Test: World Panorama - 1 (2019 - 2016) - UPSC MCQ

United Nations Convention against Corruption is the only legally binding universal anti-corruption instrument. So, #2 is right, this eliminates A. Upon checking the official webpages of UNTOC and UNCAC, it's evident that #3 is not related with UNTOC but UNCAC. So, #3 is wrong. So, by elimination, we are left with answer C.

World Bank's Ease of Doing Biz based on simple average (equally weighted) of 10 parameters viz.
1. Starting a Business
2. Construction Permits
3. Getting Electricity
4. Registering Property
5. Getting Credit (loan)
6. Protecting Minority Investors
7. Paying Taxes
8. Trading across Borders
9. Enforcing Contracts
10. Resolving Insolvency
So, (a) is the answer.

AIIB: China, India, UK, Switzerland are among the members. And, based on share capital provided. China ~27%, India ~7%. Asian countries control about 75% voting. So, #2 and #3 are wrong. We are left with answer (a).

UNFCCC secretariat launched its Climate Neutral Now initiative in 2015. The following year, the secretariat launched a new pillar under its Momentum for Change initiative focused on Climate Neutral Now, as part of larger efforts to showcase successful climate action around the world (Ref: "Organization's About US Page")

• Coral reefs are found in tropical and subtropical regions. Most of them are located between Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer, so yes #1 is indeed right.
• According to UNEP,% of world area covered by each region: Indonesia 18%, Australia: 17% and Philippines: 9% so collectively that'll be more than 33%. Hence #2 is right.
• Coral reefs include a wide range of diversity with 32 of the 34 animal phyla present, in contrast to only 9 phyla represented in tropical rainforest. So, #3 is also right. Thus, answer is D: 1, 2 and 3

In 2012, Rio+20 (the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development) was held in Brazil…. Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) was launched in 2013 as a response to the call at Rio+20 to support those countries wishing to embark on greener and more inclusive growth trajectories.

The THAAD system is designed to intercept and destroy short and medium-range ballistic missiles during their final phase of flight. USA installed this system in South Korea in 2017, in the wake North Korean missile tests. But this angered China, who feels that deployment of American armaments will upset the regional security balance.

Aleppo = Syria, in news due to Syrian conflict. So, #1 is right. Mazar-i-Sharif is in Afghanistan. Last year PM Modi condemned a terror attack which killed 140 soldiers here. So, B: 1 and 4 are correctly paired Kirkuk-Incorrect. It is in Iraq. Been in news due to ISIS controlled territory

• GACSA is an inclusive, voluntary and action-oriented multi-stakeholder platform on Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA). [Ref: Their about us page] "Voluntary" means doesn't create any biding obligation. #2 is right.
• India is neither in member list nor in observer list of this entity. So #3 is wrong. By elimination we get answer B: only 2.

• ILO Convention No. 138: minimum age of entry into work shall not be less than the age of completion of compulsory schooling and, in any case, shall not be less than 15 years.
• ILO Convention No. 182: "Worst Forms of Child Labour" have to be prohibited urgently.

Palestine under Israeli control to advocating the two states solution. It wants the creation of Arab Palestine state in the Gaza strip and West Bank, along side the state of Israel.

• Venezuela and Columbia- Venezuela has been facing severe crisis due to hyperinflation, food shortage and associated food-riots. But this hunger/ malnutrition is not by war/ethnic conflicts per say, but rather President Nicolas Maduro's bogus economic policies. So, #C looks tempting but doesn't fit.
• Morocco and Tunisia- Were in news due to starting of Arab Spring, Jasmine revolution. Angola is in Africa, but not much in news except for economic crisis and stampede. Similar case for Zambia So, A doesn't fit.
• In war-torn South Sudan 1.25 million people are facing starvation, double the number from the same time last year, This country could once again plunge into famine in 2018 says UN.
• In Yemen, over 20 million people need humanitarian assistance, including 7 million facing "famine-like" conditions, Food supplies are expected to run out within six weeks due to Saudi-led coalition's a blockade on war-torn Yemen. Therefore, among the given options, D is most fitting.

President Obama had initiated NSS in 2010. so, first statement is wrong.

• The International Panel on Fissile Materials (IPFM), an independent group of arms-control and non-proliferation experts from 17 countries, has been keeping track of HEU and plutonium around the world. So second statement also wrong.

• The 2015 event was hosted by S. Africa and cochair Tanzania. So first statement is wrong.
• In 2008, IONS was setup taking all the littoral countries of the Indian Ocean (IO) onboard to promote friendly relationship and…bear upon issues of regional maritime security and cooperation in the maritime domain. Second statement is right.

It's compiled by World Economic Forum and India scored rank 87 in 2016.

World Bank had launched it in 2014.

From the official organization's website: UN-Habitat also partners with private organizations and civil society so second statement wrong. While Statement 1 and 3 are correct. Hence answer "B" only 1 and 3.

(i) The OPCW Member States share the collective goal of monitoring chemical industry to prevent new weapons from re-emerging; providing assistance and protection to States Parties against chemical threats; and fostering international cooperation to strengthen implementation of the Convention and promote the peaceful use of chemistry.
(ii) It won Nobel Peace prize in 2013. There is no specific mention of its association with EU, NATO or WTO on the official website of OPCW. Therefore, statement 1 is wrong. By elimination of all options with statement 1, we are left with answer (b).

The Kurds are an ethnic group in the Middle East Asia. The Madhesi, also referred to as Teraibasi Nepali are an indigenous ethnic group of Nepalese people who are natives of the Madhesh plains of Southern Nepal in Terai belt of South Asia. The Rohingya people, are Muslim Indo-Aryan peoples from the Rakhine State, Myanmar.

The Belt and Road (abbreviated B&R), One Belt, One Road ( abbreviated OBOR) or the Belt and Road Initiative is a development strategy and framework, proposed by Chinese paramount leader Xi Jinping that focuses on connectivity and cooperation among countries primarily between the People’s Republic of China and the rest of Eurasia.