UPSC Prelims Previous Year Questions 2021: International Relations | UPSC Mains: International Relations PDF Download

Ans: (b)

• The Constituent Assembly of Pakistan, in its session at Karachi on 23rd February, 1948 proposed that the members would have to speak either in Urdu or in English at the Assembly. Dhirendranath Datta, a member from the East Pakistan Congress Party, moved an amendment motion to include Bangla as one of the languages of the Constituent Assembly. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• International Mother Language Day is observed on 21st February every year. It was declared by UNESCO and not by UNICEF. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Ans: (c)

• Water Credit is the first to put microfinance tools to work in the water and sanitation sector. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• The model empowers people to address their own water and sanitation needs in developing countries who often lack access to traditional credit markets. It eliminates the need for subsidies. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• WaterCredit is a global initiative launched by Water.org, a non-profit organization working to bring water and sanitation to the world. Hence, statement 2 is not correct. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Ans: (c)

• American golfer Tiger Woods was the first winner of this award. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• The award has been received mostly by Men’s Football Team (6 times) players so far. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
• Roger Federer (5 times) has received this award, the maximum number of times compared to others followed by Usain Bolt (4 times) and Novak Djokovic (4 times). Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Ans: (b)

• The official motto for Olympics 2020 was “United by Emotion”. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• A total of 46 Olympic Sports were contested at the Tokyo 2020 Games including Rugby, Sport Climbing, Fencing, Football, Skateboarding, Handball, Surfing, Karate, Baseball, among others. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Ans: (d)

• The ICC announced in 2020, that the finalists would be decided by percentage of points earned. The amount of points available per Test has been made uniform. This system allows the relative performance of teams to be compared at any point in time, meaning the cancellation of any matches or series for any reason does not directly impact the points table. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• New Zealand was the first team to qualify for the inaugural final. It was ahead of England due to its ratings, i.e., points (126) after playing 22 matches. On the other hand, England after playing 35 matches has got a 107 rating. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Ans: (c)

• UN-Habitat’s report, ‘State of the World Cities 2010/2011: Bridging the Urban Divide’, recommends giving every resident the “right to the city” in which they live. The UN- Habitat is the monitoring agency for the commitments made by each country in this regard. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• The occupants have the right to reclaim public spaces and public participation. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Providing access to public services in unauthorized colonies depends on the State’s discretion and influence of the political participation of people. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Ans: (b)

• The Global Ocean Commission was an international initiative between 2013 and 2016 to raise awareness, promote action to address the degradation of the ocean and help restore it to full health and productivity.
• International Seabed Authority (ISA) is a UN body set up to regulate the exploration and exploitation of marine non-living resources of oceans in international waters. It considers applications for exploration and exploitation of deep-sea resources from contractors, assesses environmental impact assessments and supervises mining activities. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• India was the first country to receive the status of a ‘Pioneer Investor’ in 1987 and was given an area of about 1.5 lakh sq. km in the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) for nodule exploration. India’s exclusive rights to explore polymetallic nodules from seabed in the Central Indian Ocean Basin was extended in 2017 for five years. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Rare earth minerals are present on the seafloor in international waters. The sea floor of various oceans boasts one of the world’s largest untapped collections of rare-earth minerals. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.