International Humanitarian Law (IHL)
International Relations
- PYQs8
- Articles1
Background
UPSC frequently examines international laws, conventions, and their violations in the context of global conflicts and humanitarian crises. Understanding IHL is crucial for analyzing state conduct, accountability, and the ethical dimensions of warfare.
International Humanitarian Law (IHL), also known as the laws of armed conflict, is a set of rules that seek to limit the effects of armed conflict for humanitarian reasons. It protects persons who are not or are no longer participating in hostilities and restricts the means and methods of warfare, aiming to strike a balance between military necessity and humanitarian considerations.
Facts & tables
- Prohibited Tactics
- Prohibits 'scorched-earth policy' if it serves no military necessity and causes widespread, long-term, and severe damage to the natural environment.
- Protection of Civilians
- Prohibits collective punishment, which targets individuals or groups for acts they did not commit.
- Key Treaties
- Key treaties include the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols.
- Applicability
- Applies in situations of armed conflict, whether international or non-international.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Geopolitics & International Conflicts |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) | Promotes and monitors |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Factual recall
Prelims angle: Terminology-based question
- Governs conduct during armed conflict.
- Protects civilians and those no longer fighting.
- Prohibits collective punishment and certain destructive tactics.
- Geneva Conventions are foundational.
- Aims to balance military necessity with humanity.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Factual recall, Conceptual understanding |
| 2023 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2022 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2022 | Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2018 | Conceptual understanding, Policy measures |
| 2018 | Factual recall, Terminology-based question |
| 2015 | Factual recall, Terminology-based question |
| 2015 | Factual recall, Terminology-based question |
Timeline
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Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2015
Factual recall, Terminology-based question
-
Prelims 2015
Factual recall, Terminology-based question
-
Prelims 2018
Conceptual understanding, Policy measures
-
Prelims 2018
Factual recall, Terminology-based question
-
Prelims 2022
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2022
Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2023
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2025
Factual recall, Conceptual understanding
-
Lebanon PM denounces Israeli campaign as fresh strikes hit south
IHL sets rules for armed conflict to protect non-combatants and limit suffering, prohibiting acts like collective punishment and indiscriminate 'scorched earth' tactics.
See also
No related topics linked yet.
Past papers
2015–2025 · 8 questions
In the news
Lebanon PM denounces Israeli campaign as fresh strikes hit south
IHL sets rules for armed conflict to protect non-combatants and limit suffering, prohibiting acts like collective punishment and indiscriminate 'scorched earth' tactics.
Try these PYQs
The area known as ‘Golan Heights’ sometimes appears in the news in the context of the events related to:
The correct answer is the Middle East. The Golan Heights is a hilly, 1,200 sq-km rocky plateau in south-western Syria in the Middle East region overlooking Lebanon, Syria, and the Jordan Valley. The Golan was Syrian territory until 1967 when Israel occupied it in the closing stages of the Six-Day War.
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 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.
The term "two-state solution" is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of -
The Two-State Solution is used in the context of the Israel-Palestine issue. It envisages an independent State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel west of the Jordan River.
The ‘Fortaleza Declaration’ recently in the news, is related to the affairs of:
The Fortaleza Declaration is related to the affairs of the BRICS group of countries. BRICS stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The Fortaleza Declaration was signed during the Sixth BRICS Summit held in Fortaleza, Brazil, in July 2014.
Show 3 more PYQs
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.
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.
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.