Test: International Relations MCQs (June 2024 Current Affairs) - UPSC MCQ

1. Correct. The bridge is 1.9 kilometers long.

2. Incorrect. Maitri Setu acts as a boundary between India and Bangladesh, not Myanmar.

3. Incorrect. NHIDCL is a nodal agency of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), not the Ministry of External Affairs.

4. Incorrect. While the bridge does strengthen bilateral relations, this pair alone does not make it correctly matched based on the provided oversight information.

- Statement 1 is correct: The first BRIC Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held in New York in 2006.

- Statement 2 is correct: The strategic inclusion of Egypt and Ethiopia in BRICS provides greater influence and access to the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region.

- Statement 3 is incorrect: The 15th BRICS Summit was hosted by South Africa in 2023, not Russia.

Thus, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only.

1. Correct. The bridge will facilitate cargo movement from West Bengal to Northeast India.

2. Correct. Chittagong port in Bangladesh is just 80km from Sabroom in Tripura.

3. Incorrect. Maitri Setu will enhance people-to-people connect between India’s northeast and Bangladesh, not Myanmar.

4. Incorrect. While Maitri Setu is significant, it is not explicitly mentioned as providing an alternative to the Sittwe Port-Kaladan route, rather it enhances the route from Kolkata to Chittagong.

1. Correct. Maitri Setu connects Sabroom in Tripura with Ramgarh in Bangladesh.

2. Incorrect. The bridge is constructed over the Feni River, not the Brahmaputra River.

3. Correct. Maitri Setu is a pre-stressed concrete bridge.

4. Correct. The construction was supervised by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL).

The Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY) is a mandatory insurance scheme that provides life and disability cover to all Emigration Check Required (ECR) category Indian migrant workers going abroad for employment. This scheme ensures that workers have coverage in case of accidental death or permanent disability while working abroad.

Statement I is correct as the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System (PABS) does aim to ensure equal sharing of genomic sequences of pathogens with pandemic potential, promoting responsible and equitable use in research and development. Statement II, however, is incorrect as it does not align with the content provided in the text, which primarily discusses the components and challenges in global health cooperation, not the lack of access to healthcare services.

Statement-I correctly mentions the location and date of the IPEF Ministerial Meeting in Singapore on 6th June 2024 as per the provided information. However, Statement-II is incorrect as it states that India formally signed all three agreements, which is inaccurate according to the source material provided. The source indicates that India did not formally sign these agreements as the domestic approval process is still underway. Thus, Statement-II is incorrect, making option C the correct answer.

The military operations that resulted in the liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi forces took place in 1991. This event marked the end of the Gulf War and restored Kuwait's sovereignty after a coalition led by the United States launched a campaign to free the country from Iraqi occupation.

- Statement 1 is correct: BRICS was initially formed as BRIC with Brazil, Russia, India, and China in 2006.

- Statement 2 is incorrect: South Africa joined BRICS in 2010, not in 2009 during the inaugural BRIC summit.

- Statement 3 is correct: The 16th BRICS Summit will be hosted by Russia in October 2024.

Thus, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 3 Only.

Statement I is correct because the Zero-Draft of the Pandemic Treaty indeed stresses the importance of strengthening health systems in low- and middle-income countries to enhance preparedness for global health emergencies. Statement II is also correct as the International Health Regulations (IHR) are legally binding on 196 countries, including India, and focus on international collaboration to respond to the spread of diseases across borders. Furthermore, Statement II supports Statement I as the collaboration facilitated by IHR can help in implementing the measures outlined in the Zero-Draft of the Pandemic Treaty.

Statement 1 is correct. Pakistan, Somalia, Denmark, Greece, and Panama have been elected as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council for the term 2025-2026.

Statement 2 is incorrect. The non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly, but the candidates are nominated by regional groups to ensure regional representation.

Statement 3 is correct. The UN Security Council consists of 15 members, including 5 permanent and 10 non-permanent members.

Thus, the correct answer is Option C.

Statement I is incorrect because the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is not a minor infrastructure project but a major one with significant investment. Statement II is incorrect as it inaccurately describes the purpose of CPEC. The correct purpose is to establish a 3,000 km infrastructure link between Gwadar and Karachi ports in Pakistan and China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Statement 1 is incorrect. The veto power in the UN Security Council is held only by the five permanent members (P5): the United States, the Russian Federation, France, China, and the United Kingdom.

Statement 2 is correct. The UN Security Council was established in 1945 under the UN Charter.

Statement 3 is correct. India has served as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council multiple times, including the term 2021-22.

Thus, the correct answer is Option C.

The Minimum Referral Wages (MRW) set by the Indian Government for migrant workers going abroad aims to prevent the exploitation of workers by ensuring they receive a minimum acceptable salary in certain countries. This measure helps protect workers from being paid significantly lower wages than what is deemed reasonable.

Statement-I correctly describes the focus of Pillar IV of the IPEF as per the provided information. Statement-II accurately states that India has observer status in Pillar I of the IPEF. Furthermore, Statement-II explains the significance of India's role within the pillars of the IPEF, making option A the correct answer.