UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today’s subject quiz on International Relations to check your progress.
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With reference to the United Nations Assistance Mission, consider the following statements: 1. It is established by the Security Council to help countries with peacebuilding.
2. A UN Assistance Mission for Afghanistan was established in 2002.
3. It does not have any role in providing assistance during elections.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
— A UN Assistance Mission (UNAMA/UNAMI) is a United Nations Special Political Mission, such as those in Afghanistan (UNAMA) or Iraq (UNAMI), established by the Security Council to assist countries with peacebuilding, political dialogue, human rights, electoral support, and coordinating humanitarian/development aid, serving as a critical bridge for stability and recovery after conflict, and frequently focussing on long-term, sustainable solutions. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
— UNAMA (Afghanistan): Founded in 2002, UNAMA is the international community’s voice for lasting peace, human rights, gender equality, and humanitarian coordination. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
— UNAMI (Iraq): Established in 2003, it promotes Iraqi sovereignty, judicial reform, electoral procedures, and regional engagement.
— UNAMI has been instrumental in providing electoral aid to Iraq, assisting with the implementation of many rounds of municipal and national elections. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
India pledged to provide $450 million in humanitarian aid for the reconstruction in the wake of destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah for which country?
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar calls on Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo on Tuesday. (ANI)
— Jaishankar, who is on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka as PM Narendra Modi’s Special Envoy, pledged $450 million in humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka to deal with the aftermath of the cyclone. Dissanayake called the relief package “a new chapter in Indo-Sri Lanka relations”. The package comprises $100 million in grant and $350 million in concessional credit lines.
— India has pledged a reconstruction package of $450 million as part of India’s First Responder activity under Operation Sagar Bandhu.
India has signed a collaboration agreement with which country for the transfer of the SIGMA 30N Digital Ring Laser Gyro Inertial Navigation System?
The agreement was built on an internal agreement signed between the two sides in January 2024. (Image source: @iol_pro/X)
— According to a Safran statement, SIGMA 30 is designed to optimise operational deployment of artillery units and their intelligence systems. It gives combat platforms an autonomous engagement capability, even when there are no GPS signals.
Israel became the first United Nations (UN) member state to officially recognise the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state. The Republic of Somaliland is located in: — According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli recognition of Somaliland is in the spirit of the Abraham Accords, signed at the initiative of US President Donald Trump.
— Somaliland, also known as the Republic of Somaliland, is a self-declared republic in the Horn of Africa, which is internationally recognised as part of Somalia.
— Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in May 1991 following the Somali Civil War and has remained de-facto independent ever since.
Which of the following countries is holding its first phase of election under military rule in 5 years?
— Voting took place at schools, government offices and religious buildings in Yangon, Naypyitaw and other locations. The army removed the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, after her party won the 2020 election but was prevented from forming a new government.
— Suu Kyi, now 80, is not taking part. She is serving a 27-year prison sentence on charges widely seen as political. Her party, the National League for Democracy, was dissolved in 2023 after refusing to register under new rules set by the military.
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