UPSC CSE Prelims
International Relations Current Affairs Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

All four pairs are correctly matched as per the United Nations declarations for upcoming international years.

✅ Pair I: International Year of the Woman Farmer — 2026
✅ Pair II: International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism — 2027
✅ Pair III: International Year of Peace and Trust — 2025
✅ Pair IV: International Year of Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defence — 2029

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Statement I is Correct: The AI Action Summit (Paris, February 2025) was co-chaired by India and France. It built upon the discussions held at the Bletchley Park AI Safety Summit (2023) in the UK and the Seoul AI Summit (2024) in South Korea.

❌ Statement II is Incorrect: Although 58 countries signed the declaration on Inclusive and Sustainable AI, the United States and the United Kingdom did not sign the declaration due to concerns over regulatory and governance issues.

Therefore, only Statement I is correct.

Detailed Explanation:

Correct Answer: ✅ Option 4 (2, 3 and 4)

Exercise Mitra Shakti 2023 was the 9th India–Sri Lanka Joint Military Exercise, conducted at Aundh, Pune (Maharashtra). The exercise focused on improving interoperability and joint responses during counter-terrorism operations. Personnel from both the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Sri Lanka Air Force also participated.

❌ Statement 1 is Incorrect: Mitra Shakti is a joint military exercise between India and Sri Lanka, not Bangladesh.

✅ Statement 2 is Correct: The exercise commenced at Aundh, Pune.

✅ Statement 3 is Correct: Joint response during counter-terrorism operations was a key objective.

✅ Statement 4 is Correct: Personnel from the Indian Air Force participated in the exercise.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — Successful coups

Chad, Guinea, Mali, and Sudan have all experienced successful military coups in recent years, making this the common factor drawing international attention. Chad witnessed a military takeover in 2021 following the death of President Idriss Déby, Guinea experienced a coup in September 2021 overthrowing President Alpha Condé, Mali faced two coups (in August 2020 and May 2021), and Sudan underwent a military coup in April 2019 that ousted President Omar al-Bashir, followed by another in October 2021. These military takeovers have raised significant concerns about democratic backsliding, political instability, human rights violations, and regional security in Africa.

📝 Short Notes: Recent Military Coups in Africa

• Regional Impact: These coups reflect broader democratic challenges in Africa's Sahel and Sub-Saharan regions
• International Response: African Union, ECOWAS, and UN condemned these military takeovers and imposed sanctions
• Common Factors: Corruption, economic mismanagement, security concerns, and disputed elections preceded most coups
• Democracy Concerns: Wave of coups represents significant setback for democratic governance in Africa

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

The United States and the European Union indeed launched the Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in June 2021 to enhance transatlantic cooperation on trade, economic, and technology issues. However, Statement-II mischaracterizes the objective of the TTC.

✅ Statement-I – Correct: The USA and EU formally launched the Trade and Technology Council at the EU-US Summit in Brussels on June 15, 2021, to coordinate approaches to key global trade, economic, and technology challenges.

❌ Statement-II – Incorrect: The TTC does not aim to bring technological progress and physical productivity "under their control"; rather, it seeks to promote democratic values, coordinate on technology standards, address supply chain vulnerabilities, enhance investment screening, and counter authoritarian uses of technology while maintaining open markets and fair competition.

📝 Short Notes: US-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC)

• Launch: June 15, 2021, at the EU-US Summit in Brussels
• Objective: Expand and deepen transatlantic trade and investment relationship; coordinate approaches to technology, digital issues, and supply chains
• Key Focus Areas: Technology standards cooperation, secure supply chains, data governance, export controls, investment screening, climate and clean tech, and countering misuse of technology
• Structure: Co-chaired by US Secretary of State and Commerce Secretary on the American side, and European Commission Executive Vice-Presidents on the EU side
• Working Groups: Ten working groups covering areas like AI, semiconductors, data governance, and ICT security
• Strategic Context: Part of renewed transatlantic cooperation to address challenges from China and other non-market economies while promoting democratic values in technology governance

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — None

None of the given pairs are correctly matched. All three pairs incorrectly associate regions with conflicts or disputes they are not related to.

❌ Pair 1 – Incorrect: North Kivu and Ituri are provinces in the Democratic Republic of Congo facing ethnic conflicts and insurgency, not related to the Armenia-Azerbaijan war.

❌ Pair 2 – Incorrect: Nagorno-Karabakh is the disputed region between Armenia and Azerbaijan, not related to the insurgency in Mozambique (which occurs in Cabo Delgado province).

❌ Pair 3 – Incorrect: Kherson and Zaporizhzhia are regions in Ukraine that have been focal points in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, not related to any dispute between Israel and Lebanon.

📝 Short Notes: Recent Global Conflict Zones

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

This question tests knowledge of Israel's diplomatic relations with Arab states and the Arab Peace Initiative. Statement-I correctly reflects the Abraham Accords and earlier peace treaties, while Statement-II incorrectly claims that Israel signed the Arab Peace Initiative.

✅ Statement-I – Correct: Israel has established diplomatic relations with several Arab states including Egypt (1979), Jordan (1994), UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan (2020 Abraham Accords).

❌ Statement-II – Incorrect: The Arab Peace Initiative (2002), proposed by Saudi Arabia and endorsed by the Arab League, was never signed by Israel. It remains a proposal offering normalization in exchange for Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories, but Israel has not formally accepted its terms.

📝 Short Notes: Israel-Arab Relations & Peace Initiatives

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — None

None of the given pairs are correctly matched. All three conflict zones have been incorrectly paired with wrong countries.

❌ Pair 1 – Incorrect: Donbas is located in eastern Ukraine (not Syria). It has been the epicenter of conflict between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists since 2014, comprising the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

❌ Pair 2 – Incorrect: Kachin is a state in northern Myanmar (not Ethiopia). The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has been engaged in a long-standing armed conflict with the Myanmar military for ethnic autonomy and control of natural resources.

❌ Pair 3 – Incorrect: Tigray is the northernmost region of Ethiopia (not North Yemen). Since November 2020, it has witnessed a devastating civil war involving the Ethiopian federal government, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), and Eritrean forces.

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 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 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 4 — Yemen and South Sudan

Yemen and South Sudan have experienced severe humanitarian crises with lakhs of people suffering from acute malnutrition and starvation due to prolonged armed conflicts. In Yemen, the civil war beginning in 2014 and the subsequent Saudi-led coalition intervention against Houthi rebels created a catastrophic humanitarian situation, with blockades restricting food and medical supplies leading to widespread famine conditions. In South Sudan, the civil war that erupted in 2013 between government and opposition forces displaced millions, disrupted agriculture, and led to the UN declaring famine in parts of the country in February 2017, making it the first famine declared anywhere in six years.

The other options do not match the severity and recency described in the question. Angola and Zambia have not faced such crises recently; Morocco and Tunisia have been relatively stable; Venezuela has faced economic collapse and food shortages, but Colombia has not experienced similar war-induced famine conditions.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — 1 and 3 only

This question tests the geographical knowledge of regions that frequently appear in international news. Only pairs 1 and 3 are correctly matched, while Crimea belongs to Ukraine (not Hungary) and Oromia belongs to Ethiopia (not Nigeria).

✅ Pair 1 – Correct: Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, known for its independence movement and distinct cultural identity.

❌ Pair 2 – Incorrect: Crimea is a peninsula on the Black Sea coast, internationally recognized as part of Ukraine (annexed by Russia in 2014), not Hungary.

✅ Pair 3 – Correct: Mindanao is the second-largest island in the Philippines, frequently in news due to the Bangsamoro peace process and security issues.

❌ Pair 4 – Incorrect: Oromia is the largest regional state in Ethiopia (home to the Oromo people), not Nigeria.

📝 Short Notes: Regions in International News

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — 1 and 4

This question tests the knowledge of geographical locations of towns that have been in the news due to conflicts and geopolitical developments. Among the given pairs, only Aleppo (Syria) and Mazar-i-Sharif (Afghanistan) are correctly matched with their respective countries.

✅ Pair 1 – Correct: Aleppo is indeed a major city in Syria, which has been extensively covered in news due to the Syrian Civil War.

❌ Pair 2 – Incorrect: Kirkuk is located in Iraq (not Yemen); it is an important oil-rich city in northern Iraq.

❌ Pair 3 – Incorrect: Mosul is located in Iraq (not Palestine); it was prominently in news as an ISIS stronghold until its liberation.

✅ Pair 4 – Correct: Mazar-i-Sharif is a major city in northern Afghanistan, near the Uzbekistan border.

📝 Short Notes: Conflict Zones in West Asia and Afghanistan

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — 2 and 3

❌ Pair 1 – Kurd: Bangladesh – Incorrect: Kurds are a distinct ethnic group primarily inhabiting regions across Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. They have no significant presence in Bangladesh and are not associated with its affairs.

✅ Pair 2 – Madhesi: Nepal – Correct: Madhesis are Indo-Aryan communities residing in the Terai plains of southern Nepal. They have been politically active, often demanding greater representation and rights in Nepal's governance.

✅ Pair 3 – Rohingya: Myanmar – Correct: Rohingyas are a persecuted Muslim minority in Myanmar's Rakhine State. They have been in international news due to severe human rights violations and forced displacement to Bangladesh.