Question 1

Consider the following statements:
Statement I: At the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), India refrained from signing the 'Declaration on Climate and Health'.
Statement II: The COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health is a binding declaration; and if signed, it becomes mandatory to decarbonize health sector.
Statement III: If India's health sector is decarbonized, the resilience of its health-care system may be compromised.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Both Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I. * (c) is correct: India refrained from signing the COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health, satisfying Statement I. * Statement II is incorrect: The COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health is a voluntary, non-negotiated, non-binding collective commitment, not a mandatory treaty. * Statement III is correct: India chose not to sign because the draft outlined greenhouse gas reduction targets for cooling systems in healthcare infrastructure. India expressed concerns that mandatory decarbonization would limit cooling capacity, compromise the operational resilience of clinics in remote or underserved areas, and hinder its healthcare delivery capacity. This valid operational concern (Statement III) explains why India refrained from signing (Statement I).

Question 2

Consider the following statements:
Statement I: Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change is frequently discussed in global discussions on sustainable development and climate change.
Statement II: Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change sets out the principles of carbon markets.
Statement III: Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change intends to promote inter-country non-market strategies to reach their climate targets.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I. * (a) is correct: Article 6 is a central component of global climate negotiations because it outlines how countries can cooperatively meet their NDCs, satisfying Statement I. * Articles 6.2 and 6.4 establish frameworks for international carbon trading networks and carbon markets, satisfying Statement II. * Article 6.8 specifically enables non-market-based cooperative approaches between countries to enhance climate mitigation and adaptation, satisfying Statement III. * Because both mechanisms—market trading (Statement II) and non-market collaboration (Statement III)—form the structural core of Article 6 and drive global climate discourse (Statement I), option (a) is correct.

Question 3

Which one of the following launched the 'Nature Solutions Finance Hub for Asia and the Pacific'?

Accepted Answer

The Asian Development Bank (ADB). * (a) The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is correct: The ADB officially launched the Nature Solutions Finance Hub for Asia and the Pacific at the COP28 conference. * The hub aims to channel at least $2 billion into development programs that integrate nature-based solutions, utilizing risk-reduction tools like blended finance, guarantees, and impact-linked payments to crowd in private capital.

Question 4

Consider the following countries:
I. Austria
II. Bulgaria
III. Croatia
IV. Serbia
V. Sweden
VI. North Macedonia

How many of the above are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization?

Accepted Answer

Only three. * NATO's active alliance membership recently reached 32 sovereign nations. * Items II (Bulgaria, joined 2004), III (Croatia, joined 2009), V (Sweden, joined 2024 as the 32nd member), and VI (North Macedonia, joined 2020) are verified members. * Items I (Austria) and IV (Serbia) are neutral and are not members of NATO. * Therefore, exactly four of the listed nations are members.

Question 5

Consider the following statements in respect of BIMSTEC:
I. It is a regional organization consisting of seven member States till January 2025.
II. It came into existence with the signing of the Dhaka Declaration, 1999.
III. Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Nepal are founding member States of BIMSTEC.
IV. In BIMSTEC, the subsector of 'tourism' is being led by India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

I and IV. * Statement I is correct: BIMSTEC comprises seven Member States (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Bhutan, and Nepal). * Statement II is not correct: It was established on 06 June 1997 with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration, not the Dhaka Declaration of 1999. * Statement III is not correct: The founding member states were Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand (initially BIST-EC); Nepal joined later in February 2004. * Statement IV is not correct: Reorganized in 2021, India leads the Security sector, while Nepal is the lead country for the Tourism subsector.

Question 6

Consider the following statements regarding AI Action Summit held in Grand Palais, Paris in February 2025:
I. Co-chaired with India, the event builds on the advances made at the Bletchley Park Summit held in 2023 and the Seoul Summit held in 2024.
II. Along with other countries, US and UK also signed the declaration on inclusive and sustainable AI.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

I only. * Statement I is correct: The AI Action Summit held at the Grand Palais in Paris in February 2025 was co-chaired by France and India, building upon the Bletchley Park Summit (2023) and the Seoul Summit (2024). * Statement II is not correct: While the summit introduced a declaration on inclusive and sustainable AI, the United States and the United Kingdom declined to sign it due to national security concerns.

Question 7

Consider the following pairs:
International Year : Focus Area
I. 2026 : International Year of the Woman Farmer
II. 2027 : International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism
III. 2025 : International Year of Peace and Trust
IV. 2029 : International Year of Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defence

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

Only three. * Pair I is correctly matched: The UN General Assembly declared 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer. * Pair II is correctly matched: 2027 was designated as the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism. * Pair III is correctly matched: 2025 was declared as the International Year of Peace and Trust. * Pair IV is correctly matched: 2029 was declared as the International Year of Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defence.

Question 8

Consider the following statements with regard to BRICS:
I. 16th BRICS Summit was held under the Chairship of Russia in Kazan.
II. Indonesia has become a full member of BRICS.
III. The theme of the 16th BRICS Summit was Strengthening Multiculturalism for Just Global Development and Security.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

I and II. * Statement I is correct: The 16th BRICS Summit took place in Kazan with Russia as the chair, marking the first summit with expanded membership. * Statement II is correct: Indonesia officially joined BRICS as a full member, announced by Brazil, the holder of the 2025 BRICS presidency. * Statement III is not correct: The actual theme of the summit was "Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security," using the word multilateralism, not multiculturalism.

Question 9

India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect:

Accepted Answer

India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran. * (a) is correct: The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a multi-modal transport network established by India, Iran, and Russia in 2000. * It is designed to link India to Central Asia and onward to Northern and Western Europe, primarily routing through transit tracks in Iran, making it highly cost and time-effective.

Question 10

Consider the following statements in respect of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD):
I. It provides loans and guarantees to middle income countries.
II. It works single-handedly to help developing countries to reduce poverty.
III. It was established to help Europe rebuild after the World War II.

Accepted Answer

II and III only. * Statement I is correct: As a global development cooperative owned by 189 member nations, the IBRD operates as the largest development bank worldwide, extending structural loans, financial guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries. * Statement II is incorrect: The IBRD does not work single-handedly; it coordinates closely with the other institutions of the World Bank Group alongside public and private entities in developing countries to reduce poverty and foster shared prosperity. * Statement III is correct: The IBRD was originally created in 1944 specifically to help European nations rebuild their infrastructure in the aftermath of World War II, later joining with the IDA to form the core of the World Bank.

International Relations: 2025 PYQ.

All International Relations PYQs + Similar Questions