UPSC Prelims previous year questions on Geopolitics & Conflict Zones (International Relations) — real questions with answers and explanations.
2024Current AffairsPairs/Matching (How Many Style)Geopolitics & Conflict Zones
Consider the following pairs:
Country : Reason for being in the news
1. Argentina : Worst economic crisis
2. Sudan : War between the country's regular army and paramilitary forces
3. Turkey : Rescinded its membership of NATO
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
A.Only one pair
B.Only two pairs
C.All three pairs
D.None of the pairs
Explanation: * Pair 1 is correctly matched: Argentina has faced a severe, historical economic crisis characterized by hyperinflation, forcing the government to multiply the face value of its largest bank note in circulation. * Pair 2 is correctly matched: Sudan is gripped by a major humanitarian crisis and internal war driven by intense fighting between its regular army (led by Gen. Burhan) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF led by Dagalo). * Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: Turkey remains a member of NATO. No mechanism exists inside the North Atlantic Treaty framework to forcefully expel a wayward member, and Turkey has not voluntarily rescinded its membership. * Therefore, exactly two pairs (1 and 2) are correctly matched.
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2024Current AffairsStatement-I & Statement-II (Assertion-Reason Style)Geopolitics & Conflict Zones
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: There is instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region.
Statement-II: There have been military takeovers/coups d'état in several countries of the Sahel region in the recent past.
A.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
B.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
C.Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
D.Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct
Explanation: * (a) is correct: The vast African Sahel strip faces severe geopolitical instability, humanitarian crises, and deteriorating security parameters. This validates Statement I. * The region has recently witnessed a succession of successful military coups d'état and unconstitutional takeovers, including multi-stage coups across Burkina Faso, Mali, and Chad since 2020. This validates Statement II. * Because the collapse of constitutional checks and the rise of armed military takeovers (Statement II) directly trigger the breakdown of public governance and exacerbate the chronic security crisis across the Sahel belt (Statement I), Statement II provides the correct explanation for Statement I.
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2024Current AffairsStatement-I & Statement-II (Assertion-Reason Style)Geopolitics & Conflict Zones
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: Recently, Venezuela has achieved a rapid recovery from its economic crisis and succeeded in preventing its people fleeing/emigrating to other countries.
Statement-II: Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
A.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
B.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
C.Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
D.Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct
Explanation: * Statement I is incorrect: Venezuela continues to deal with a severe, deep economic crisis, political repression, and institutional decay. Far from stopping emigration, its hyperinflation and basic shortages have generated one of the largest displacement and refugee migration crises globally. * Statement II is correct: Venezuela holds the world's largest proven crude oil reserves, encompassing over 300 billion barrels and accounting for approximately 17% of the global total. Thus, option (d) is correct.
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