UPSC CSE Prelims
International & Regional Organizations Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) follows a strategic framework centered on transforming agrifood systems through the "Four Betters" approach.

The Four Betters are:

• Better Production

• Better Nutrition

• Better Environment

• Better Life

The Blue Transformation initiative aims to make fisheries and aquaculture more sustainable and resilient while contributing to these four goals.

Options A, C, and D are incorrect because terms like better ocean, better coral reefs, better estuaries, and better mangrove vegetation are not part of FAO's official framework.

Therefore, Option B is the correct answer.

FAO's Blue Transformation

• Blue Transformation is FAO's strategy to sustainably expand aquatic food systems, including fisheries and aquaculture.

• It supports food security, nutrition, livelihoods, and environmental sustainability through the framework of the Four Betters.

Detailed Explanation:

Correct Matching:

Key Context:

• UNMIL — Post Second Liberian Civil War ceasefire support
• MINURCAT — Spillover violence from Darfur conflict
• MINUSTAH — Post 2004 Haitian coup d'état; succeeded by MINUJUSTH
• UNMISET — Supported newly independent East Timor (Timor-Leste)

Detailed Explanation:

The answer is UNHCR — the only organisation among the four to have won the Nobel Peace Prize twice.

Why UNHCR won twice:

• 1954 — Post-WWII refugee relief efforts
• 1981 — Ongoing work promoting fundamental rights of refugees globally

Key Point: All four organisations have won the Nobel Peace Prize, but only UNHCR has won it twice — making the answer 1.

Detailed Explanation:

INSTC connects India → Iran → Central Asia/Russia → Europe, using a mix of sea, rail, and road.

The route looks like this: Mumbai (India) → Bandar Abbas (Iran) → Azerbaijan/Russia → Europe, with branches reaching Central Asia too.

Why other options are wrong:

📝 Short Notes: INSTC (for Revision)

Detailed Explanation:

Statement I is Correct: The 16th BRICS Summit was held in Kazan, Russia, from October 22 to 24, 2024. Russia held the rotating chairship for the year 2024.

Statement II is Correct: Indonesia officially announced its intention to join BRICS and has been integrated into the bloc as a full member following the 16th Summit in Kazan, as part of the group's ongoing expansion to include key emerging economies from the Global South.

Statement III is Incorrect: The official theme of the 16th BRICS Summit was "Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security." The statement incorrectly uses the word "Multiculturalism," which changes the diplomatic meaning of the theme.

Detailed Explanation:

BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) is a regional organization connecting South Asia and Southeast Asia. It promotes cooperation in areas such as trade, connectivity, security, energy, and tourism.

✅ Statement I is Correct: BIMSTEC had 7 member countries till January 2025 — Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

❌ Statement II is Incorrect: BIMSTEC was established through the Bangkok Declaration (1997), not the Dhaka Declaration.

❌ Statement III is Incorrect: Nepal was not a founding member. The founding members were Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Myanmar.

❌ Statement IV is Incorrect: In BIMSTEC, the Tourism sector is led by Nepal, not India.

Therefore, only Statement I is correct.

Detailed Explanation:

Among the given countries, Bulgaria, Croatia, Sweden, and North Macedonia are members of NATO.

• ❌ Austria is not a NATO member and follows a policy of neutrality.

• ❌ Serbia is not a NATO member, though it cooperates with NATO through the Partnership for Peace programme.

• ✅ Bulgaria (2004), ✅ Croatia (2009), ✅ North Macedonia (2020), and ✅ Sweden (2024) are NATO members.

Therefore, 4 countries are members of NATO.

Country-wise Analysis:

Detailed Explanation:

Correct Answer: ✅ Option 3 (I and III only)

Critical minerals are essential for sectors such as clean energy, electronics, electric vehicles, semiconductors, and defense. India has taken both international and domestic initiatives to secure access to these minerals.

✅ Statement I is Correct: India joined the Minerals Security Partnership in 2023 to strengthen critical mineral supply chains and reduce vulnerabilities.

❌ Statement II is Incorrect: India is not resource-rich in all 30 critical minerals identified by the government. It remains heavily dependent on imports for minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and graphite.

✅ Statement III is Correct: The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023 empowered the Central Government to exclusively auction mining leases and composite licenses for certain critical and strategic minerals.

Short Notes: Critical Minerals in India

• Critical minerals are essential for renewable energy, EVs, electronics, and defense industries.

• India identified 30 critical minerals for economic and strategic security.

• India joined the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) in 2023.

• MSP aims to build secure and sustainable global critical mineral supply chains.

• Key critical minerals include lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, and rare earth elements.

• The MMDR Amendment Act, 2023 introduced reforms to accelerate exploration and mining of critical minerals.

• India remains import-dependent for several strategic minerals despite having domestic reserves of some minerals.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — Only three

The UNOPS Sustainable Investments in Infrastructure and Innovation (S3i) initiative focuses on three specific infrastructure sectors: Affordable Housing, Renewable Energy, and Health Infrastructure. Mass rapid transport is not included in the S3i investment mandate.

✅ Affordable housing – Included: S3i invests in sustainable, affordable housing to address global housing shortages.
❌ Mass rapid transport – Not Included: Transport infrastructure is not part of the S3i initiative's specific investment focus.
✅ Health care – Included: Health infrastructure is a core focus area to improve access to essential medical services.
✅ Renewable energy – Included: Clean energy and climate-resilient infrastructure are key investment areas for S3i.

📝 Short Notes: UNOPS S3i Initiative

• Full Name: Sustainable Investments in Infrastructure and Innovation (S3i)
• Launched by: United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
• Primary Objective: Mobilize private capital for sustainable infrastructure investments aligned with SDGs
• Three Focus Sectors: Affordable Housing, Renewable Energy, and Health Infrastructure
• Investment Approach: Blended finance model combining public and private resources
• Target Regions: Primarily developing countries with infrastructure deficits
• Alignment: Supports SDG 3 (Health), SDG 7 (Energy), SDG 9 (Infrastructure), and SDG 11 (Cities)

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — Only one

The Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) is an agreement among the 27 EU member states designed to maintain fiscal discipline and economic stability within the European Union. It primarily focuses on controlling budget deficits and public debt levels of member countries through monitoring and corrective mechanisms.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The SGP limits budgetary deficits through the Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP), requiring member states to keep deficits below 3% of GDP and debt below 60% of GDP.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The SGP is a fiscal governance framework and does not mandate sharing of infrastructure facilities among EU countries.

❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Technology sharing is not part of the SGP's mandate, which is strictly focused on fiscal policy coordination and budgetary discipline.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — Both 1 and 2

Both statements about the G-20 are correct. The G-20 was indeed established in 1999 as a forum for Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to discuss international economic and financial stability. India's 2023 G-20 presidency prioritized digital public infrastructure (DPI) as a key deliverable, emphasizing its role in inclusive growth and development.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The G-20 was originally established in 1999 as a platform for Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to discuss international economic and financial issues following the Asian financial crisis.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Digital public infrastructure was one of India's key priorities during its 2023 G-20 presidency, focusing on leveraging DPI for inclusive development and bridging the digital divide.

📝 Short Notes: G-20

• Formation: Established in 1999 as a forum for Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors after the Asian financial crisis
• First Leaders' Summit: Held in 2008 in Washington D.C. in response to the global financial crisis
• Membership: 19 countries plus the European Union and African Union (added in 2023)
• Purpose: Discusses major issues related to global economy, financial stability, climate change, and sustainable development
• India's 2023 Presidency Priorities: Digital public infrastructure, green development, women-led development, and inclusion
• Representation: G-20 members represent about 85% of global GDP, 75% of global trade, and two-thirds of the world population

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 — 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 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 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