International (Current Affairs – UPSC) (Part-III)

Total Questions: 56

1. In the middle of the year 2008 the Parliament of which one of the following countries became the first in the world to enact a Climate Act by passing "The Climate Change Accountability Bill"? [2009]

(a) Australia
(b) Canada
(c) Germany
(d) Japan

Correct Answer: (b) Canada

Solution:The Climate Change Accountability Act is a Private Member's Bill that has been submitted in Canadian Parliament and related with reduction in national greenhouse gas emissions.

2. Elephant pass, which is frequently in the news, is mentioned in the context of the affairs of which one of the following? [2009]

(a) Bangladesh
(b) India
(c) Nepal
(d) Sri Lanka

Correct Answer: (d) Sri Lanka

Solution:Elephant pass is located in the gateway to Jaffna Pennisula Sri Lanka.

3. Among other things, which one of the following was the purpose for which the Deepak Parekh Committee was constituted? [2009]

(a) To study the current socio-economic conditions of certain minority communities
(b) To suggest measures for financing the development of infrastructure
(c) To frame a policy on the production of genetically modified organisms
(d) To suggest measures to reduce the fiscal deficit in the Union Budget

Correct Answer: (b) To suggest measures for financing the development of infrastructure

Solution:High Level Committee on Financing Infrastructure was constituted under the chairmanship of Deepak Parekh.

4. In the context of the affairs of which of the following is the phrase "Special Safeguard Mechanisms" mentioned in the news frequently? [2010]

(a) United Nations Environment Programme
(b) World Trade Organisation
(c) ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement
(d) G-20 Summits

Correct Answer: (b) World Trade Organisation

Solution:In the Doha Round of negotiations on agriculture it was decided that all developing and least developed member countries of WTO will have access to a Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM).

5. Stiglitz Commission established by the President of the United Nations General Assembly was in the international news. The commission was supposed to deal with: [2010]

(a) The challenges posed by the impending global climate change and prepare a road map.
(b) The workings of the global financial systems and to explore ways and means to secure a more sustainable global order.
(c) Global terrorism and prepare a global action plan for the mitigation of terrorism.
(d) Expansion of the United Nations Security Council in the present global scenario.

Correct Answer: (b) The workings of the global financial systems and to explore ways and means to secure a more sustainable global order.

Solution:Joseph Stiglitz commission was convened to review the working of the global financial system.

6. As per the UN-Habitat's Global Report on Human Settlements 2009, which one among the following regions has shown the fastest growth rate of urbanization in the last three decades? [2010]

(a) Asia
(b) Europe
(c) Latin America and Caribbean
(d) North America

Correct Answer: (a) Asia

Solution:Fastest growth rate of urbanization in last three decades was reported in Africa and Asia. This can be due to high levels of natural increase and an increase in rural-urban migration.

7. The "New START" treaty was in the news. What is this treaty? [2011-1]

(a) It is a bilateral strategic nuclear arms reduction treaty between the USA and the Russian Federation.
(b) It is a multilateral energy security cooperation treaty among the members of the East Asia Summit.
(c) It is a treaty between the Russian Federation and the European Union for the energy security cooperation.
(d) It is a multilateral cooperation treaty among the BRICS countries for the promotion of trade.

Correct Answer: (a) It is a bilateral strategic nuclear arms reduction treaty between the USA and the Russian Federation.

Solution:The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty ('New START) was signed 2010 in Prague by Russia and the United States. This treaty continues the bipartisan process of verifiably reducing U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear arsenals begun by former Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush through START-I in 1994.

8. South-East Asia has captivated the attention of global community over space and time as a geostrategically significant region. Which among the following is the most convincing explanation for this global perspective? [2011-1]

(a) It was the hot theatre during the Second World War
(b) Its location between the Asian powers of China and India
(c) It was the arena of superpower confrontation during the Cold War Period
(d) Its location between the Pacific and Indian oceans and its pre-eminent maritime character.

Correct Answer: (d) Its location between the Pacific and Indian oceans and its pre-eminent maritime character.

Solution:Its location between the Pacific and Indian oceans and its pre-eminent maritime character.

9. Recently, the USA decided to support India's membership in multi-lateral export control regimes called the "Australia group" and the "Wassenaar arrangement". What is the difference between them? [2011-1]

1. The Australia group is an informal arrangement which aims to allow exporting countries to minimize the risk of assisting chemical and biological weapons proliferation, whereas the Wassenaar arrangement is a formal group under the OECD holding identical objectives.

2. The Australia group comprises predominantly of Asian, African and north American countries, whereas the member countries of Wassenaar arrangement are predominantly from the European union and American continents.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) I only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 & 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution:Australia Group : The group is an informal bloc of countries that keep a tight control over exports of substances used in the making of chemical weapons- 43 Members.

Wassenar arrangement : Aim is "to contribute to regional and international security and stability, by promoting transparency and greater responsibility in transfers of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies, thus preventing destabilizing accumulations-42 Members.

10. Recently, there has been a concern over the short supply of a group of elements called 'rare earth metals'. Why? [2013-1]

1. China, which is the largest producer of these elements, has imposed some restrictions on their export.

2. Other than China, Australia, Canada and Chile, these elements are not found in any country.

3. Rare earth metals are essential for the manufacture of various kinds of electronic items and there is a growing demand for these elements.