Indo-Pacific region.

📝 Short Notes: Vietnam's Economic Growth Model

• Political System: One-party socialist republic governed by the Communist Party of Vietnam since reunification in 1976.
• Economic Reforms: Doi Moi (Renovation) policy launched in 1986 transformed Vietnam from a centrally planned to a socialist-oriented market economy.
• Growth Drivers: Export-oriented manufacturing, FDI attraction, integration into global value chains, and membership in trade agreements like CPTPP and RCEP.
• Manufacturing Hub: Emerged as an alternative to China for global manufacturers due to lower labor costs, political stability, and strategic location.
• Trade Relations: Major trading partners include China, US, EU, ASEAN members; significant beneficiary of US-China trade tensions.
• Digital Economy: Projected to be the fastest-growing internet economy in Southeast Asia, though e-services sector is still developing compared to regional leaders like Singapore.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — Only three pairs

This question tests knowledge of recent international developments. Out of the four pairs, three are correctly matched while the first pair about Chad is incorrect as China has not established a permanent military base there.

✅ Pair 1 – Incorrect: China has not set up any permanent military base in Chad. China's only overseas military base is in Djibouti.

✅ Pair 2 – Correct: Guinea witnessed a military coup in September 2021 where special forces captured President Alpha Conde and suspended the constitution and dissolved the government.

✅ Pair 3 – Correct: Lebanon has been experiencing a severe and prolonged economic depression since 2019, caused by political instability, corruption, and lack of reforms, affecting approximately 74% of the population.

✅ Pair 4 – Correct: Tunisian President Kais Saied suspended parliament in July 2021 and later dissolved it in March 2022 after lawmakers held an online session to repeal his decrees, which he termed a failed coup attempt.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — 2 and 3

This question tests knowledge about major refugee settlements in East Africa. Statement 1 incorrectly locates Bidibidi in Kenya, while statements 2 and 3 correctly identify the refugee populations in Bidibidi (Uganda) and Dadaab (Kenya).

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement located in northwestern Uganda, not Kenya.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Bidibidi refugee settlement in Uganda hosts people who fled the South Sudan civil war that intensified from 2013 onwards.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Dadaab refugee complex in Kenya is one of the world's largest refugee camps and primarily houses refugees who fled the civil war and instability in Somalia.

📝 Short Notes: Major Refugee Settlements in East Africa

• Bidibidi, Uganda: One of the world's largest refugee settlements, located in northwestern Uganda near the South Sudan border; hosts primarily South Sudanese refugees fleeing civil war.
• Dadaab, Kenya: Located in northeastern Kenya near the Somalia border; established in 1991-92; hosts mainly Somali refugees; at its peak housed over 400,000 refugees.
• Kakuma, Kenya: Another major refugee camp in northwestern Kenya; hosts refugees from South Sudan, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo, and other countries.
• South Sudan Civil War: Conflict began in December 2013, causing massive displacement with over 2 million refugees fleeing to neighboring countries including Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Sudan.
• Somalia Civil War: Ongoing conflict since 1991; has created one of the world's longest-running refugee crises with millions displaced internally and externally.