International Law
International Relations
- PYQs8
- Articles1
Background
UPSC examines the principles, evolution, challenges, and contemporary relevance of international law, particularly its role in global governance, conflict resolution, and the maintenance of a rules-based international order. Understanding its limitations and the impact of power politics is crucial for GS2.
International law is a system of rules, principles, and norms that govern the relations between states and other international actors. It aims to regulate state conduct, promote peace and stability, and address global challenges through a shared framework of expectations, forming the basis of the 'rules-based international order'.
Facts & tables
- Definition
- A system of rules and norms governing relations between states and international actors.
- Pillars
- UN Charter (prohibition of force, sovereignty), UNCLOS (maritime law), Geneva Conventions (IHL), Human Rights Covenants.
- Enforcement
- Relies on consent, reciprocity, and collective mechanisms (e.g., UN Security Council, ICJ, ICC).
- Current Challenge
- Erosion of credibility due to widespread violations by powerful states, leading to impunity and weakening of the rules-based order.
| Branch | Purpose/Key Instruments |
|---|---|
| Jus ad bellum (Use of Force) | Regulates when states can use force; UN Charter (Art. 2(4)) |
| Jus in bello (IHL) | Regulates conduct during armed conflict; Geneva Conventions |
| Law of the Sea | Governs maritime activities; UNCLOS |
| Human Rights Law | Protects individual rights; ICCPR, ICESCR |
| Environmental Law | Addresses global environmental issues; Paris Agreement |
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | International Relations |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| United Nations Security Council | Enforces/paralysed |
| International Criminal Court | Adjudicates/limited jurisdiction |
| Permanent Court of Arbitration | Adjudicates/rulings disregarded |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
Prelims angle: Factual recall
- International law is a system of rules governing state relations, aiming for peace and stability.
- Key pillars include the UN Charter (prohibition of force, sovereignty) and UNCLOS (maritime law).
- Current challenges: widespread violations, impunity, paralysis of enforcement bodies (UNSC, ICC).
- Erosion of the rules-based order leads to increased conflicts and global instability.
- Reaffirming its value requires strengthening multilateral institutions and accountability.
Treaty = agreement between states; body = institution.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2023 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2022 | Conceptual understanding, Statement-based questions |
| 2022 | Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2022 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2018 | Factual recall, Terminology-based question |
| 2017 | Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2016 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
Timeline
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International Relations
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2016
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2017
Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2018
Factual recall, Terminology-based question
-
Prelims 2022
Conceptual understanding, Statement-based questions
-
Prelims 2022
Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2022
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2023
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2024
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
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International law, ‘optional’ for powerful states
International law, the framework for global order, is facing significant erosion. Powerful states' violations of core principles (e.g., use of force, maritime law, human rights) with impunity, coupled with the paralysis of enforcement bodies, threaten the rules-based system, leading to increased instability and a return to power-based outcomes.
See also
Dashed boxes: related topics without a notes page yet. Tap a solid box to open notes.
Past papers
2016–2024 · 8 questions
In the news
International law, ‘optional’ for powerful states
International law, the framework for global order, is facing significant erosion. Powerful states' violations of core principles (e.g., use of force, maritime law, human rights) with impunity, coupled with the paralysis of enforcement bodies, threaten the rules-based system, leading to increased instability and a return to power-based outcomes.
Try these PYQs
With reference to the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea, consider the following statements:
1. A coastal state has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles, measured from baseline determined in accordance with the convention.
2. Ships of all states, whether coastal or land-locked, enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea.
3. The Exclusive Economic Zone shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea in measure.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Statement 1 is correct: UNCLOS allows coastal states to define the breadth of their territorial sea up to a limit of 12 nautical miles, measured from a baseline established according to the Convention. Statement 2 is correct: UNCLOS guarantees the right of innocent passage for ships of all states, including coastal and land-locked nations, through the territorial sea of another state. Innocent passage refers to non-threatening travel that doesn't harm the coastal state's security or interests. Statement 3 is correct: UNCLOS sets the limit of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) at 200 nautical miles from the baseline used to measure the territorial sea. The EEZ grants the coastal state exclusive rights to explore, exploit, conserve and manage resources (living and non-living) within the zone. Hence, all three statements about the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) are correct.
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I :Israel has established diplomatic relations with some Arab States.
Statement-II :The 'Arab Peace Initiative' Mediated by Saudi Arabia was signed by Israel and Arab League.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
* Statement I is correct: Several Arab states, including Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, have established diplomatic relations with Israel. * Statement II is incorrect: The Arab Peace Initiative, mediated by Saudi Arabia, was endorsed by the Arab League but not signed by Israel. It outlines a path towards peace in exchange for Israeli concessions, but Israel has not formally accepted all its terms.
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.
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._
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.
Show 3 more PYQs
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.
Which one of the following statements best reflects the issue which Senkaku Islands, sometimes mentioned in the news?
Senkaku Islands are a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea. Japan and China claim the uninhabited islands, known as the Senkaku in Japan and Tiaoyu in China, as their own, but Japan has administered them since 1972.
Consider the following statements regarding the India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS):
1. The summit held in 2015 marked the third edition of the IAFS.
2. The IAFS mechanism was instituted under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1951.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is correct: The Third India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-III) was hosted in New Delhi in October 2015. The first and second summits were held in 2008 (New Delhi) and 2011 (Addis Ababa), respectively, making the 2015 event the third edition. Statement 2 is incorrect: The India-Africa Forum Summit was institutionalized in 2008 to serve as the official platform for African-Indian relations. While Jawaharlal Nehru was a pioneer of Afro-Asian solidarity (e.g., the Asian Relations Conference of 1947), the IAFS is a distinct 21st-century initiative and was not established in 1951.