Non-State Actors in International Relations
International Relations
- PYQs12
- Articles2
Background
UPSC examines the role of non-state actors in international relations, their impact on state sovereignty, regional security, and the complexities they introduce into peace processes and international law, especially in conflict zones.
Non-state actors (NSAs) are organizations or individuals not formally associated with a government but significantly influence international affairs. They include NGOs, multinational corporations, and armed groups like Hezbollah, challenging traditional state-centric diplomacy and impacting global security and governance.
Facts & tables
- Definition
- Entities not directly controlled by a state but with international influence.
- Example
- Hezbollah, an armed non-state actor, is a key party in the Israel-Lebanon conflict.
- Impact on Diplomacy
- Requires states to engage with non-state entities in peace negotiations.
- Influence
- Can shape state policies, regional stability, and international security dynamics.
- Types
- Include NGOs, MNCs, terrorist groups, liberation movements, and transnational criminal organizations.
- Impact
- Can challenge state authority, influence policy, cause regional instability, and complicate peace processes.
- Hezbollah
- A prominent example of a militant non-state actor with significant political and military influence in Lebanon and the broader Middle East.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | International Relations |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Hezbollah | Armed non-state actor, party to conflict and negotiations |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Factual recall
Prelims angle: Terminology-based question
- Entities not controlled by states.
- Significant influence on global affairs.
- Hezbollah is a prominent example.
- Complicate traditional state-to-state diplomacy.
- Impact regional stability and security.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2026 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2024 | Multi-statement analysis, Cause and effect relationships |
| 2023 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2023 | Factual recall, Cause and effect relationships |
| 2023 | Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding |
| 2022 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2022 | Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2018 | Factual recall, Terminology-based question |
| 2017 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2016 | Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2015 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
Timeline
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International Relations
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2015
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2016
Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2017
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2018
Factual recall, Terminology-based question
-
Prelims 2022
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2022
Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2023
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2023
Factual recall, Cause and effect relationships
-
Prelims 2023
Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2024
Multi-statement analysis, Cause and effect relationships
-
Prelims 2026
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2026
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
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Lebanon's U.S. Embassy says Hezbollah accepted U.S. proposal on 'mutual cessation of attacks'
Non-state actors are influential entities outside government control, such as armed groups like Hezbollah, that play a critical role in international relations, often complicating traditional diplomacy and impacting global security.
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What is Israel-Lebanon Framework Agreement? Everything to know
Non-state actors are entities independent of state control that significantly influence international affairs. Hezbollah, a militant non-state actor, is central to the Israel-Lebanon conflict, complicating peace efforts due to its non-participation in negotiations and stance on disarmament.
See also
Past papers
2015–2026 · 12 questions
In the news
What is Israel-Lebanon Framework Agreement? Everything to know
Non-state actors are entities independent of state control that significantly influence international affairs. Hezbollah, a militant non-state actor, is central to the Israel-Lebanon conflict, complicating peace efforts due to its non-participation in negotiations and stance on disarmament.
Lebanon's U.S. Embassy says Hezbollah accepted U.S. proposal on 'mutual cessation of attacks'
Non-state actors are influential entities outside government control, such as armed groups like Hezbollah, that play a critical role in international relations, often complicating traditional diplomacy and impacting global security.
Try these PYQs
The Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany visited India in January, 2026. Which of the following is/are **not** correct in terms of outcomes of this visit ?
1. Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the All India Institute of Ayurveda and the University of Hamburg
2. Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Youth Hockey Development between Hockey India and the German Hockey Federation
3. Establishment of a bilateral dialogue mechanism on the Indo-Pacific
4. Opening of an Honorary Consul of Germany in Lucknow
Select the answer using the code given below :
Statement 1 is Incorrect: During the visit, an MoU was signed to strengthen cooperation in traditional medicine between Gujarat Ayurveda University and German institutions. (An earlier MoU in late 2025 was agreed upon between the All India Institute of Ayurveda and Charité Universitätsmedizin in Berlin, not the University of Hamburg). Statement 2 is Correct: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Youth Hockey Development was officially signed between Hockey India and the German Hockey Federation. Statement 3 is Correct: The two nations announced the establishment of a new bilateral dialogue mechanism on the Indo-Pacific, alongside a Track 1.5 Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue. Statement 4 is Incorrect: Following the Chancellor's focus on Gujarat, Germany announced the appointment of an Honorary Consul in Ahmedabad to foster closer cooperation in the western region, rather than in Lucknow. Since the question asks for the statements that are not correct, statements 1 and 4 fit the criteria. Therefore, the correct option is B.
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.
Which of the following is not a member of ‘Gulf Cooperation Council’?
The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, originally (and still colloquially) known as the Gulf Cooperation Council, is a regional intergovernmental political and economic union consisting of all Arab states of the Persian Gulf except Iran. Its member states are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The Charter of the Gulf Cooperation Council was signed on 25 May 1981, formally establishing the institution. Hence, option A is the correct answer.
In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not participant/ participants?
1. Bangladesh
2. Cambodia
3. China
4. Myanmar
5. Thailand
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
All 6 participants of the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation are member countries bordering the basins of the Mekong and Ganga rivers, aiming to collaborate on various initiatives. These countries are: - India - Cambodia - Laos - Myanmar - Thailand - Vietnam Hence, China & Bangladesh are not part of the Mekong-Ganga Corporation.
Which one of the following pairs is **not** correctly matched ?
(Indian Army Corps) : (Headquarters)
Option A is correctly matched: The 3 Corps (Spear Corps) is headquartered at Rangapahar Military Station in Dimapur, Nagaland. It operates under the Eastern Command and handles counter-insurgency and border defense in the Northeast. Option B is correctly matched: The 4 Corps (Gajraj Corps) is headquartered in Tezpur, Assam. It operates under the Eastern Command and is primarily responsible for defending the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh. Option C is correctly matched: The 14 Corps (Fire and Fury Corps) is headquartered in Leh, Ladakh. It operates under the Northern Command and guards the Kargil-Leh frontiers with China and Pakistan, as well as the Siachen Glacier. Option D is incorrectly matched: The 33 Corps (Trishakti Corps) is headquartered in Sukna (near Siliguri), West Bengal, and not in Srinagar. It operates under the Eastern Command and is responsible for the Sikkim sector and the strategically vital Siliguri Corridor. The Indian Army corps headquartered in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, is the 15 Corps (Chinar Corps). Therefore, the correct option is D.
Show 7 more PYQs
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.
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.
Consider the following in respect of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS):
1. Inaugural IONS was held in India in 2015 under the chairmanship of the Indian Navy.
2. IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among the navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect. The inaugural IONS was held in February 2008 in New Delhi, India. The Indian Navy served as the Chair for the first two years (2008-2010). Statement 2 is correct. IONS is indeed a voluntary initiative that aims to promote maritime cooperation among the navies of countries bordering the Indian Ocean. It provides a platform for discussions on regional maritime security issues and fosters friendly relationships between participating nations.
Consider the following statements :
Statement-I : There is instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region.
Statement-II: There have been military takeovers/coups d'état in several countries of the Sahel region in the recent past.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
* Statement-I: There is instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region. This statement is correct as the Sahel region has been experiencing significant instability and security challenges, including terrorism, armed conflict, and humanitarian crises. * Statement-II: There have been military takeovers/coups d'état in several countries of the Sahel region in the recent past. This statement is also correct. Several countries in the Sahel region, such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Chad, have experienced military coups in recent years. * Statement-II explains Statement-I because the military takeovers and coups contribute to the instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region. The political instability resulting from these coups disrupts governance, exacerbates conflict, and undermines efforts to address security and development challenges in the region.
Which one of the following countries has been suffering from decades of civil strife and food shortages and was in news in the recent past for its very severe famine?
* Somalia has been experiencing civil war and instability since the early 1990s. This ongoing conflict has severely disrupted agricultural production, trade, and basic services, leading to food insecurity. * Somalia is one of the countries most vulnerable to food insecurity due to a combination of factors like drought, conflict, and poverty. * Somalia has faced several severe famines in recent decades, with the most recent one occurring in 2020-2021. The UN warned it was on the brink of "famine of unparalleled proportions" due to a perfect storm of drought, locust infestations, and economic hardship.
Consider the following statements :
Statement-I: Recently, the United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU) have launched the 'Trade and Technology Council'
Statement-II: The USA and the EU claim that through this they are trying to begin technological progress and physical productivity under their control.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statement?
* Statement 1 is correct: Trade and Technology Council was launched by the the United States of America and the European Union during the EU-US Summit on 15 June 2021 in Brussels. * Statement 2 is incorrect: Trade and Technology council, the USA and EU does not aim to bring technological progress and physical productivity under their control. Rather the initiative intends to promote pooling of digital resources such as AI models and computing power, and make them available to partner countries to address challenges in areas such as climate change and extreme weather, healthcare or smart agriculture.
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.