UPSC 2024 International Relations Previous Year Questions

Question 1

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Recently, Venezuela has achieved a rapid recovery from its economic crisis and succeeded in preventing its people from fleeing/emigrating to other countries. Statement-II: Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I | Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I | Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect | Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct. Venezuela has not achieved a rapid recovery preventing emigration, but it has the world's largest proven oil reserves.

Question 2

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: The European Parliament approved The Net-Zero Industry Act recently. Statement-II: The European Union intends to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040 and therefore aims to develop all of its own clean technology by that time. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I | Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I | Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect | Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct. The European Parliament approved the Net-Zero Industry Act. The EU's carbon-neutrality target is 2050, not 2040, and the statement overstates total domestic clean-tech production.

Question 3

With reference to the Parliament of India, consider the following statements: 1. Prorogation of a House by the President of India does not require the advice of the Council of Ministers. 2. Prorogation of a House is generally done after the House is adjourned sine die but there is no bar to the President of India prorogating the House which is in session. 3. Dissolution of the Lok Sabha is done by the President of India who, save in exceptional circumstances, does so on the advice of the Council of Ministers. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. 1 only | 1 and 2 | 2 and 3 | 3 only. Prorogation is an executive act normally on ministerial advice, so statement 1 is incorrect. A House can be prorogued even while in session, and Lok Sabha dissolution is generally on Council of Ministers advice.

Question 4

With reference to the Indian Parliament, consider the following statements: 1. A bill pending in the Lok Sabha lapses on its dissolution. 2. A bill passed by the Lok Sabha and pending in the Rajya Sabha lapses on the dissolution of the Lok Sabha. 3. A bill in regard to which the President of India notified his/her intention to summon the Houses to a joint sitting lapses on the dissolution of the Lok Sabha. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 1 only | 1 and 2 | 2 and 3 | 3 only. A bill pending in Lok Sabha lapses on dissolution, and a bill passed by Lok Sabha but pending in Rajya Sabha also lapses. A bill for which a joint sitting has already been notified does not lapse.

Question 5

With reference to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, consider the following statements: While any resolution for the removal of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha is under consideration 1. He/She shall not preside. 2. He/She shall not have the right to speak. 3. He/She shall not be entitled to vote on the resolution in the first instance. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. 1 only | 1 and 2 only | 2 and 3 only | 1, 2 and 3. When a removal resolution is under consideration, the Speaker does not preside, but may speak and may vote in the first instance. Therefore only statement 1 is correct.

Question 6

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: India does not import apples from the United States of America. Statement-II: In India, the law prohibits the import of Genetically Modified food without the approval of the competent authority. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I | Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I | Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect | Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct. India does import apples from the USA, so Statement-I is incorrect. Import of GM food requires approval from the competent authority, so Statement-II is correct.

Question 7

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: There is instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region. Statement-II: There have been military takeovers/coups d'etat in several countries of the Sahel region in the recent past. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I | Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I | Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect | Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct. The Sahel has had a worsening security situation, and coups/military takeovers in several countries are a major reason for that instability.

Question 8

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which one of the following is the largest source of sulphur dioxide emissions?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. Locomotives using fossil fuels | Ships using fossil fuels | Extraction of metals from ores | Power plants using fossil fuels. EPA identifies fossil-fuel power plants as the largest source category for sulphur dioxide emissions among these options.

Question 9

Consider the following statements: 1. The Red Sea receives very little precipitation in any form. 2. No water enters the Red Sea from rivers. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. 1 only | 2 only | Both 1 and 2 | Neither 1 nor 2. The Red Sea region receives very little precipitation and has no significant river inflow, so both statements are correct.

Question 10

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Sumed pipeline is a strategic route for Persian Gulf oil and natural gas shipments to Europe. Statement-II: Sumed pipeline connects the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I | Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I | Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect | Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct. The SUMED pipeline links the Red Sea and Mediterranean, providing a strategic route for Gulf oil/natural gas shipments to Europe. Statement-II explains Statement-I.

UPSC 2024 International Relations PYQs with Answers