Consider the following pairs:
| Country | Reason for being in the news | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Argentina | Worst economic crisis |
| 2. | Sudan | War between the country's regular army and paramilitary forces |
| 3. | Turkey | Rescinded its membership of NATO |
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) Only two pairs
Pairs 1 and 2 are correct. Argentina was in a deep economic crisis in 2023-24, and Sudan has been at war since April 2023 between its army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Turkey did not leave NATO: it has been a member since 1952 and is on NATO's list of 32 members in 2024.
- ✓ 1. Argentina's economy was in deep crisis around 2023-24. The IMF describes elevated and rising inflation, depleted reserves and high poverty as the inheritance of the new government, and an economy pushed to the brink of a full-blown balance of payments crisis.
- ✓ 2. Since 15 April 2023 the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have been fighting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a conflict that has displaced millions.
- ✗ 3. Turkey (Türkiye) joined NATO on 18 February 1952 and remained a member. NATO's page of member countries, updated 11 March 2024, lists Türkiye among its 32 members.
Remember · Sudan: army (SAF) versus paramilitary RSF since April 2023. Argentina: deep economic crisis in 2023-24. Turkey stayed in NATO, a member since 1952.
Sources
- IMF Country Report No. 24/37, Argentina (2024) ↗ “Inconsistent policies and mismanagement of the drought pushed the Argentine economy to the brink of a full-blown balance of payments crisis.”
- Sudan emergency, UNHCR ↗ · reference work “Deadly armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan and the resumption of inter-communal violence in the Darfur region has forced millions of people from their homes.”
- NATO member countries (updated 11 March 2024), nato.int ↗ “Three years after the signing of the Washington Treaty, on 18 February 1952, Greece and Türkiye joined NATO.”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2024, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·