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 India-Kenya relationship, consider the following statements:

1. India and Kenya have evolved into a robust and multi-faceted partnership.

2. India has announced a $250 million line of credit to Kenya for modernisation of its agricultural sector.

3. India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kenya to establish the first IIT branch abroad.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Which of the following countries is not a part of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)?

(a) Saudi Arabia

(b) Qatar

(c) Oman

(d) Yemen

Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB) is a joint initiative of:

1. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

2. World Bank

3. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1,2 and 3

Article 99 of the UN Charter was recently in the news. It corresponds to:

(a) The Secretariat shall comprise a Secretary-General and such staff as the Organization may require.

(b) The Secretary-General may bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.

(c) The Secretary-General shall make an annual report to the General Assembly on the work of the Organization.

(d) The staff shall be appointed by the Secretary-General under regulations established by the General Assembly.

The ports of Pivdennyi and Chornomorsk were in the news. They are located in:

(a) Yemen

(b) Slovakia

(c) Russia

(d) Ukraine

FYI:

— India announced a $250 million line of credit to Kenya for modernisation of its agricultural sector. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto agreed to strengthen bilateral ties in the field of defence, trade, energy, digital public infrastructure and healthcare.

— India and Kenya are maritime neighbours. Contemporary ties between India and Kenya have evolved into a strong and multifaceted alliance, distinguished by regular high-level visits, increased commerce and investment, and substantial people-to-people contacts. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Dammu Ravi, secretary (economic relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs, said the Kenyan side offered land for farming to Indian companies under a cooperative model besides showing interest in India’s payment system, UPI (Unified Payments Interface).

— Africa has always been given a high priority position in India’s foreign policy. Over the last decade or so, we have increased our cooperation with Africa in a mission mode.

— Approximately 80,000 people of Indian origin in Kenya, who consider that country as their second home, are the “biggest strength” of the ties.

— The joint statement said the Kenyan side thanked India for extending concessional Lines of Credit (LOC) for projects in sectors such as energy and textiles and small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs).

— India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tanzania to establish the first IIT branch abroad. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— According to India’s embassy in Riyadh, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which includes UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait, “has emerged as a major trading partner of India” and has “vast potential as India’s investment partner for the future.

— The GCC’s substantial oil and gas reserves are of utmost importance for India’s energy needs”.

— India has had decades of good connections with countries such as Iran, and Qatar, a tiny gas-rich country, is one of its closest allies in the area. India maintains positive relations with the majority of Gulf countries.

— The two most important reasons for the relationship are oil and gas, and trade.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB) is a joint initiative of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) supporting countries in building tax audit capacity.

— The TIWB Programmes support the international community’s broader efforts to strengthen tax cooperation and contribute to developing nations’ domestic revenue mobilisation efforts.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Source: http://www.tiwb.org)

FYI:

— In response to Israel’s continuous military attacks on the Gaza Strip, notably in its southern sector, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter in an effort to achieve a cease-fire.

— The United Nations Security Council is one of the organization’s primary organs. It has five permanent members (the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, and Russia) and ten non-permanent members appointed for specific periods. Each of these 15 countries occupies the presidency for one month in turn. Ecuador, a South American country, is the President for December 2023.

What is Article 99 of the UN Charter?

— Article 99 states: “The Secretary-General may bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.”

— The Charter is considered an international treaty, meaning UN Member States are “bound by it”. However, in practice, there is little that member countries can be forced to do.

Therefore option (b) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— Russia has said it is withdrawing from the Black Sea grain deal, which assured safe passage to ships carrying grain from Ukraine.

— Ukraine contributes significantly to UN food aid programmes and is one of the world’s largest exporters of food grains such as wheat and maize. Russia’s invasion of the country and blockade of its ports prompted food prices to skyrocket, raising concerns about food security in the world’s poorest nations. For example, wheat prices in Pakistan have risen to crisis levels.

— The UN and Turkey got Russia to agree to the Black Sea Grain Initiative, under which cargo ships would be allowed to travel from and to three Ukrainian ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi (Yuzhny), after inspection that they weren’t carrying arms.

— The safe passage in the Black Sea was 310 nautical miles long and three nautical miles wide.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

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