All questions of International Economic Organisations for Bank Exams Exam

Understanding the Statements
To determine the correctness of the statements regarding the WTO conferences, let's analyze each one:
1. Nairobi Declaration and Divergence on DDA
- The Nairobi Declaration, adopted at the 10th WTO Ministerial Conference in 2015, indeed highlighted the differing views among WTO members on the Doha Development Agenda (DDA).
- This statement is correct as it reflects the ongoing debate about the relevance of DDA amidst various global trade issues.
2. Buenos Aires Conference Outcomes
- The Buenos Aires Conference (11th WTO Ministerial Conference in 2017) did not result in a comprehensive Ministerial Declaration that included a permanent solution on food security.
- Instead, it emphasized the need for cooperation but fell short of formal agreements on key issues, including food security. Thus, this statement is incorrect.
3. India Hosting WTO Ministerial Meeting in 2019
- India did host a mini-ministerial meeting in 2019 aimed at addressing the concerns of developing and least-developed countries.
- The meeting focused on key issues such as agricultural subsidies and the need for a fair trading system, leading to an outcome document outlining priorities. This statement is correct.
Conclusion
- From the analysis, only Statements 1 and 3 are correct, while Statement 2 is incorrect. Therefore, the correct answer is option 'B': 1 and 3 only.
This breakdown helps clarify the nuances of each statement and their implications within the WTO context.

The World Bank’s Tamil Nadu Sustainable Urban Development Program supports urban infrastructure, governance, and service delivery in Tamil Nadu, focusing on sustainable urban planning and municipal reforms. The other options address different regions or sectors: Ganga River cleanup, Mumbai transport, and Andhra Pradesh disaster recovery.

World Bank and IDA's Focus on Poverty Reduction
The World Bank, through its International Development Association (IDA), prioritizes regions based on the severity of poverty and the potential for development. Sub-Saharan Africa stands out as a key focus area for several reasons:
High Poverty Rates
- Sub-Saharan Africa has one of the highest poverty rates in the world. A significant proportion of the population lives on less than $1.90 a day, the international poverty line.
Development Challenges
- The region faces numerous challenges, including political instability, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to education and healthcare. These factors contribute to persistent poverty levels.
Economic Growth Potential
- Despite the challenges, Sub-Saharan Africa presents opportunities for economic growth and development. Investment in agriculture, technology, and infrastructure can lead to substantial improvements in living standards.
Focus on Sustainable Development
- The IDA emphasizes sustainable development initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa. Programs targeting education, health, and economic diversification are essential for long-term poverty alleviation.
Alignment with Global Goals
- The efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Goal 1: No Poverty. The IDA's strategies aim to eliminate extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity.
Conclusion
In summary, Sub-Saharan Africa is a priority for the World Bank's IDA due to its high poverty rates, development challenges, and potential for economic growth. Through targeted interventions, the IDA aims to make a significant impact on reducing poverty in this region.

The World Bank’s Doing Business report evaluates the ease of doing business in countries by analyzing factors such as regulations, taxes, and infrastructure, offering insights for policymakers and investors to improve business environments.

The World Bank’s National Hydrology Project in India focuses on strengthening institutions for water situation assessments, equipping them with real-time flood forecasting systems, and improving reservoir water management to enhance flood preparedness and water resource efficiency.

The World Bank supports India’s Skill India initiative through loans aimed at promoting vocational training, improving employability, and fostering entrepreneurship to empower youth and address unemployment challenges across the country.

The World Bank supports India’s Skill India mission through loans aimed at enhancing vocational training and employability. The program focuses on equipping youth with skills, improving job opportunities, and fostering entrepreneurship to address unemployment challenges.

The IMF has highlighted that aging populations in the Asia-Pacific region pose significant challenges, including increasing healthcare demands and straining pension systems. These demographic shifts require policy interventions to ensure economic sustainability.

The IMF’s Technical Assistance programs provide expertise to member countries to strengthen economic policies, fiscal management, and institutional frameworks, such as tax administration or central banking. They do not involve grants for infrastructure, market regulation, or environmental funding.

The World Bank is the primary institution focused on providing long-term loans and grants to support infrastructure, poverty reduction, and development projects in developing countries. Unlike the IMF, which focuses on short-term financial stability, the World Bank aims to foster sustainable economic growth through investments in sectors like education and health.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) oversees global monetary cooperation and financial stability, providing financial assistance and policy advice to member countries to stabilize economies. The World Bank focuses on long-term development, while the WTO handles trade policies and the AIIB supports infrastructure.

The World Bank approved a USD 210 million loan to strengthen gram panchayats in West Bengal. This initiative enhances local governance by improving resource management, public service delivery, and grassroots-level infrastructure development.

The World Bank’s Women, Business, and the Law initiative measures legal and economic barriers to women’s empowerment, supporting projects that promote gender equality and economic opportunities. The other options focus on financial inclusion, trade financing, or general poverty reduction, not specifically gender equality.

The IMF’s Extended Credit Facility (ECF) provides concessional loans to low-income countries to support long-term economic stability and poverty reduction. It offers flexible, medium-term financing to address structural economic challenges, unlike the Stand-By Arrangement, which targets short-term needs, the Flexible Credit Line, which is precautionary, or the Rapid Financing Instrument, which provides quick emergency support.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) provides short-term loans to countries facing balance of payments issues, helping stabilize their economies through financial assistance and policy advice. The World Bank, in contrast, focuses on long-term development projects.

The IMF’s Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) evaluates the stability and resilience of a country’s financial system, identifying vulnerabilities and recommending reforms to strengthen financial institutions and markets.

The IMF’s Special Drawing Rights (SDR) allocation provides liquidity to member countries, acting as a supplementary international reserve asset to support balance of payments and stabilize economies during financial crises.

The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) provides grants and low-interest loans to the world’s poorest countries to support poverty reduction, infrastructure development, and sustainable growth, targeting nations with low per capita incomes.

The World Bank approved a loan for the Citizen Centric Service Delivery Project in Assam on June 5, 2017, aiming to improve accessibility, streamline processes, and leverage technology to enhance government service delivery to citizens.

Bolivia’s socialist leader declared total independence from the IMF and World Bank to assert national sovereignty and promote economic self-reliance, aiming to reduce foreign influence and support local development and social programs.

The IMF’s Structural Adjustment Programs aim to stabilize economies by promoting policy reforms, such as fiscal discipline, trade liberalization, and structural changes, to address economic imbalances and foster sustainable growth in member countries.

The World Bank’s Climate Change Action Plan (2021-2025) aims to support sustainable development and climate resilience by financing projects that reduce emissions, promote renewable energy, and enhance adaptation in vulnerable countries. It does not focus on trade barriers, currency markets, or health initiatives as primary objectives.

The IMF’s World Economic Outlook is a flagship publication that provides detailed global economic forecasts, analyzing trends, risks, and growth projections for countries and regions. It serves as a critical resource for policymakers and economists to understand global economic dynamics.

S. Aparna was appointed as the World Bank Executive Director representing the constituency of India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan. This role involves advocating for the developmental needs of these South Asian countries within the World Bank.

The World Bank approved a USD 210 million loan to strengthen gram panchayats in West Bengal, enhancing local governance by improving resource management, public service delivery, and grassroots-level infrastructure development.