1. With Reference to Munich Security Conference, Consider the Following Statements:

1. The 59th Munich Security Conference took place from Feb 17 to Feb 19, 2023, at the Bayerischer Hof Hotel in Munich
2. The MSC has addressed challenges like terrorist activities, religious fanaticism, cyberterrorism, and electronic intelligence over the course of its more than 60-year history. 
3. MSC offers a forum for Heads of the States to address together important Security Matters.

Which of the given above is /are correct? 

A. 1& 2 Only                       

B. 1 & 3 Only

C. 2 Only

D. All of the above

2. Which of the following bodies comes under the Purview of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)? 

1. International labour Organization (ILO)
2. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
3. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
4. World Health Organization (WHO)

Select the correct answer using the code given below: 

A. 1 and  3 only            

B. 2 and 3 only

C. 1 and 2 only.    

D. 1, 2 and 3 only

3. Consider the Following Statements Regarding I4F 

1. India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund (I4F).
2. It is a fund for cooperation between the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, and the Israel Innovation Authority, Government of Israel.
3. This will promote, facilitate and support joint industrial R&D projects, between companies from India and Israel to address the challenges in the agreed ‘Focus Sectors’. 

Which of the Above Statements are Incorrect?

A. 1 & 2 Only

B. 2 & 3 only

C. 3 Only

D. All are Correct

4. Consider the following statements with regards to International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC)

1. INSTC tends to connect Indian Ocean to Caspian Sea
2. INSTC agreement has been ratified by Russia and Ukraine both
3. It will help to counter BRI of China

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only

B. 2 and 3 only

C. 1 and 3 only

D. 1, 2 and 3

5. Consider the following statements with reference to Eastern Economic Forum (EEF)

1. EEF is part of World Economic Forum
2. It has been established in 2015
3. Under EEF India and Russia has signed several agreement to invest in Russia’s far East region

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only

B. 2 and 3 only

C. 1 and 3 only

D. 1, 2 and 3

Answers with Explanations

1. With Reference to Munich Security Conference, Consider the Following Statements:

1. The 59th Munich Security Conference took place from Feb 17 to Feb 19, 2023, at the Bayerischer Hof Hotel in Munich
2. The MSC has addressed challenges like terrorist activities, religious fanaticism, cyberterrorism, and electronic intelligence over the course of its more than 60-year history. 
3. MSC offers a forum for Heads of the States to address together important Security Matters.

Which of the given above is /are correct? 

A. 1& 2 Only                       

B. 1 & 3 Only

C. 2 Only

D. All of the above

Answer: A

Explanation

• The 59th Munich Security Conference took place from Feb 17 to Feb 19 at the Bayerischer Hof Hotel in Munich. 
• A German diplomat and publisher named Ewald-Heinrich von Kleist organised the Munich Security Conference (MSC), an annual conference on international security concerns, at the height of the Cold War.

Significance of MSC

• The MSC has addressed challenges like terrorist activities, religious fanaticism, cyberterrorism, and electronic intelligence over the course of its more than 60-year history. 
• It has also become the premier forum for policymakers to discuss issues in a cordial setting.
• The MSC offers a forum for international leaders, decision-makers, and representatives in international and non-governmental institutions, business, the media, academia, and civil society to engage in dialogue and explore a range of topics that have an impact on world peace and stability.

2. Which of the following bodies comes under the Purview of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)? 

1. International labour Organization (ILO)
2. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
3. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
4. World Health Organization (WHO)

Select the correct answer using the code given below: 

A. 1 and  3 only            

B. 2 and 3 only

C. 1 and 2 only.    

D. 1, 2 and 3 only

Answer: D

Explanation

• The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) was established by the UN Charter in 1945.
• It is the principal body for coordination, policy review, policy dialogue and recommendations on economic, social and environmental issues, as well as implementation of internationally agreed development goals.
• It has 54 members, elected by the UN General Assembly for overlapping three-year terms.  
• It is the UN’s central platform for reflection, debate and innovative thinking on sustainable development.

Few Important Bodies under the Purview of ECOSOC

• International labour Organization (ILO)
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• Bretton Woods Twins (World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund)
• United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

3. Consider the Following Statements Regarding I4F 

1. India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund (I4F).
2. It is a fund for cooperation between the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, and the Israel Innovation Authority, Government of Israel.
3. This will promote, facilitate and support joint industrial R&D projects, between companies from India and Israel to address the challenges in the agreed ‘Focus Sectors’. 

Which of the Above Statements are Incorrect?

A. 1 & 2 Only

B. 2 & 3 only

C. 3 Only

D. All are Correct

Answer: D

Explanation

• India and Israel recently  (January 2022) widened the I4F during their eighth governing body meet. 
• I4F is India – Israel Industrial research and development technological Innovation fund. 
• The fund has now been widened to 5.5 million USD.
• The I4F is controlled, managed and implemented by the Global Innovation and Technology Alliance. 
• In Israel, the fund is implemented by the Israeli Innovation Authority. 

GITA

• Global Innovation and Technology Alliance (GITA) is a “not–for–profit” Public Private Partnership (PPP) company promoted jointly by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Technology Development Board under the Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India. 
• GITA encourages industrial investments in innovative technology solutions by Connecting Industrial and Institutional partners for synergistic matchmaking under its Bilateral Programme with various countries.
• Global Innovation & Technology Alliance (GITA) is appointed to implement the I4F program in India, while Israel Innovation Authority is the implementing agency in Israel.

4. Consider the following statements with regards to International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC)

1. INSTC tends to connect Indian Ocean to Caspian Sea
2. INSTC agreement has been ratified by Russia and Ukraine both
3. It will help to counter BRI of China

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only

B. 2 and 3 only

C. 1 and 3 only

D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: D

Explanation

• International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a multi-modal transportation for the purpose of promoting transportation cooperation among the Member States. 
• This corridor connects India Ocean and Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea via Iran, Islamic Rep., and is then connected to Saint Petersburg and North European via Russia. 
• It was established on September 12, 2000, by Iran, Russia and India.
• The main purpose of the corridor was to reduce carriage costs and transit time between India  and Russia. 
• The transit time is expected to  reduce to almost half, once the corridor becomes fully functional.
• The agreement has been ratified by 13 countries namely-
• Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Armenia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Oman, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Ukraine.

Significance for India

• Reduce carriage cost between India and Russia by 30% and bring down transit time (almost half compared to suez canal).
• Will help India to gain smooth access into Central Asia and beyond to Arctic, Nordic and Baltic region and will help to expand trade and investment links. 
• Reduce dependence on current trading partners, especially energy connectivity, through realignment of supply chains. 
• It is also being seen as India’s alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) 
• INSTC is s a 7,200-km-long multi-mode network of ship, rail, and road route for moving freight between India, Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe.
• The route primarily involves moving freight from India, Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia via ship, rail and road.

5. Consider the following statements with reference to Eastern Economic Forum (EEF)

1. EEF is part of World Economic Forum
2. It has been established in 2015
3. Under EEF India and Russia has signed several agreement to invest in Russia’s far East region

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only

B. 2 and 3 only

C. 1 and 3 only

D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: B

Explanation

• Recently, Prime Minister of India virtually attended the seventh Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) hosted by Russia in Vladivostok.
• Eastern Economic Forum is a key international platform for establishing and strengthening ties within the Russian and global investment communities, and for comprehensive expert evaluation of the economic potential of the Russian Far East.
• It has been established by Russia and is not part of World Economic Forum.
• EEF was established in 2015 to encourage foreign investments in the Russia’s Far East (RFE) region.
• EEF displays the economic potential, suitable business conditions and investment opportunities in the region.
• India seeks to expand its influence in the RFE.
• During the forum, India expressed its readiness in expanding trade, connectivity and investments in Russia.
• India is keen to deepen its cooperation in energy, pharmaceuticals, maritime connectivity, healthcare, tourism, the diamond industry and the Arctic.
• In 2019, India offered a USD 1 billion line of credit to develop infrastructure in the region. 

Far East Region of Russia

• The Far East is the easternmost part of Russia.
• It borders two oceans, the Pacific and the Arctic, and five countries (China, Japan, Mongolia, the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)).
• The Far Eastern Federal District covers more than a third of the country’s territory.
• The Far East is rich in natural resources like diamonds, borax materials,  gold, tungsten, and fish and seafood.
• About 1/3 of all coal reserves and hydro-engineering resources of the country are here.

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