International Humanitarian Law and International Justice Mechanisms
International Relations
- PYQs13
- Articles2
Background
Understanding the ICC is crucial for analyzing international justice, human rights, and the evolving landscape of international law. It highlights the challenges of enforcing international norms against sovereign states and powerful individuals, and India's nuanced position on international tribunals.
International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is a set of rules seeking to limit the effects of armed conflict, protecting persons who are not or are no longer participating in hostilities and restricting the means and methods of warfare. Key instruments include the Genocide Convention of 1948, and its enforcement relies on international justice mechanisms like the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Facts & tables
- Genocide Convention (1948)
- Defines genocide and obliges states to prevent and punish it.
- International Court of Justice (ICJ)
- The principal judicial organ of the UN, settling legal disputes between states.
- International Criminal Court (ICC)
- Investigates and tries individuals for the gravest international crimes: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity.
- UN Commission of Inquiry
- The article mentions a UN commission concluding Israeli authorities were committing genocide in Gaza.
- Establishment
- Established by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, adopted in 1998 and entered into force in 2002.
- Principle of Complementarity
- Operates on the principle of complementarity, meaning it acts only when national courts are unwilling or unable to genuinely investigate or prosecute such crimes.
- Jurisdiction
- Jurisdiction extends to individuals, not states, for crimes committed after July 1, 2002.
- Non-Signatories
- The United States, China, India, and Russia are notable non-signatories to the Rome Statute.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | International Law |
| Conceptual area | International Organizations |
| Conceptual area | International Relations |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| International Court of Justice (ICJ) | Adjudicates disputes between states |
| International Criminal Court (ICC) | Prosecutes individuals for international crimes |
| United Nations (UN) | Promotes international law and peace |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
Prelims angle: Institutional roles and functions
- IHL: Rules governing armed conflict, protecting non-combatants.
- Genocide Convention (1948): Defines and prohibits genocide.
- ICJ: UN's principal judicial organ, settles state disputes.
- ICC: Independent court, prosecutes individuals for grave international crimes.
- Role in accountability for war crimes and human rights violations.
Treaty = agreement between states; body = institution.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2026 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2025 | Factual recall, Conceptual understanding |
| 2024 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2024 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2023 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2023 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2022 | Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2022 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2022 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2018 | Conceptual understanding, Policy measures |
| 2017 | Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2015 | Factual recall, Terminology-based question |
Timeline
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International Law
Conceptual area
-
International Organizations
Conceptual area
-
International Relations
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2015
Factual recall, Terminology-based question
-
Prelims 2017
Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2018
Conceptual understanding, Policy measures
-
Prelims 2022
Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2022
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2022
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2023
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2023
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2024
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2024
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2025
Factual recall, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2026
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2026
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
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Sonia Gandhi hits out at Modi government’s ‘stony silence’ on Gaza ‘genocide’
IHL, including the Genocide Convention, aims to regulate armed conflict and protect civilians, with bodies like the ICJ and ICC providing mechanisms for international justice and accountability for war crimes and genocide.
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Zohran Mamdani says NYC can’t arrest Netanyahu but the federal government should
The ICC is a permanent international court prosecuting individuals for grave international crimes, operating under the Rome Statute and the principle of complementarity, facing challenges from non-signatory states.
See also
Past papers
2015–2026 · 12 questions
In the news
Zohran Mamdani says NYC can’t arrest Netanyahu but the federal government should
The ICC is a permanent international court prosecuting individuals for grave international crimes, operating under the Rome Statute and the principle of complementarity, facing challenges from non-signatory states.
Sonia Gandhi hits out at Modi government’s ‘stony silence’ on Gaza ‘genocide’
IHL, including the Genocide Convention, aims to regulate armed conflict and protect civilians, with bodies like the ICJ and ICC providing mechanisms for international justice and accountability for war crimes and genocide.
Try these PYQs
Which of the following international conventions have **not** been ratified by India?
1. Employment Policy Convention
2. Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
3. International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
4. Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War
5. Convention on Reduction of Statelessness
Select the answer using the code given below:
Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (ILO No. 122) is one of the International Labour Organization's governance (priority) conventions. India ratified it on November 17, 1998. Statement 2 is Incorrect: The Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (ILO No. 105) is a fundamental ILO convention. India ratified it on May 18, 2000. Statement 3 is Correct: The International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (1990) is a UN multilateral treaty. India has neither signed nor ratified this convention. Statement 4 is Incorrect: The Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War (1949) (also known as the Fourth Geneva Convention) was ratified by India on November 9, 1950, and implemented domestically via the Geneva Conventions Act, 1960. *(Note: The question setter likely confused this with the 1951 Refugee Convention, which was adopted in Geneva and which India has not ratified).* Statement 5 is Correct: The Convention on Reduction of Statelessness (1961) has not been signed or ratified by India. India is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention, the 1954 Convention on Statelessness, or this 1961 Convention. *Conclusion:* Factually, only conventions 3 and 5 have not been ratified by India. However, among the given options, there is a discrepancy as no option perfectly matches "3 and 5". Since any correct answer must include the unratified conventions 3 and 5, Option D is the only possible choice by elimination.
Consider the following UN organisations/agencies :
1. World Food Programme
2. United Nations Children's Fund
3. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
4. International Labour Organisation
How many of the above has/have been awarded the Nobel Prize twice ?
World Food Programme (WFP) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize once in 2020 for its efforts to combat hunger and prevent its use as a weapon of war and conflict. United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize once in 1965 for its humanitarian work and efforts to enhance solidarity between nations. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize twice (1954 and 1981). The 1954 prize recognized its post-WWII refugee relief efforts, and the 1981 prize honored its ongoing work promoting the fundamental rights of refugees globally. International Labour Organisation (ILO) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize once in 1969 for its role in improving working conditions, promoting social justice, and contributing to global peace. Since only one organisation (UNHCR) out of the four listed has been awarded the Nobel Prize twice, the correct option is A.
With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements:
1. The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-member States.
2. Inter-governmental organisations can seek observer status in the UN General Assembly.
3. Permanent Observers in the UN General Assembly can maintain missions at the UN headquarters.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
Statement 1 is correct. The United Nations General Assembly may grant non-member states, international organizations, and other entities Permanent Observer Status. Statement 2 is correct. The General Assembly decided that observer status would be confined to States and intergovernmental organizations whose activities cover matters of interest to the Assembly. Statement 3 is correct. Permanent Observers may participate in the sessions and workings of the General Assembly and maintain missions at the UN Headquarters.
With reference to the “United Nations Credentials Committee”, consider the following statements:
1. It is a committee set up by the UN Security Council and works under its supervision.
2. It traditionally meets in March, June and September every year.
3. It assesses the credentials of all UN members before submitting a report to the General Assembly for approval.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect. The United Nations Credentials Committee is a committee of the United Nations General Assembly. Statement 2 is incorrect. A Credentials Committee is appointed at the beginning of each regular session of the General Assembly. It consists of nine members, who are appointed by the General Assembly on the proposal of the President. Statement 3 is correct. The Committee reports to the Assembly on the credentials of representatives. The Committee is mandated to examine the credentials of representatives of Member States and to report to the General Assembly thereon (Rule 28 of the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly). The credentials of representatives and the names of members of the delegation of each Member State are submitted to the Secretary-General and are issued either by the Head of the State or Government or by the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Rule 27 of the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly).
Consider the following statements:
1. Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in north -western Kenya.
2. Some people who fled from South Sudan civil war live in Bidibidi.
3. Some people who fled from civil war in Somalia live in Dadaab refugee complex in Kenya.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is Incorrect: Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in northwestern Uganda, not Kenya. Statement 2 is Correct: People fleeing the civil war in South Sudan have been hosted in the Bidibidi settlement. Statement 3 is Correct: The Dadaab refugee complex is located in Kenya and houses refugees, including those who fled the civil war in Somalia. Therefore, the correct statements are 2 and 3 only.
Show 8 more PYQs
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?
* Argentina - Worst economic crisis: Correct. Argentina has been facing a severe economic crisis for a while, marked by high inflation, debt, and poverty. * Sudan - War between the country's regular army and paramilitary forces: Correct. Sudan has been engulfed in a violent conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. * Turkey - Rescinded its membership of NATO: Incorrect. Turkey has not rescinded its membership of NATO. While there have been tensions between Turkey and other NATO members, it remains a member. _Therefore, only two out of the three pairs are correctly matched._
India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect
The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a multimodal transport network aimed at boosting trade between India, Central Asia, Russia, and Europe, using a combination of sea, rail, and road routes via Iran. The corridor connects Mumbai → Bandar Abbas (Iran) → Azerbaijan → Russia → Europe, with access to Central Asia.
Consider the following statements:
1. The Nuclear Security Summits are periodically held under the aegis of the United Nations.
2. The International Panel on Fissile Materials is an organ of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect. The Nuclear Security Summits were not held under the UN. They were a series of international conferences initiated by the United States in 2010, outside of any formal international organisation. The summits brought together world leaders to discuss ways to secure nuclear materials and prevent nuclear proliferation. However, the summits haven't been held since 2016. Statement 2 is incorrect. The International Panel on Fissile Materials (IPFM) is an independent group of arms control and non-proliferation experts. It's not an organ of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). While the IAEA might collaborate with the IPFM on some issues, it's a separate entity.
Consider the following pairs :
Regions : often Reason for being in news
1. North Kivu and Ituri : War between Armenia and Azerbaijan
2. Nagorno-Karabakh : Insurgency in Mozambique
3. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia : Dispute between Israel and Lebanon
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched ?
None of the pairs (1, 2, or 3) are correctly matched. Let's break it down: 1. North Kivu and Ituri: This region in the Democratic Republic of Congo experiences conflict, but is not related to the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. 2. Nagorno-Karabakh: This enclave is disputed between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but the insurgency is happening in Mozambique. 3. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia: These are currently under heavy fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war, not a dispute between Israel and Lebanon.
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?
Statement-I: Incorrect. Venezuela continues to suffer from a severe economic crisis marked by hyperinflation, shortages of basic goods, and political instability. This crisis has led to a massive exodus of Venezuelans seeking better living conditions in neighboring countries and beyond. Statement-II: Correct. Venezuela indeed possesses the world's largest proven oil reserves, surpassing even Saudi Arabia. However, despite this vast resource wealth, economic mismanagement, corruption, and international sanctions have crippled its oil industry and hindered its ability to leverage this asset for economic recovery.
Amnesty International is -
Amnesty International is a non-governmental organization focused on human rights. The organization says it has more than seven million members and supporters around the world . The stated mission of the organization is to campaign for a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments.
Consider the following pairs : Area of conflict mentioned in news Country where it is located
1. Donbas : Syria
2. Kachin : Ethiopia
3. Tigray : North Yemen
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
* The Donbas is a historical, cultural, and economic region in eastern Ukraine. It has two heavily industrialised regions of Donetsk and Luhansk which were occupied by Russian forces last year. Hence, pair 1 is not correctly matched. * Kachin State is the northernmost state of Myanmar. In 2022, Myanmar military air * strikes reportedly killed dozens of people including civilians at a concert in Kachin State. Hence, pair 2 is not correctly matched. * Tigray is Ethiopia's northernmost region. The region is at the centre of an ongoing civil conflict involving ethno-regional militias, the federal government, and the Eritrean military that has attracted the concern of humanitarian groups and external actors since November 2020. In October 2022, the first formal African Union-led peace talks between an Ethiopian government team and Tigray forces happened in South Africa. Hence, pair 3 is not correctly matched.
In the Indian context, what is the implication of ratifying the 'Additional Protocol' with the `International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'?
India signed the Additional Protocol to the IAEA safeguards agreement on May 15, 2009. An additional protocol to the Safeguards Agreement between the Government of India and the IAEA for the Application of Safeguards to Civilian Nuclear Facilities entered into force on 25 July 2014. Hence option 1 is correct.