UGC NET/JRF EXAM, Politics Including International Relations and Studies JUNE-2025 (PAPER-II)

B. It states that nuclear weapons will not be used against non-nuclear states.
C. The authority for any nuclear retaliation rests solely with the civilian political leadership through the Nuclear Command Authority.
D. In case of a nuclear first strike on India forces, retaliation will be massive and intended to inflict unacceptable damage.

The phrase “minimum credible deterrence” was from the draft doctrine, not the official one, hence (A) is excluded.

Hence, correct answer is: B, C and D only.

A. True – OPEC was founded in 1960 in Baghdad, Iraq.
B. True – It was established by five founding members: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela.
C. True – The headquarters were moved to Vienna, Austria, in 1965.
D. False – Russia is not a member of OPEC; it is part of the OPEC+ alliance, which cooperates with OPEC but is not a formal member.

Hence, statements A, B, and C are correct.

A. Cyberware – Not a recognized or standard cybersecurity threat. The correct term is “Cyberwarfare”, which refers to state-sponsored digital attacks. However, “Cyberware” itself is not a defined threat category.
B. Malware – Short for malicious software, this is designed to damage or disrupt systems or gain unauthorized access.
C. Phishing – A social engineering method where attackers trick users into revealing sensitive data or credentials.
D. Ransomware – A type of malware that encrypts files or systems and demands payment (ransom) for restoration.

Hence, B, C, and D are true cyber threats, while A is not.

A. True – The PSLV-C61/EOS-09 mission was launched on 18 May 2025.
B. True – The mission involved launching the EOS-09 (RISAT-1B) satellite aboard the PSLV-C61 (the mention of “PSLV-61” is a typographical variant for the same mission).
C. True – The mission was not successful due to a malfunction during flight, and the satellite could not be placed in orbit.
D. False – The issue occurred in the third stage, where ISRO reported a drop in chamber pressure, not in the fourth stage.

A. True – The Quad is a grouping of four countries: India, the United States, Japan, and Australia.
B. False (partially true) – While many analysts view the Quad as a means to balance China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific, its officially stated objective is to promote a free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific region, not explicitly to counter China.
C. True – The first in-person Quad Leaders’ Summit was held on 24 September 2021 in Washington, D.C.
D. True – India is the host country for the Quad Leaders’ Summit in 2025.

Hence, statements A, C, and D are correct.

A. North Korea → II. RGB (Reconnaissance General Bureau) – The RGB is North Korea’s main external intelligence and covert operations agency.
B. United Kingdom → III. MI6 (Secret Intelligence Service) – MI6 handles foreign intelligence operations for the UK.
C. Germany → IV. BND (Bundesnachrichtendienst) – The BND serves as Germany’s foreign intelligence service.
D. Afghanistan → I. GDI (General Directorate of Intelligence) – The GDI is the intelligence agency of Afghanistan under the Taliban regime.

Correct matching: A–II, B–III, C–IV, D–I.

A. Simone de Beauvoir → II. The Second Sex – A foundational text of feminist philosophy, analyzing women’s oppression and the construction of gender.
B. Cynthia Enloe → III. Bananas, Beaches and Bases: Making Feminist Sense of International Politics – A key work linking feminism and international relations, focusing on women’s roles in global politics.
C. Mahasweta Devi → IV. Aranyar Adhikar (The Right of Forest) – A celebrated novel by the Indian author Mahasweta Devi, portraying tribal resistance and social justice.
D. Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak → I. Outside in the Teaching Machine – A collection of essays on postcolonialism, feminism, and deconstruction.

Correct matching: A–II, B–III, C–IV, D–I.

A. SAARC → III. Nepal – The SAARC Secretariat is located in Kathmandu, Nepal.
B. BIMSTEC → I. Bangladesh – The BIMSTEC Secretariat is based in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
C. SCO → IV. China – The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Secretariat is in Beijing, China.
D. ASEAN → II. Indonesia – The ASEAN Secretariat is located in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Correct matching: A–III, B–I, C–IV, D–II.

A. Karun → IV. Iran – The Karun River is the longest river in Iran, originating in the Zagros Mountains.

B. Amazon → III. Peru – The Amazon River originates from the Andes Mountains in Peru before flowing across Brazil.

C. Volga → II. Russia – The Volga River, Europe’s longest river, originates in Russia.

D. Mahaweli → I. Sri Lanka – The Mahaweli River is the longest river in Sri Lanka, originating from the Central Highlands.

Correct matching: A–IV, B–III, C–II, D–I.