UPSC CSE Prelims
International Agreements and Conventions 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 3 — 1 and 3 only

This question tests knowledge of various international agreements and their subject areas. Only pairs 1 and 3 are correctly matched, while pairs 2 and 4 contain incorrect associations.

✅ Pair 1 – Correct: The Alma-Ata Declaration (1978) was adopted at the International Conference on Primary Health Care in Kazakhstan, establishing primary health care as the key to achieving health for all.

❌ Pair 2 – Incorrect: The Hague Convention (1980) deals with the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, not biological and chemical weapons. Biological and chemical weapons are covered by the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC, 1972) and Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC, 1993).

✅ Pair 3 – Correct: The Talanoa Dialogue is a facilitative process under the UNFCCC to take stock of collective efforts toward climate goals and inform Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

❌ Pair 4 – Incorrect: The Under2 Coalition is a global alliance of state and regional governments committed to ambitious climate action to keep global warming well below 2°C, not related to child rights. Child rights are primarily addressed by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC, 1989).

📝 Short Notes: Key International Agreements

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 — The civilian nuclear reactors come under IAEA safeguards.

The Additional Protocol is a legal instrument that grants the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) enhanced access to information and locations to verify that nuclear materials are used exclusively for peaceful purposes. By ratifying the Additional Protocol, India committed to placing its civilian nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards, allowing verification that nuclear material in these facilities is not diverted for military use.

✅ Option 1 – Correct: Ratification of the Additional Protocol brings civilian nuclear reactors under IAEA safeguards, ensuring international verification of peaceful use of nuclear materials.
❌ Option 2 – Incorrect: India maintains a clear separation between civilian and military nuclear programs; military installations remain outside IAEA inspection scope.
❌ Option 3 – Incorrect: While the Additional Protocol was part of India's integration into the global nuclear order post-Indo-US nuclear deal, it does not automatically provide the privilege to buy uranium from NSG; separate bilateral agreements are required.
❌ Option 4 – Incorrect: NSG membership requires a separate consensus-based admission process and is not automatic upon ratifying the Additional Protocol.

📝 Short Notes: IAEA Additional Protocol and India

• IAEA Additional Protocol: Legal document providing the IAEA with expanded rights of access to ensure nuclear non-proliferation and peaceful use of nuclear energy.
• India's Approach: India signed the Additional Protocol in 2009, which entered into force on July 25, 2014.
• Civilian-Military Separation: India follows a separation plan where designated civilian facilities come under IAEA safeguards, while strategic/military facilities remain outside.
• Indo-US Nuclear Deal (2008): Enabled India to access civilian nuclear technology and fuel despite not being a signatory to the NPT; the Additional Protocol was part of this framework.
• NSG Waiver (2008): Nuclear Suppliers Group granted India a special waiver allowing nuclear trade; however, India is not yet an NSG member.
• IAEA Safeguards: Apply to declared civilian facilities, ensuring nuclear materials are not diverted for weapons purposes through regular inspections and monitoring.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — Child Labour

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has adopted two fundamental conventions to eliminate child labour worldwide. These conventions focus on fixing the minimum age for employment and abolishing the worst forms of child labour.

✅ Convention No. 138 – Correct: Known as the Minimum Age Convention (1973), it requires countries to prescribe a minimum age for employment and gradually eliminate child labour.

✅ Convention No. 182 – Correct: Known as the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (1999), it calls for the immediate prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including slavery, trafficking, forced labour, and hazardous work.

Therefore, both conventions are related to child labour.

📝 Short Notes: ILO Conventions 138 & 182

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — Neither 1 nor 2

The Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development (APMCHUD) is an intergovernmental platform for Asia-Pacific countries to collaborate on housing and urban development issues. Both statements contain factual inaccuracies regarding the conference's theme and hosting arrangements.

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The first APMCHUD was held in New Delhi, India in December 2006, but the theme was 'A Vision for Sustainable Urbanization in the Asia-Pacific by 2020', not 'Emerging Urban Forms — Policy Responses and Governance Structure'.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: APMCHUD is a biennial event hosted by different member countries on a rotational basis (as agreed in previous conferences), not annually hosted by India in partnership with ADB, APEC, and ASEAN.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — Neither 1 nor 2

Both statements are incorrect regarding the institutional affiliations of nuclear security mechanisms. The Nuclear Security Summits were an independent initiative outside the UN framework, and the International Panel on Fissile Materials is not affiliated with the IAEA.

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The Nuclear Security Summits (2010-2016) were initiated by the United States as an independent initiative, not under the aegis of the United Nations or any formal international organization.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The International Panel on Fissile Materials (IPFM) is an independent expert group of arms control and non-proliferation specialists, not an organ of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — 2 and 3 only

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: OPCW is an independent, autonomous international organization based in The Hague, Netherlands, not an organization of the European Union. It implements the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and has 193 member states globally. While it cooperates with NATO, WHO and other organizations, it is not under their purview or limited to Europe.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: OPCW monitors chemical industries worldwide through routine inspections of declared chemical production facilities to ensure that toxic chemicals are not diverted for weapons purposes. This verification regime prevents the emergence of new chemical weapons.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Under Article X of the Chemical Weapons Convention, OPCW provides assistance and protection to member states facing chemical weapons threats. This includes offering training, protective equipment, detection technology, and emergency response support to enhance national chemical security capabilities.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — China

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), also known as One Belt One Road (OBOR), is a massive global infrastructure development strategy launched by China in 2013. It aims to enhance connectivity and cooperation between Asia, Europe, Africa, and beyond through two main components: the Silk Road Economic Belt (overland routes) and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (sea routes). China invests in ports, railways, highways, and energy projects across participating countries to strengthen trade linkages and expand its economic influence globally.