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International relations & current affairs

Prelims · International relations & current affairs · 73 questions

International organisations & groupings

Every UPSC Prelims question on this topic, 2016–2026, newest first. Tap an option to check yourself; the answer and explanation open below it.

International organisations & groupings questions per year: 2016: 10, 2017: 4, 2018: 3, 2019: 2, 2020: 2, 2021: 1, 2022: 6, 2023: 5, 2024: 3, 2025: 5, 2026: 6 Asked in 11 of 11 years · most in 2016 (10)

UPSC syllabus: “Current events of national and international importance.” See the full syllabus →

Prelims 2019 · Q54

Medium

Consider the following statements:

  1. 1.The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) has a 'Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air'.
  2. 2.The UNCAC is the ever-first legally binding global anti-corruption instrument.
  3. 3.A highlight of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) is the inclusion of a specific chapter aimed at returning assets to their rightful owners from whom they had been taken illicitly.
  4. 4.The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is mandated by its member States to assist in the implementation of both UNCAC and UNTOC.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Answer & explanation

Answer: (c) 2 and 4 only

Statements 2 and 4 are correct. UNCAC (in force since December 2005) is the first legally binding global anti-corruption instrument, and UNODC is mandated to help States implement both UNCAC and UNTOC. The migrants-smuggling Protocol belongs to UNTOC, and the chapter on returning assets belongs to UNCAC, so statements 1 and 3 have them the wrong way round.

  • ✗ 1. The migrant-smuggling Protocol (covering land, sea and air routes) is one of the three Protocols supplementing UNTOC, not UNCAC.
  • ✓ 2. UNODC describes UNCAC, in force since December 2005, as the ever-first binding global anti-corruption instrument.
  • ✗ 3. The asset-return chapter, Chapter V (asset recovery), is a feature of UNCAC. UNTOC has no such chapter.
  • ✓ 4. UNODC is mandated by its Member States to assist in the implementation of both Conventions.

Remember · UNCAC (2003): first binding global anti-corruption treaty, with an asset-recovery chapter. UNTOC (2000): three Protocols, including migrant smuggling.

Sources

  • India ratifies two UN Conventions on organized crime and corruption, UNODC South Asia (May 2011) ↗ · reference work “The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), which entered into force in December 2005, is the ever-first binding global anti-corruption instrument. … The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is mandated by its Member States to assist in the implementation of both Conventions”
  • United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, UNODC ↗ · reference work “UNTOC is supported by three supplementary Protocols that address specific forms of transnational organized crime. … Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air This Protocol establishes a common definition of migrant smuggling and seeks to prevent and combat it”
  • Asset recovery, UNCAC, UNODC ↗ · reference work “Asset recovery is the process by which the proceeds of corruption are recovered and, when they were transferred abroad, returned to the country from which they had been taken or to their rightful owners.”

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2019, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

Prelims 2019 · Q71

Easy

With reference to Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), consider the following statements:

  1. 1.AIIB has more than 80 member nations.
  2. 2.India is the largest shareholder in AIIB.
  3. 3.AIIB does not have any members from outside Asia.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Answer & explanation

Answer: (a) 1 only

Only statement 1 is correct. AIIB already had 84 members by the end of 2017, so it had more than 80 members. India is the second-largest shareholder after China, and AIIB has many non-Asian (non-regional) members.

  • ✓ 1. AIIB approved 27 new members in 2017, bringing the total to 84. It has kept growing and now has 111 approved members.
  • ✗ 2. China is the largest shareholder, with more than 25 per cent of the voting power. India is the second-largest shareholder, followed by Russia.
  • ✗ 3. AIIB has both regional (Asian) and non-regional members. Of the 84 members at the end of 2017, 48 were regional and 36 non-regional, so many members are from outside Asia.

Remember · AIIB (headquarters Beijing, operational since 2016) has regional and non-regional members; China is the largest shareholder and India the second-largest.

Sources

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2019, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

Prelims 2019 · Q88

Easy

Which of the following adopted a law on data protection and privacy for its citizens known as 'General Data Protection Regulation' in April 2016 and started implementation of it from 25th May, 2018?

Answer & explanation

Answer: (c) The European Union

The European Union adopted the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Regulation (EU) 2016/679, on 27 April 2016, and it has applied since 25 May 2018. It is an EU-wide law, so it is not a law of Australia, Canada or the USA.

  • ✓ (c) The European Parliament and the Council of the EU adopted Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on 27 April 2016. It entered into force on 24 May 2016 and has applied since 25 May 2018.
  • ✗ (a) Australia is not the source of the GDPR; the regulation is EU law.
  • ✗ (b) Canada did not adopt the GDPR; the regulation is EU law.
  • ✗ (d) The USA did not adopt the GDPR; the regulation is EU law.

Remember · GDPR = EU Regulation 2016/679: adopted 27 April 2016, in force 24 May 2016, applicable from 25 May 2018.

Sources

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2019, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

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