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UPSC Essentials brings to you its subject-wise quizzes. UPSC Daily Subject Quiz will cover all topics under the UPSC Civil Services syllabus like Polity, History, Geography, Economics, Environment, Science and Technology, International Relations, and more. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus.
Each day, we cover one new subject. Attempt today’s subject quiz on International Relations to check your progress. Come back tomorrow to solve the MCQs on Weekly Current Affairs. Don’t miss checking the answers and explanations at the end of the quiz.
QUESTION 1
With reference to the United Nations Statistical Commission, consider the following statements:
1. India has been elected to the UN Statistical Commission beginning on 1 January 2024.
2. It is the highest decision-making body for international statistical activities, responsible for setting of statistical standards and the development of concepts and methods.
3. It is a functional commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
4. The term of office of members is three years.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
QUESTION 2
With reference to the Sharada Peeth, consider the following statements:
1. It is a temple that is dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Saraswati.
2. It is also one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas.
3. It is located near Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
QUESTION 3
Miyako Strait was in the news recently. The strait is located between
(a) Japan and South Korea
(b) China and Philippines
(c) Malaysia and Indonesia
(d) Japan and China
QUESTION 4
Consider the following pairs:
(Place) (Country)
1. Akhaura Thailand
2. Mongla Port Bangladesh
3. Mae Sot Myanmar
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
QUESTION 5
Consider the following countries:
1. Sudan
2. Angola
3. Zambia
4. Central African Republic
How many of the above countries border the Democratic Republic of Congo?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
ANSWER TO MCQs
1. (b)
FYI:
— India has been elected to the UN Statistical Commission for a four-year term beginning on 1 January 2024. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
— The United Nations Statistical Commission, established in 1947, is the highest body of the global statistical system bringing together the Chief Statisticians from member states from around the world.
— It is the highest decision-making body for international statistical activities, responsible for setting statistical standards and the development of concepts and methods, including their implementation at the national and international level. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
— The Commission consists of 24 member countries of the United Nations elected by the United Nations Economic and Social Council on the basis of an equitable geographical distribution according to the following pattern:
(a) Five members from African States;
(b) Four members from Asia-Pacific States;
(c) Four members from Eastern European States;
(d) Four members from Latin American and Caribbean States;
(e) Seven members from Western European and other States.
— The term of office of members is four years. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.
— The Statistical Commission oversees the work of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), and it is a Functional Commission of the UN Economic and Social Council. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
(Other Source: unstats.un.org)
2. (b)
FYI:
— Sharada Peeth is a temple revered by Kashmiri Pandits, has been out of bounds for Indian pilgrims since partition. The ancient temple of Sharada (also spelt Sharda or Sarada) and the adjacent ruins of Sharada University lie in Neelam Valley, 160 km from Muzaffarabad, and right across the Line of Control in a small village, Shardi or Sardi, where the river Neelam (Kishanganga) converges with the Madhumati and Sargun streams. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
— The temple was also once regarded as the foremost centres of higher learning in the Indian subcontinent. It is also one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas, or a “Grand Shakti Peethas”. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
— It is considered to be the abode of Hindu Goddess Saraswati. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
3. (d)
FYI:
— Miyako Strait is a waterway between Japan and China. It is one of the international waterway for the Chinese to reach out to Pacific Ocean.
— The Miyako Strait marks a linguistic and cultural divide between the Southern and Northern Ryukyuan languages.
Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.
4. (a)
FYI:
Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.
5. (c)
FYI:
— The Democratic Republic of Congo’s army is engaged in battle with more than 100 armed militias that are jockeying for power and territory in the eastern part of the country, and violence has escalated.
— The DRC has witnessed a decades-long conflict between state forces and rebel groups that has resulted in the death and displacement of millions of people. The UN, which has deployed peacekeeping forces in the country since 1999, is routinely criticised by locals for being unable to protect civilians from the militias in the region.
— India has contributed more personnel to UN Peacekeeping Missions than any other country. Since 1948, more than 2,53,000 Indians have served in 49 of the 71 missions across the world.
— The DRC is bordered by South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Congo, Angola, Zambia, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda.
Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.
New initiative for UPSC Mains
UPSC CSE Mains 2023 season has begun. Are you ready for it? UPSC Essentials brings to you its new initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. Mains Answer Writing will cover essential topics of static and dynamic parts of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus covered under various GS papers. This answer-writing practice is designed to help you as a value addition to your UPSC CSE Mains. Try it out!
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 1)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 2)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 3)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 4)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 5)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 6)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 1)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 2)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 3)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 5)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 2)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 3)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 4)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 5)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 5)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 5)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 5)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 5)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 5)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 6)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 4 (Week 2)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 4 (Week 3)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 4 (Week 5)
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