Pre-Mix – 5 MCQs for Prelims – International Relations – 29th March 2023 Skip to main content

Pre-Mix – 5 MCQs for Prelims – International Relations – 29th March 2023

Pre-Mix – 5 MCQs for Prelims

International Relations

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1. With reference to International Energy Agency (IEA), consider the following statements

  1. The IEA primarily aims to improve the energy security of non-OPEC countries by responding to physical disruptions in the supply of oil and serving as an information source about the International energy markets.
  2. The Nuclear Energy Agency is a part of the IEA which focuses on improving the sustainable use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. 
  3. India is a member of both the International Energy Agency and the Nuclear Energy Agency. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only 
  2. 1 and 3 only 
  3. 2 and 3 only 
  4. 1, 2 and 3 

2. Which of the following countries are members of the -Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance?

  1. China 
  2. Germany 
  3. USA 
  4. Canada 
  5. India 
  6. Australia

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. 2, 3, 5 and 6 
  2. 1, 2, 4, and 5 
  3. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 
  4. 3 and 4 

3. When the Russian war ships, stationed at the Black Sea, need to reach the Mediterranean Sea in the shortest possible route, then the ships must cross which of the following water bodies?

  1. Sea of Azov 
  2. Marmara Sea 
  3. Aegean Sea

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. 1 only 
  2. 1 and 2 only 
  3. 2 and 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3 

4. Which of the following defence technologies aren indigenously developed in India?

  1. Long-range artillery gun-Dhanush
  2. Close Quarter Battle Carbines
  3. INS Vikrant
  4. Pinaka Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

  1. 1 and 3 only
  2. 2 and 4 only
  3. 1, 3 and 4 only
  4. 1, 2, 3 and 4

5. Paracel Islands is frequently seen in news, related to:

  1. The Paracel Islands, also known as the Xisha Islands are a disputed archipelago in the South China Sea.
  2. It is a disputed territory between China, Japan, Vietnam and Philippines. 
  3. It is an artificial island and recently a rare species of birds were found there.

Select the Incorrect statements:

  1. 2 and 3
  2. 1 and 2
  3. 1 and 3
  4. None of the above.

Answers with Explanations

1. With reference to International Energy Agency (IEA), consider the following statements

  1. The IEA primarily aims to improve the energy security of non-OPEC countries by responding to physical disruptions in the supply of oil and serving as an information source about the International energy markets.
  2. The Nuclear Energy Agency is a part of the IEA which focuses on improving the sustainable use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. 
  3. India is a member of both the International Energy Agency and the Nuclear Energy Agency. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only 
  2. 1 and 3 only 
  3. 2 and 3 only 
  4. 1, 2 and 3 

Answer: 1

Explanation

  • The International Energy Agency is a Paris-based autonomous intergovernmental organization established in the framework of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in 1974 in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis to improve the energy security of non-OPEC countries.
  • The IEA was initially dedicated to responding to physical disruptions in the supply of oil, as well as serving as an information source on statistics about the international oil market and other energy sectors. 
  • It is best known for the publication of its annual World Energy Outlook

  • The Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) is an intergovernmental agency that is organized under the Organisation for the Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and it is not part of the IEA.
  • The mission of the NEA is to “assist its member countries in maintaining and further developing, through international co-operation, the scientific, technological and legal bases required for the safe, environmentally friendly and economical use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes
  • India is not a member country of both the IEA and NEA.
  •  But India is an associate country to the IEA

Associate Countries

 

You Must Remember

  • The core activity of the IEA is providing policy advice to its 31 member states, as well as to its 11 Associated countries to support their energy security and advance their transition to clean energy

2. Which of the following countries are members of the -Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance?

  1. China 
  2. Germany 
  3. USA 
  4. Canada 
  5. India 
  6. Australia

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. 2, 3, 5 and 6 
  2. 1, 2, 4, and 5 
  3. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 
  4. 3 and 4 

Answer: 4

Explanation

  • The Five Eyes alliance is an intelligence-sharing arrangement between five English-speaking democracies. 
  • It evolved during the Cold War as a mechanism for monitoring the Soviet Union and sharing classified intelligence. 
  • It is often described as the world’s most successful intelligence alliance. 
  • India is not a member of this alliance
  • The Five Eyes (FVEY) is an intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
  • These countries are parties to the multilateral UKUSA Agreement, a treaty for cooperation in signals intelligence,

  • Informally, Five Eyes can also refer to the group of intelligence agencies of these countries. 

3. When the Russian war ships, stationed at the Black Sea, need to reach the Mediterranean Sea in the shortest possible route, then the ships must cross which of the following water bodies?

  1. Sea of Azov 
  2. Marmara Sea 
  3. Aegean Sea

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. 1 only 
  2. 1 and 2 only 
  3. 2 and 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3 

Answer: 3

Explanation 

4. Which of the following defence technologies aren indigenously developed in India?

  1. Long-range artillery gun-Dhanush
  2. Close Quarter Battle Carbines
  3. INS Vikrant
  4. Pinaka Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

  1. 1 and 3 only
  2. 2 and 4 only
  3. 1, 3 and 4 only
  4. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: 3

Explanation

  • Dhanush is the first indigenous long-range artillery gun developed by Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) and manufactured by the Gun Carriage Factory.
  • The gun is a 155 mm45 calibre gun with a maximum range of 36.5 km and the capability of automatic alignment and positioning.
  • It is equipped with inertial navigation-based sighting system, auto-laying facility, onboard ballistic computation and an advanced day and night direct firing system.
  • Statement 2 is incorrect: India is signing a deal with UAE for acquiring 93,895 Close Quarter Battle (CQB) carbines. 
  • They are miniaturized assault rifles featuring an overall shorter barrel and is comparatively lighter in weight and easier to handle compared to Assault Rifle.
  • Statement 3 is correct: INS Vikrant is the first aircraft carrier designed and built in India. 
  • It has over 76 percent of the material and equipment which is indigenous. 
  • The ship is 262m long, It has over 2,300 compartments designed for a crew of around 1700 people including specialised cabins to accommodate women officers.
  • The ship is equipped with numerous high-end technologies, including network-centric distributed data processing and control systems and state-of-the-art weapons such as the Barak LRSAM (long-range surface-to-air missile) and sensors.
  • Statement 4 is correct: Pinaka Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher is the upgraded version of the Pinaka which has been in service with the Indian Army for the last decade. 
  • The system is jointly designed by laboratories of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune. 

5. Paracel Islands is frequently seen in news, related to:

  1. The Paracel Islands, also known as the Xisha Islands are a disputed archipelago in the South China Sea.
  2. It is a disputed territory between China, Japan, Vietnam and Philippines. 
  3. It is an artificial island and recently a rare species of birds were found there.

Select the Incorrect statements:

  1. 2 and 3
  2. 1 and 2
  3. 1 and 3
  4. None of the above.

Answer: 1

Explanation 

About Paracel Islands

  • This tropical archipelago, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the northern Philippines.
  • It is composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group. 
  • It is surrounded by productive fishing grounds and by potential oil and gas reserves. 
  • In 1932, French Indo-China annexed the islands and set up a weather station on Pattle Island.
  • Maintenance was continued by its successor, Vietnam. 
  • China has occupied the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops seized a South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. 
  • The islands are claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan.

Background of Dispute

  • Beijing says that references to the Paracel Islands as a part of China sovereign territory can be found in 14th century writings from the Song Dynasty. 
  • Vietnam on the other hand, says that historical texts from at least the 15th century show that the islands were a part of its territory.
  • These islands also find mention in records starting from the 16th century by explorers who led expeditions to the East.
  • The Portuguese, British, Dutch, French and Spanish, have all written about the Paracel Islands in various texts. 
  • Colonial powers of the French-Indo China further accelerated the tensions with regard to the Paracel Islands due to their colonial policies in the 20th century.
  • By 1954, tensions had dramatically increased between China and Vietnam over the archipelago. 
  • In January 1974, China and Vietnam fought over their territorial disputes after which China took over control of the islands. 
  • In retaliation, in 1982, Vietnam said it had extended its administrative powers over these islands. 
  • In 1999, Taiwan jumped into the fray laying its claim over the entire archipelago.

Present Context

  • Since 2012, China, Taiwan and Vietnam have attempted to reinforce their claims on the territory.
  • By engaging in construction of government administrative buildings, tourism, land reclamation initiatives.
  •  And By establishing and expanding military presence on the archipelago

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