Colombia chooses President amid surge in guerrilla violence
Colombia's presidential election on May 31, 2026, is a critical juncture for the country, with voters deciding between continuing peace talks with armed groups and drug traffickers (advocated by left-wing candidate Ivan Cepeda) or adopting a hard-right military crackdown (proposed by Abelardo de la Espriella). The election serves as a referendum on outgoing President Gustavo Petro's "total peace" initiative, which critics argue inadvertently strengthened criminal organizations. The campaign was marred by violence, and the new president will face the challenge of addressing widespread guerrilla activity, drug trafficking, and illegal mining, with significant implications for regional stability and international relations.
Syllabus mapping
Prelims takeaways
- Colombia's political spectrum Left-wing (Ivan Cepeda, Gustavo Petro) vs. Hard-right (Abelardo de la Espriella, Paloma Valencia).
- Key issues in Colombia Guerrilla violence, drug trafficking (Colombia is the world's largest cocaine producer), illegal mining.
- Gustavo Petro's "total peace" initiative aimed at negotiating with armed groups.
- US involvement in Colombian politics, including sanctions and White House visits.
- Comparisons with other Latin American leaders like Nayib Bukele (El Salvador) and Javier Milei (Argentina) for their political styles.
- Indigenous communities, such as the Wayuu, are a significant demographic in Colombia.
Elimination traps
- Confusing internal Colombian political dynamics with India's governance challenges.
- Misinterpreting the success or failure of the "total peace" initiative without considering the nuances presented.
- Overlooking the international dimensions of drug trafficking and internal conflict, focusing only on domestic politics.
Static concepts
- Presidential election systems (runoff)
- Political ideologies (left-wing, hard-right, conservative)
- Guerrilla warfare / Insurgency
- Drug trafficking (cocaine production)
- Peace processes / Negotiations
- Military crackdowns
- Social policies (land reform, minimum wage, education, environment, social justice, human rights)
- Indigenous rights
- International sanctions
Probable question areas
- Geopolitical significance of Colombia (drug trade, internal conflict, regional stability).
- Comparative analysis of political trends and leadership styles in Latin America.
- Challenges of peace processes and conflict resolution in regions affected by insurgency and drug trafficking.
- Impact of drug trafficking on national governance and international relations.
UPSC concepts in this story
Durable syllabus ideas for revision — not article memory.
Previous year Prelims questions on overlapping themes and topics.
The term "two-state solution" is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of -
Explanation
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 pairs:
Country - Important reason for being in the news recently
1. Chad – Setting up of permanent military base by China.
2. Guinea – Suspension of Constitution and Government by military
3. Lebanon – Severe and prolonged economic depression
4. Tunisia – Suspension of Parliament by President
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
Explanation
Pair 1 is incorrectly matched. China has not established any permanent military base in Chad. Pair 2 is correctly matched. Guinean special forces staged a coup, captured President Alpha Conde, replaced governors with the military, and dissolved the constitution and National Assembly. Pair 3 is correctly matched. Lebanon has been experiencing a severe and prolonged economic depression since 2019, driven by political instability, inadequate reforms, and systemic corruption. The economic crisis has affected approximately 74% of the population. Pair 4 is correctly matched. Tunisian President Kais Saied dissolved the suspended parliament after lawmakers held an online meeting and voted to repeal presidential decrees. He called it a failed coup attempt.
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?
Explanation
* 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.
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?
Explanation
* 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.
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 ?
Explanation
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.
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 ?
Explanation
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.
Community sometimes mentioned in the news In the affairs of
1. Kurd: Bangladesh
2. Madhesi: Nepal
3. Rohingya: Myanmar
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Explanation
1. Kurd - Bangladesh (Incorrect): Kurds are a Muslim ethnic group with a significant population in southeastern Turkey, northern Iraq, northwestern Iran, and northern Syria. They are not a major community in Bangladesh. 2. Madhesi - Nepal (Correct): Madhesis are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group inhabiting the Terai plains of southern Nepal. They are a politically and socially aware community that has sometimes advocated for greater rights and representation within Nepal. 3. Rohingya - Myanmar (Correct): Rohingya are a Muslim ethnic group facing persecution in Myanmar. They are often mentioned in the news due to human rights concerns and the ongoing Rohingya genocide. Hence, option C is the correct answer.
Which of the following is not a member of ‘Gulf Cooperation Council’?
Explanation
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.
Explanation
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.
Recently, a series of uprisings of people referred to as ‘Arab Spring’ originally started from
Explanation
* The Arab Spring uprisings originally started in Tunisia. * In December 2010, a young Tunisian street vendor named Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire in protest of police harassment. This act of desperation sparked widespread demonstrations throughout Tunisia, demanding an end to corruption, unemployment, and political repression. * The success of the Tunisian revolution, which eventually led to the overthrow of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, inspired similar protests across the Arab world, becoming known as the Arab Spring.
Previous year Mains questions mapped to overlapping GS syllabus topics.
"The reform process in the United Nations remains unresolved, because of the delicate imbalance of East and West and entanglement of the USA vs. Russo-Chinese alliance." Examine and critically evaluate the East-West policy confrontations in this regard.
"Energy security constitutes the dominant kingpin of India's foreign policy, and is linked with India's overarching influence in Middle Eastern countries." How would you integrate energy security with India's foreign policy trajectories in the coming years?
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has to address the challenges faced by children in the digital era. Examine the existing policies and suggest measures the Commission can initiate to tackle the issue.
"In contemporary development models, decision-making and problem-solving responsibilities are not located close to the source of information and execution defeating the objectives of development." Critically evaluate.
Examine the evolving pattern of Centre-State financial relations in the context of planned development in India. How far have the recent reforms impacted the fiscal federalism in India?
Mahatma Jotirao Phule’s writings and efforts of social reforms touched issues of almost all subaltern classes. Discuss.