UPSC CSE Prelims
International Relations Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

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:

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:

Correct Answer: ✅ D. 1 and 3 only

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) serves as the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and acts as the Principal Military Adviser to the Defence Minister on tri-service matters. However, the CDS does not exercise direct military command over the Army, Navy, and Air Force Chiefs. Each Service Chief continues to command their respective force.

✅ Statement 1 is Correct: CDS is the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC).

❌ Statement 2 is Incorrect: CDS does not exercise operational or military command over the three Service Chiefs.

✅ Statement 3 is Correct: CDS is the Principal Military Adviser to the Defence Minister on all tri-service matters.

Short Notes: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)

• CDS post was created in 2019.

• CDS is the Permanent Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC).

• CDS heads the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) under the Ministry of Defence.

• CDS promotes jointness and integration among the Army, Navy and Air Force.

• CDS is the single-point military adviser to the Defence Minister on tri-service issues.

• CDS does not command the three Service Chiefs.

• The post was recommended by the Kargil Review Committee and later supported by other reform committees.

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 2 — Only two

Out of the three statements about Home Guards, two are correct (Statements 2 and 3), while Statement 1 is incorrect because Home Guards are raised under State/UT Acts and Rules, not by the Central Government.

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards Act and Rules of the States/Union Territories, not the Central Government. They are recruited from volunteers who give their spare time for community service.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: The Home Guards serve as an auxiliary force to the police in maintaining internal security, helping during emergencies (air raids, fires, cyclones, earthquakes, epidemics), maintaining essential services, promoting communal harmony, and performing Civil Defence duties.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Fifteen Border Wing Home Guards (BWHG) Battalions have been raised in border States—Punjab (6), Rajasthan (4), Gujarat (2), and one each in Meghalaya, Tripura, and West Bengal—to assist the Border Security Force in preventing infiltration on international borders/coastal areas.

📝 Short Notes: Home Guards

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 — 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 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

All three statements about the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) are incorrect. The GCM was not adopted by all UN countries, is not legally binding, and does not address internal displacement.

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Not all UN countries adopted the GCM; 163 countries adopted it in 2018, while countries like the USA, Hungary, Israel, Czech Republic, and Poland voted against or abstained from the compact.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The GCM is a non-legally binding framework for cooperation on international migration; it does not impose legal obligations on UN member countries.

❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: The GCM focuses exclusively on international migration and does not address internal migration or internally displaced persons (IDPs), which fall under separate frameworks like the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement.

📝 Short Notes: Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM)

• Adoption: Adopted at the Intergovernmental Conference in Marrakech, Morocco, in December 2018.
• Nature: Non-legally binding, cooperative framework covering all dimensions of international migration.
• Signatories: 163 countries adopted it; notable non-signatories include the USA, Hungary, Israel, Czech Republic, and Poland.
• Objectives: 23 objectives covering aspects like facilitating safe migration, combating human trafficking, reducing vulnerabilities, and improving border management.
• Scope: Applies only to international migration; does not cover internal displacement or refugees (covered separately by the 1951 Refugee Convention and the Global Compact on Refugees).
• Principles: Based on state sovereignty, responsibility-sharing, non-discrimination, and human rights.

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 4 — Somalia

Somalia has been suffering from prolonged civil strife since the early 1990s following the collapse of its central government. The combination of ongoing conflict, recurrent droughts, locust infestations, and economic instability has made Somalia one of the world's most food-insecure nations, facing severe famines including the devastating one in 2011 and the near-famine situation in 2020-2021. The country remains highly vulnerable to humanitarian crises, with millions requiring food assistance.

📝 Short Notes: Somalia Crisis

• Civil War: Somalia has been in a state of civil war and political instability since 1991 when the central government collapsed.
• Humanitarian Crisis: Decades of conflict have destroyed infrastructure, disrupted agriculture, and displaced millions of people.
• 2011 Famine: Declared famine killed an estimated 260,000 people, half of them children under five.
• 2020-2021 Crisis: UN warned of imminent famine due to severe drought, desert locust infestations, COVID-19 economic impact, and ongoing conflict.
• Vulnerability Factors: Climate change, weak governance, Al-Shabaab insurgency, and extreme poverty make Somalia chronically food insecure.
• Other Options: Angola (post-civil war recovery), Costa Rica (stable democracy), and Ecuador (relatively stable) do not match the description of ongoing civil strife and severe recent famine.

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.