World Panorama (UPSC) Part-III

Total Questions: 50

21. In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not a participant/ participants? [2015-11]

1. Bangladesh

2. Cambodia

3. China

4. Myanmar

5. Thailand

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 only
(b) 2, 3 & 4
(c) 1 & 3
(d) 1, 2 & 5

Correct Answer: (c) 1 & 3

Solution:The Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) was established on November 10, 2000 at Vientiane at the First MGC Ministerial Meeting. It comprises six member countries, namely India, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. They emphasised four areas of cooperation, which are tourism, culture, education, and transportation linkage in order to be solid foundation for future trade and investment cooperation in the region.

22. Consider the following countries [2015 - I]

1. China

2. France

3. India

4. Israel

5. Pakistan

Which among the above are Nuclear Weapons States as recognized by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only
(c) 2, 4 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Correct Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

Solution:NPT designated nuclear weapon states are China, France, Russia, United Kingdom and the United States.

23. Amnesty International is [2015-1]

(a) an agency of the United Nations to help refugees of civil wars
(b) a global Human Rights Movement
(c) a non-governmental organization to help people voluntary very poor people
(d) an inter-governmental agency to cater to medical emergencies in war-ravaged regions

Correct Answer: (b) a global Human Rights Movement

Solution:Amnesty International is a non-governmental organisation focused on human rights. It was founded in London in 1961 by the lawyer Peter Benenson. It draws attention to human rights abuses and campaigns for compliance with international laws and standards.

24. Which one of the following issues the 'Global Economic Prospects' report periodically? [2015-1]

(a) The Asian Development Bank
(b) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(c) The US Federal Reserve Bank
(d) The World Bank

Correct Answer: (d) The World Bank

Solution:The World Bank issues the 'Global Economic Prospects' report periodically.

25. 'European Stability Mechanism', sometimes seen in the news, is an [2016-1]

(a) agency created by EU to deal with the impact of millions of refugees arriving from Middle East
(b) agency of EU that provides financial assistance to eurozone countries
(c) agency of EU to deal with all the bilateral and multilateral agreements on trade
(d) agency of EU to deal with the conflicts arising among the member countries

Correct Answer: (b) agency of EU that provides financial assistance to eurozone countries

Solution:The European Stability Mechanism is a European Union agency that provides financial assistance, in the form of loans, to eurozone countries or as new capital to banks in difficulty.

26. The term 'Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership often appears in the news in the context of the affairs of a group of countries known as [2016-I]

(a) G20
(b) ASEAN
(c) SCO
(d) SAARC

Correct Answer: (b) ASEAN

Solution:Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) and the six states with which ASEAN has existing FTAs (Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand).

27. In the context of which of the following do you sometimes find the terms 'amber box, blue box and green box' in the news? [2016-I]

(a) WTO affairs
(b) SAARC affairs
(c) UNFCCC affairs
(d) India-EU negotiations on FTA

Correct Answer: (a) WTO affairs

Solution:In WTO terminology, subsidies in general are identified by "Boxes" which are given the colours of traffic lights: green (permitted), amber (slow down i.e. be reduced), -red (forbidden).

28. Recently, which one of proposed to be added to the the following currencies has been basket of IMF's SDR? [2016-I]

(a) Ruble
(b) Rand
(c) Indian Rupee
(d) Renminbi

Correct Answer: (d) Renminbi

Solution:The value of the SDR or XDR of IMF is based on a basket of key international currencies reviewed every five years. In the review conducted in November 2015, the IMF decided that the Renminbi (Chinese Yuan) would be added to the basket effective October 1, 2016. From that date, the SDR or XDR basket will consist of the following five currencies: U.S. dollar 41.73%, Euro 30.93%, Chinese Yuan 10.92%, Japanese Yen 8.33%, British Pound 8.09%.

29. With reference to 'IFC Masala Bonds', sometimes seen in the news, which of the statements given below is/are correct? [2016 - I]

1. The International Finance Corporation, which offers these bonds, is an arm of the World Bank.

2. They are the rupee-denominated bonds and are a source of debt financing for the public and private sector.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

Correct Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2

Solution:(i) (a) The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, issued a 1,000 crore bond to fund infrastructure projects in India.
(b) These bonds were listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).
(c) They are rupee-denominated bonds issued to overseas buyers.
(d) The purpose of the issue was to fund infrastructure projects in India. IFC named them 'masala' bonds to reflect the Indian angle to it.

(ii) First statement is right and Second statement initial part is also correct- they're rupee denominated and 'debt' type of instrument. We've to check whether public sector firms also use it. answer is yes. Hence both are correct.

30. Consider the following statements: [2016-1]

1. New Development Bank has been set up by APEC.

2. The headquarters of New Development Bank is in Shanghai.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Correct Answer: (b) 2 only

Solution:(i) The New Development Bank (NDB), formerly referred to as the BRICS Development Bank, is a Multilateral Development Bank established by the BRICS states (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). Its headquarter is in Shanghai, China.
(ii) First statement is wrong- its BRICS nations. 2nd is right - HQ is Shanghai.

« Previous 1 234 5 Next »