International organisations & groupings

Answer: (c) Only three

UNOPS ran the S3i initiative to invest directly in infrastructure in developing countries, and named three areas: affordable housing, renewable energy and health. Mass rapid transport was not one of them.

• ✓ 1. Affordable housing was a core S3i area. The independent review of S3i lists social-housing loans for projects in Kenya, Ghana, India and Antigua and Barbuda.
• ✗ 2. Mass rapid transport was not among S3i's declared investment areas.
• ✓ 3. Health was one of the three areas UNOPS itself named for S3i, alongside affordable housing and renewable energy.
• ✓ 4. Renewable energy was the third area. S3i's first investment, in August 2018, went to a wind project in Mexico.

Remember · UNOPS S3i invested in affordable housing, renewable energy and health infrastructure. Mass rapid transport was not among its areas.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2023, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink · Report an error

Answer: (c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

The US-EU Trade and Technology Council is real: it was set up in 2021 and first met in Pittsburgh on 29 September 2021. Its stated aims are to coordinate approaches on technology, economic and trade issues and to deepen transatlantic economic ties, not to bring technological progress under the two powers' control.

• ✓ Statement-I The Trade and Technology Council (TTC) was launched by the United States and the European Union in 2021: the European Commission says it was set up at the EU-US Summit in Brussels on 15 June 2021, and its first ministerial meeting took place in Pittsburgh on 29 September 2021.
• ✗ Statement-II The TTC is a forum where the two sides align their approaches on trade, economic and technology questions and strengthen transatlantic commerce, resting on shared democratic values. Neither side says it is putting technological progress or productivity under its control.

Remember · US-EU Trade and Technology Council (2021): a coordination forum on technology, economic and trade issues built on shared democratic values; first met in Pittsburgh on 29 September 2021.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2023, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 1 Oct 2026 (how we verify). Permalink · Report an error

Answer: (a) Only one

Only statement 1 is correct. The Stability and Growth Pact is a set of fiscal rules that keeps member states' budget deficits (3% of GDP) and public debt (60% of GDP) within limits; it says nothing about sharing infrastructure or technology.

• ✓ 1. The Pact is meant to ensure sound public finances and coordinated fiscal policies, and compliance is checked against reference values of 3% of GDP for the government deficit and 60% for gross debt.
• ✗ 2. The Pact is a budgetary-discipline framework. It does not oblige countries to pool or share infrastructure facilities.
• ✗ 3. Technology sharing is not part of the Pact, which deals only with fiscal policy.

Remember · EU Stability and Growth Pact: fiscal rules limiting deficits (3% of GDP) and debt (60% of GDP), enforced through the excessive deficit procedure.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2023, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink · Report an error

Answer: (d) None

None of the statements is correct. The UN General Assembly endorsed the Global Compact by a vote, not unanimously; it is non-binding; and it deals with international migration, not internal migration or internally displaced people.

• ✗ 1. The General Assembly endorsed the GCM in December 2018 with 152 votes in favour, 12 abstentions and 5 against (Czech Republic, Hungary, Israel, Poland, United States); another 24 members did not vote. So not all UN members adopted it.
• ✗ 2. The Compact describes itself as a non-legally binding, cooperative framework.
• ✗ 3. The Compact is about international migration in all its dimensions. It refers to migrants moving across borders and does not take up internal migration or internally displaced persons.

Remember · GCM (Marrakech, Dec 2018; UNGA vote 152-5-12): the first UN-negotiated global framework on international migration, non-legally binding, and it does not cover internal displacement.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2023, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink · Report an error

Answer: (c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

Statement-I is correct: Israel has normalised relations with several Arab States, including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in 2020. Statement-II is wrong: the Arab Peace Initiative was a Saudi proposal adopted by the Arab League in 2002, and Israel never signed it.

• ✓ Statement-I In September 2020 Israel signed the Abraham Accords with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, establishing normal relations. Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1994) had earlier made peace with Israel.
• ✗ Statement-II The Arab League summit in Beirut (27-28 March 2002) adopted the initiative presented by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah. It asks Israel to withdraw from Arab territories occupied since 1967 and offers normal relations from Arab States in return. Israel is the party addressed, not a signatory.

Remember · Arab Peace Initiative (2002): Saudi proposal adopted by the Arab League at Beirut; land for peace and normal relations. Israel did not sign. Abraham Accords (2020): Israel with UAE and Bahrain.

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Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2

Both statements are correct. The G20 began in 1999, after the Asian financial crisis, as a forum of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, and India made digital public infrastructure one of the three priority areas of its 2023 G20 Presidency.

• ✓ 1. The G20 was founded in 1999 after the Asian financial crisis as a meeting place for finance ministers and central bank governors. It was later raised to the level of heads of state or government.
• ✓ 2. During India's 2023 Presidency the G20 Digital Economy Working Group named three priority areas: digital public infrastructure, security in the digital economy and digital skilling.

Remember · G20: founded 1999 for finance ministers and central bank governors, upgraded to a leaders' summit later. India's 2023 presidency put digital public infrastructure on its agenda.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2023, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink · Report an error