UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Each day, we cover one new subject. Attempt today’s subject quiz on International Relations to check your progress. Come back tomorrow to solve the MCQs on Weekly Current Affairs. Don’t miss checking the answers and explanations at the end of the quiz.

With reference to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), consider the following statements:

1. It is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.

2. It is a criminal court.

3. The court is based in The Hague, the Netherlands.

4. The ICJ automatically decides all cases involving breaches of international law.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

With reference to the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) project, consider the following statements:

1. It is an international scientific collaboration working to build the world’s largest radio telescope.

2. India has not contributed for this project.

3. It is a single large telescope operating from South Africa.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Consider the following pairs:

  (Place)                        (Location)

1. Dashti Barchi              Iran

2. Wajima                  Afghanistan

3. Erez                             Lebanon

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

More than 1,500 Rohingya have arrived in Aceh and faced some hostility. The place “Aceh” is located in:

(a) Indonesia

(b) Malaysia

(c) Laos

(d) Vietnam

Which of the following countries is not a member of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)?

(a) Bhutan

(b) Nepal

(c) Malaysia

(d) Maldives

FYI:

— The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations that settles legal disputes between States in accordance with international law. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— It is not a criminal court, and it does not try individuals. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The court is based in The Hague, the Netherlands. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— The ICJ cannot automatically decide all cases involving breaches of international law. It can only decide cases that are brought before it by States that consent to its jurisdiction. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— India had decided to formally join the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) project, an international scientific collaboration working to build the world’s largest radio telescope. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— India has been contributing to the project for some years, but full membership, which provides greater scientific chances to use the forthcoming facility, needs countries to sign and ratify an international treaty as well as make a financial commitment. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— India has approved Rs 1,250 crore for the project, which includes its funding contribution for the construction phase.

— The decision to join SKA as a full member ensures India’s participation in yet another international mega science project in the most advanced areas of scientific research.

— The Square Kilometer Array will not be a single large telescope, but a collection of thousands of dish antennas operating as a single unit.

— The antennas, about 200 of them in South Africa and more than 130,000 in Australia, are being installed in sparsely populated locations, chosen to ensure they are as far away from human activities as possible. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— There are immense science and technology gains for the country by participating in the project as a full member.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

FYI:

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— After spending weeks at sea, about 150 Rohingya refugees—mostly malnourished and frail women and children—have arrived at a beach in the North Sumatra province of Indonesia.

— Over 1,500 Rohingya have arrived in Aceh and faced some hostility from fellow Muslims.

— The authorities said that the refugees sailed from the Cox Bazar refugee camp in Bangladesh to Indonesia and became stranded on a lighthouse island.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— A one-of-a-kind academic experiment in which all eight SAARC countries pooled their resources to establish a “world-class” university in New Delhi is failing as the institution struggles with a crippling lack of funds in the face of geopolitical differences and economic crises faced by member countries.

— The member states of SAARC are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

— Malaysia is not a member of SAARC.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

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Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 39)

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