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International Humanitarian Law and International Justice Mechanisms

International Relations

  • PYQs8
  • Articles1
I

Background

Understanding international legal frameworks and institutions is crucial for analyzing global governance, human rights issues, and the accountability of states and individuals in armed conflicts. India's stance on these matters reflects its commitment to a rules-based international order.

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).

II

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.
Static syllabus anchors
Type Reference
Conceptual area International Relations
Institutions & roles
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
III

Prelims angle

Prelims angle: Factual recall

Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis

  • 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.
Body vs treaty — Distinguish between the Genocide Convention (a treaty) and the ICJ/ICC (judicial bodies).

Treaty = agreement between states; body = institution.

High-confidence PYQ links
Year Framing tags
2026 Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
2025 Factual recall, Conceptual understanding
2023 Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
2022 Statement-based questions, Factual recall
2022 Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
2022 Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions
2018 Conceptual understanding, Policy measures
2017 Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions

Timeline

  1. International Relations

    Conceptual area

  2. Prelims 2017

    Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions

  3. Prelims 2018

    Conceptual understanding, Policy measures

  4. Prelims 2022

    Statement-based questions, Factual recall

  5. Prelims 2022

    Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

  6. Prelims 2022

    Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions

  7. Prelims 2023

    Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

  8. Prelims 2025

    Factual recall, Conceptual understanding

  9. Prelims 2026

    Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

  10. 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.

See also

International Humanitarian Law and International Justice Mechanisms
International Law

Past papers

In the news

Try these PYQs

UPSC Prelims 2026 hard International Relations Open full page

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:

UPSC Prelims 2022 medium International Relations Open full page

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 ?

UPSC Prelims 2022 medium International Relations Open full page

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?

UPSC Prelims 2022 medium International Relations Open full page

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?

UPSC Prelims 2025 easy International Relations Open full page

India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect

Show 3 more PYQs
UPSC Prelims 2017 hard International Relations Open full page

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?

UPSC Prelims 2023 medium International Relations Open full page

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 ?

UPSC Prelims 2018 hard International Relations Open full page

In the Indian context, what is the implication of ratifying the 'Additional Protocol' with the `International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'?