UPSC CSE Prelims
International Relations Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — 2 only

This question tests knowledge of India's bilateral trade relationships with South Asian countries, specifically Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Only Statement 2 about textile trade between India and Bangladesh is correct, while statements about consistent trade growth with Sri Lanka and Nepal being the largest trading partner are incorrect.

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Indo-Sri Lanka trade has not consistently increased over the last decade; it witnessed significant slumps in 2012-13 and 2016-17, disrupting the steady growth pattern despite overall long-term growth.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Textiles and textile articles constitute an important item of bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh, with India exporting approximately $2.25 billion worth of textile products to Bangladesh.

❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Bangladesh, not Nepal, has been India's largest trading partner in South Asia in the last five years, with bilateral trade of over $10 billion in FY 2018-19.

📝 Short Notes: India's Trade Relations with South Asian Neighbors

• India-Bangladesh Textile Trade: A cornerstone of bilateral commerce with India being a major supplier of cotton, yarn, and finished textile products to Bangladesh's garment industry
• SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Area): Provides preferential trade framework among SAARC nations, though utilization remains suboptimal
• Trade Imbalance Pattern: India generally maintains trade surplus with most South Asian neighbors except Bhutan (hydropower imports)
• Connectivity Initiatives: BBIN (Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal) Motor Vehicles Agreement aims to boost regional trade through better connectivity

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — 1 only

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a multilateral development bank established in 2016 with headquarters in Beijing. Among the three statements, only the first statement about AIIB having more than 80 member nations is correct.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: AIIB has more than 80 member nations (as of 2024, it has 109 approved members from across the globe).

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: India is the second-largest shareholder in AIIB with approximately 7.5% voting share, while China is the largest shareholder with around 26.6% voting share.

❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: AIIB has members from outside Asia, including numerous European countries (like UK, Germany, France), as well as members from South America, Africa, and Oceania.

📝 Short Notes: Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)

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 2 — Russia

India signed the 'Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field' with Russia to strengthen bilateral cooperation in civil nuclear energy. Russia has been a key strategic partner in India's nuclear energy sector, particularly through Rosatom's involvement in constructing the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) in Tamil Nadu. This agreement aims to enhance collaboration in nuclear fuel cycle management, construction of nuclear power projects, and advanced research in nuclear science and technology.

📝 Short Notes: India-Russia Nuclear Cooperation

• Strategic Partnership: India and Russia share a long-standing strategic partnership in civil nuclear cooperation since the Soviet era.
• Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP): Located in Tamil Nadu, built with Russian assistance through Rosatom; Units 1 and 2 are operational, and additional units are under construction.
• Nuclear Fuel Supply: Russia provides assured nuclear fuel supply to India's reactors, including those under IAEA safeguards.
• Technology Transfer: Cooperation includes technology transfer for fast breeder reactors and nuclear fuel cycle management.
• Other Nuclear Partners: India has civil nuclear agreements with the USA (123 Agreement, 2008), France, Japan, Canada, and the UK, but Russia remains the most active operational partner.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — The European Union

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was adopted by the European Union in April 2016 and implemented from 25th May 2018. It is a comprehensive legal framework designed to protect the personal data and privacy rights of EU citizens, setting stringent standards for data collection, processing, and storage that apply to any organization handling EU residents' data, regardless of geographic location.

📝 Short Notes: General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

• Adoption and Implementation: Adopted by the EU in April 2016; came into effect on 25th May 2018.
• Scope: Applies to all organizations processing personal data of EU/EEA residents, regardless of the organization's location.
• Key Principles: Lawfulness, fairness, transparency, purpose limitation, data minimization, accuracy, storage limitation, integrity, and confidentiality.
• Individual Rights: Right to access, rectification, erasure (right to be forgotten), restriction of processing, data portability, and objection.
• Penalties: Organizations can face fines up to €20 million or 4% of annual global turnover, whichever is higher, for serious violations.
• Data Protection Officers: Certain organizations must appoint a DPO to oversee GDPR compliance.
• Impact on India: Indian companies handling EU citizens' data must comply with GDPR; influenced India's Personal Data Protection Bill discussions.

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 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 — Israel

The term "two-state solution" is specifically used in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It refers to the proposal for the establishment of two separate sovereign states: an independent State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel, west of the Jordan River. This has been the internationally accepted framework for resolving the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict, aiming to ensure peace and security for both peoples.

📝 Short Notes: Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and Two-State Solution

• Two-State Solution: A proposed framework for peace involving the creation of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel, based on pre-1967 borders with mutually agreed land swaps.
• Key Issues: The final status negotiations include borders, security arrangements, status of Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees' right of return, and Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
• Oslo Accords (1993): Historic agreements between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) that established the Palestinian Authority and laid the groundwork for the two-state solution.
• International Support: The United Nations, United States, European Union, and the Arab League have historically supported the two-state solution as the viable path to peace.
• Major Obstacles: Continued Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank, lack of Palestinian unity (Hamas vs. Fatah), security concerns, and competing claims over Jerusalem.
• Current Status: The peace process has been stalled for years, with growing skepticism about the feasibility of the two-state solution due to expanding settlements and political changes.

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 — 1, 3, 4 and 5

ASEAN has established Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with six specific Dialogue Partners: China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, and New Zealand. Among the given options, Australia, China, India, and Japan are free-trade partners of ASEAN, while Canada and USA are only Dialogue Partners without formal FTAs.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Australia is a free-trade partner of ASEAN through the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA).
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Canada is a Dialogue Partner of ASEAN but does not have a formal Free Trade Agreement with the bloc.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: China is a free-trade partner of ASEAN through the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA).
✅ Statement 4 – Correct: India is a free-trade partner of ASEAN through the ASEAN-India Free Trade Area (AIFTA).
✅ Statement 5 – Correct: Japan is a free-trade partner of ASEAN through the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP).
❌ Statement 6 – Incorrect: The USA has been a Dialogue Partner of ASEAN since 1977, but does not have a Free Trade Agreement with the ASEAN bloc.

📝 Short Notes: ASEAN Free Trade Agreements

• ASEAN has 11 Dialogue Partners including USA, Canada, EU, Russia, and UK, but not all have FTAs.
• The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) signed in 2020 includes ASEAN and five FTA partners (China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand).
• USA and Canada remain strategic partners but without comprehensive trade agreements with ASEAN as a bloc.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — 1 only

The Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a multilateral export control regime that regulates the supply of nuclear materials, equipment, and technology for peaceful purposes. Membership provides access to advanced nuclear technologies and facilitates international nuclear commerce, but does not automatically confer NPT membership.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: NSG members gain access to the latest and most efficient nuclear technologies as the group facilitates trade in nuclear materials, equipment, and technology among member states for peaceful purposes.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: NSG membership does not automatically make a country a member of the NPT; these are separate frameworks with different membership criteria and objectives.

📝 Short Notes: Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)

• Formation: Established in 1975 in response to India's 1974 nuclear test (Pokhran-I), to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
• Headquarters: Vienna, Austria (administratively under IAEA).
• Members: 48 countries including USA, Russia, China, France, UK, Germany, and Japan.
• Objective: Control export of nuclear materials, equipment, and technology to prevent their use for nuclear weapons.
• Guidelines: Two sets – Part 1 (trigger list of nuclear materials and equipment) and Part 2 (dual-use items).
• Decision-making: Operates on consensus basis; all members must agree for new membership.
• India's Status: Not a member despite US support; China has been a key blocker citing India's non-NPT status.
• India-NSG Waiver (2008): India received a special waiver allowing nuclear trade without being an NSG member or NPT signatory.

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 3 — India will not depend on Pakistan for access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.

The development of Chabahar Port in Iran is strategically significant for India as it provides an alternative sea-land transit route to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan entirely. Pakistan has historically restricted India's overland access to these regions, making Chabahar a critical gateway. Through the 2016 trilateral transit agreement between India, Iran, and Afghanistan, goods can be shipped to Chabahar and transported via road (Zaranj-Delaram highway) and rail networks into Afghanistan and beyond, ensuring India's connectivity independent of Pakistani territory.

❌ Option 1 – Incorrect: While Chabahar may facilitate some African trade, its primary strategic importance is connectivity to Afghanistan and Central Asia, not Africa.

❌ Option 2 – Incorrect: The port's development is not primarily aimed at strengthening relations with oil-producing Arab countries, but rather at gaining access to landlocked regions.

❌ Option 4 – Incorrect: Pakistan is unlikely to facilitate or protect any gas pipeline from Iraq to India; Chabahar's purpose is to bypass Pakistan, not depend on it.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — European Union

The Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) is a comprehensive free trade agreement being negotiated between India and the European Union since June 2007. The agreement aims to liberalize bilateral trade by eliminating tariffs on approximately 90% of goods, facilitating trade in services, and promoting investment flows between the two regions. Negotiations have faced challenges over sensitive issues including market access for automobiles and agricultural products, intellectual property rights, and the movement of professionals under Mode 4 of services trade.