UGC NET/JRF EXAM, Politics Including International Relations and Studies SEPTEMBER – 2024 – (PAPER-II)

Total Questions: 100

61. Choose the correct statements regarding NATO:

A. NATO was formed in 1949.
B. All NATO decisions are taken on the basis of majority.
C. NATO aims to safeguard the freedom and security of its member countries by political or military means.
D. NATO is world's premier military and economic organisation.
E. Russia became the member of NATO in 2022.

Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: 1. А, C only
Solution:

A. NATO was formed in 1949: (Correct). The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was established on 4 April 1949 through the signing of the Washington Treaty, primarily to counter the threat from the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

C. NATO aims to safeguard the freedom and security of its member countries by political or military means: (Correct). NATO’s purpose, as per Article 5 of its founding treaty, is collective defense, using political consultations and military deterrence to protect the freedom and security of its members.

B. All NATO decisions are taken on the basis of majority: (Incorrect). NATO operates on the principle of consensus, not majority. All decisions must be unanimous among the member states.

D. NATO is world’s premier military and economic organisation: (Incorrect). NATO is a military alliance, not an economic organization. The European Union (EU) or World Bank would better fit the description of an economic body.

E. Russia became the member of NATO in 2022: (Incorrect). Russia is not a member of NATO. In fact, tensions escalated further between NATO and Russia following the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022.

62. Find out the correct statements:

A. Michael Walzer developed a 'Just War' theory and defended humanitarian intervention.
B. Mahatma Gandhi organised protests against discrimination in South Africa and India.
C. J. Robert Oppenheimer is often called the Father of the Atomic Bomb.
D. Hugo Grotius wrote the book 'The Republic'.
E. Jeffery Sachs is the advocate of sustainable development.

Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: 3. A. B, C. E only
Solution:

A. Michael Walzer developed a ‘Just War’ theory and defended humanitarian intervention: (Correct). Walzer is known for his book “Just and Unjust Wars” (1977), where he supports moral evaluation of war and justified humanitarian interventions in extreme cases.

B. Mahatma Gandhi organised protests against discrimination in South Africa and India: (Correct). Gandhi began his activism in South Africa (1893–1914), opposing racial discrimination, and continued nonviolent resistance in India, leading to independence.

C. J. Robert Oppenheimer is often called the Father of the Atomic Bomb: (Correct). Oppenheimer was the head of the Los Alamos Laboratory during the Manhattan Project, which developed the first nuclear weapons during World War II.

D. Hugo Grotius wrote the book ‘The Republic’: (Incorrect). The book titled “The Republic” was written by Plato. Hugo Grotius is famous for “De Jure Belli ac Pacis” (On the Law of War and Peace).

E. Jeffrey Sachs is the advocate of sustainable development: (Correct). Sachs is a renowned economist known for his work on poverty alleviation and sustainable development, especially in connection with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

63. Find out the correct statements regarding European Integration:

A. European Council is located in Brussels.
B. EU Court of Justice is situated in Luxembourg.
C. European Parliament is situated in Paris.
D. European Central Bank is situated in Frankfurt.
E. British electorate voted to leave European Union in 2010.

Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: 3. A, B, D only
Solution:

A. European Council is located in Brussels: (Correct). The European Council, along with the European Commission and Council of the EU, is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.

B. EU Court of Justice is situated in Luxembourg: (Correct). The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) is based in Luxembourg, overseeing uniform interpretation of EU law.

C. European Parliament is situated in Paris: (Incorrect). The European Parliament has three official seats: Strasbourg (France – plenary sessions), Brussels (committee meetings), and Luxembourg (administration) — not Paris.

D. European Central Bank is situated in Frankfurt: (Correct). The ECB, responsible for monetary policy in the Eurozone, is located in Frankfurt, Germany.

E. British electorate voted to leave European Union in 2010: (Incorrect). The Brexit referendum took place on 23 June 2016, where 51.9% voted to leave the EU.

64. Consider the following statements regarding Environment:

A. Bhopal chemical plant disaster-1984
B. Torrey canyon oil tanker disaster-1997.
C. MARPOL Convention on oil pollution from ships-1973.
D. UN Law of the Sea Convention-1982.
E. Chernobyl nuclear disaster-1996.

Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: 4. A, C, D only
Solution:

A. Bhopal chemical plant disaster – 1984: (Correct). On the night of 2–3 December 1984, a gas leak at the Union Carbide India Ltd plant caused one of the world’s worst industrial disasters in Bhopal, India.

B. Torrey Canyon oil tanker disaster – 1997: (Incorrect). The Torrey Canyon oil spill occurred in 1967, when a supertanker struck a reef off the coast of Cornwall, UK, spilling thousands of tons of crude oil.

C. MARPOL Convention on oil pollution from ships – 1973: (Correct). The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) was adopted in 1973, addressing marine pollution.

D. UN Law of the Sea Convention – 1982: (Correct). The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) was adopted in 1982, setting rules on territorial waters, sea lanes, and ocean resources.

E. Chernobyl nuclear disaster – 1996: (Incorrect). The Chernobyl disaster occurred on 26 April 1986, in the Ukrainian SSR of the Soviet Union, not in 1996.

65. Identify the correct answers from the following statements on Human Rights:

A. The Charter of United Nations was adopted on June 26, 1945.
B. Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by UN General Assembly on 10 December, 1958.
C. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights entered into force in 1976.
D. Human Rights Council was established in 2006.
E. Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa was made to deal with the gross violation of Human Rights.

Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: 2. A, C, D, E only
Solution:

A. The Charter of the United Nations was adopted on June 26, 1945: (Correct). The UN Charter was signed at the San Francisco Conference on 26 June 1945, and came into force on 24 October 1945.

B. Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by UN General Assembly on 10 December 1958: (Incorrect). The UDHR was adopted on 10 December 1948, not 1958.

C. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights entered into force in 1976: (Correct). Though adopted in 1966, the ICESCR entered into force on 3 January 1976.

D. Human Rights Council was established in 2006: (Correct). The UN Human Rights Council was created in March 2006, replacing the UN Commission on Human Rights.

E. Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa was made to deal with the gross violation of Human Rights: (Correct). Established in 1995 under Desmond Tutu, it was a key part of South Africa’s transition from apartheid to democracy, addressing human rights abuses.

66. Identify the correct answers from the following Conventions/Covenants:

A. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights was adopted on 16 December 1966.
B. International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination was adopted in 1945.
C. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women was adopted in 1879.
D. Conventions on the Rights of the Child was adopted in 1989.
E. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted in 2006.

Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: 4. A, D, E only
Solution:

A. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights was adopted on 16 December 1966: (Correct). Adopted by the UN General Assembly on 16 December 1966, and entered into force on 23 March 1976, this covenant is one of the core international human rights treaties.

B. International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination was adopted in 1945: (Incorrect). It was adopted on 21 December 1965, not 1945.

C. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women was adopted in 1879: (Incorrect). CEDAW was adopted on 18 December 1979, not 1879.

D. Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted in 1989: (Correct). Adopted on 20 November 1989, it is one of the most universally ratified human rights treaties.

E. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted in 2006: (Correct). It was adopted on 13 December 2006 and entered into force in May 2008.

67. Choose the correct answers from the following statements:

A. Montevideo Convention on Political Asylum and Refugee was adopted in 1939.
B. Convention related to the Status of Refugees was adopted in 1951.
C. UN adopted guiding principles on internal displacement in 1998.
D. UN General Assembly adopted Sustainable Development Goals in 2005.
E. Millennium Development Goals were set out in 1990.

Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: 1. A, B, C only
Solution:

A. Montevideo Convention on Political Asylum and Refugee was adopted in 1939: (Correct). The Montevideo Convention on Political Asylum was signed in 1939 as part of efforts to address refugee protection in Latin America.

B. Convention related to the Status of Refugees was adopted in 1951: (Correct). This 1951 Convention is the cornerstone of modern refugee protection under UNHCR, adopted in response to World War II refugee crises.

C. UN adopted guiding principles on internal displacement in 1998: (Correct). The UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement were launched in 1998 to address the protection needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs).

D. UN General Assembly adopted Sustainable Development Goals in 2005: (Incorrect). The SDGs were adopted on 25 September 2015, not 2005.

E. Millennium Development Goals were set out in 1990: (Incorrect). The MDGs were formally adopted in 2000, based on the UN Millennium Declaration.

68. Choose the correct answers from the following on global finance:

A. The Most Favoured Nation (MFN) principle is formally laid down in GATT Article 1.
B. India gave MFN status to Pakistan in 1996.
C. Bretton Woods Conference was organised in 1944.
D. In place of GATT, WTO was established in 2005.
E. Karl Marx and John M Keynes jointly wrote the "Communist Manifesto".

Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: 3. A, B, C only
Solution:

A. The Most Favoured Nation (MFN) principle is formally laid down in GATT Article 1: (Correct). Article 1 of GATT (1947) mandates the MFN clause, requiring WTO members to treat all other members equally in trade matters.

B. India gave MFN status to Pakistan in 1996: (Correct). India unilaterally extended MFN status to Pakistan in 1996, though Pakistan never reciprocated.

C. Bretton Woods Conference was organised in 1944: (Correct). Held in July 1944 at Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, this conference led to the creation of the IMF and World Bank.

D. In place of GATT, WTO was established in 2005: (Incorrect). The World Trade Organization (WTO) replaced GATT in 1995, not 2005.

E. Karl Marx and John M. Keynes jointly wrote the “Communist Manifesto”: (Incorrect). The Communist Manifesto (1848) was written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Keynes was a 20th-century economist, unrelated to the manifesto.

69. Consider the following statements about regionalism in international affairs and choose the correct answers:

A. Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was created in 1981.
B. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania joined CIS in 1991.
C. Georgia withdrew from CIS in 2008 following conflict with Russia.
D. India and Pakistan became full members of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in 2017.
E. In 2013, China unveiled its Belt and Road Initiative.

Choose the most appropriate answers from the options given below:

Correct Answer: 2. C, D, E only
Solution:

A. Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was created in 1981: (Incorrect). The CIS was created in December 1991, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

B. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania joined CIS in 1991: (Incorrect). These Baltic States did not join the CIS, as they saw themselves as illegally occupied by the USSR and opted for full independence.

C. Georgia withdrew from CIS in 2008 following conflict with Russia: (Correct). Following the 2008 Russia-Georgia war, Georgia formally withdrew from the CIS.

D. India and Pakistan became full members of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in 2017: (Correct). Both countries were admitted as full members at the SCO summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, in June 2017.

E. In 2013, China unveiled its Belt and Road Initiative: (Correct). The BRI (One Belt, One Road) was proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013 to enhance regional connectivity through infrastructure.

70. Consider the following facts about formation of Regional Organisations and choose the correct answers:

A. ASEAN was formed in 1967.
В. АРЕC was formed in 1979.
C. SAARC was formed in 1985.
D. Arab Maghreb Union came into being in 1989.
E. Organisation of Africa Unity created in 1963.

Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: 4. A, C, D, E only
Solution:

A. ASEAN was formed in 1967: (Correct). The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand.

B. APEC was formed in 1979: (Incorrect). The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) was founded in 1989, not 1979.

C. SAARC was formed in 1985: (Correct). The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was founded on 8 December 1985 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

D. Arab Maghreb Union came into being in 1989: (Correct). The AMU was established in February 1989 to promote economic and political unity among North African states.

E. Organisation of African Unity created in 1963: (Correct). The OAU, predecessor to the African Union, was founded on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.