Vance says talks with Iranian officials set ’good foundation’ for a deal to end the war

The term "two-state solution" is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of -

1. A. China
2. B. Israel
3. C. Iraq
4. D. Yemen

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?

1. A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement- II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
2. B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement- II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
3. C. Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
4. D. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: Recently, Venezuela has achieved a rapid recovery from its economic crisis and succeeded in preventing its people from fleeing/emigrating to other countries.
Statement-II: Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

1. A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
2. B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
3. C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
4. D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

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?

1. A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
2. B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
3. C. Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
4. D. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

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

1. A. India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran
2. B. India to Central Asia via China
3. C. India to South-East Asia through Bangladesh and Myanmar
4. D. India to Europe through Azerbaijan

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?

1. A. Only one pair
2. B. Only two pairs
3. C. Only three pairs
4. D. All four pairs

Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists :

| List I (UN Peacekeeping Operation) | List II (Period of Operation) |
|---|---|
| A. UNMIL | 1. 2007 - 2010 |
| B. MINURCAT | 2. 2002 - 2005 |
| C. MINUSTAH | 3. 2003 - 2018 |
| D. UNMISET | 4. 2004 - 2017 |

1. A. A: 3, B: 4, C: 1, D: 2
2. B. A: 3, B: 1, C: 4 , D: 2
3. C. A: 2, B: 1, C: 4, D: 3
4. D. A: 2, B: 4, C: 1, D: 3

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?

1. A. 1 only
2. B. 2 only
3. C. Both 1 and 2
4. D. Neither 1 nor 2

With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)’, Consider the following statements:
1. It was established very recently in response to incidents of piracy and accidents of oil spills
2. It is an alliance meant for maritime security only

Which of the following statements given above is/are correct?

1. A. 1 only
2. B. 2 only
3. C. Both 1 and 2
4. D. Neither 1 nor 2

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?

1. A. Only one
2. B. Only two
3. C. All three
4. D. None

"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.

Why is maritime security vital to protect India’s sea trade? Discuss maritime and coastal security challenges and the way forward.

"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?

What are the major challenges to internal security and peace process in the North-Eastern States? Map the various peace accords and agreements initiated by the government in the past decade.

"With the waning of globalization, post-Cold War world is becoming a site of sovereign nationalism." Elucidate.

The Government of India recently stated that Left Wing Extremism (LWE) will be eliminated by 2026. What do you understand by LWE and how are the people affected by it? What measures have been taken by the government to eliminate LWE?

With reference to the recent developments concerning the Strait of Hormuz, consider the following statements: 1. It is a vital waterway for global energy shipments connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea. 2. The interim agreement between the U.S. and Iran stipulates that the Strait will be exclusively managed by a joint U.S.-Oman naval force. 3. Despite ongoing mining concerns, tanker traffic has resumed, primarily utilizing routes through Iranian and Omani waters. Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. A. 1 only
2. B. 1 and 2 only
3. C. 1 and 3 only
4. D. 1, 2 and 3

Which of the following are key provisions of the interim deal signed between the U.S. and Iran, as mentioned in the article? 1. Establishment of mechanisms to ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains open. 2. A 60-day negotiation period for issues including Iran's nuclear program. 3. Waiver of U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil imports for a specified period. 4. Immediate unfreezing of all Iranian assets for direct use by the Iranian government. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. A. 1, 2 and 3 only
2. B. 1, 3 and 4 only
3. C. 2 and 4 only
4. D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

What was an immediate economic consequence observed globally following the interim agreement between the U.S. and Iran?

1. A. A significant increase in global oil prices due to renewed geopolitical tensions.
2. B. A sharp decline in global oil prices and increased tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
3. C. A surge in demand for U.S. agricultural products from Iran, leading to price hikes.
4. D. A complete cessation of all shipping activities in the Strait of Hormuz due to security concerns.

The recent interim agreement between the U.S. and Iran has brought the Strait of Hormuz back into focus as a critical choke point for global energy security. Discuss the geopolitical significance of the Strait of Hormuz and analyze how the provisions of this agreement, particularly concerning oil sanctions and navigation, are likely to impact regional stability and global energy markets.

Introduce the Strait's importance as a global energy chokepoint, elaborate on its geopolitical role in the Middle East, then analyze the agreement's specific provisions (sanctions waiver, navigation mechanisms) and their potential effects on regional stability and global oil prices.

The U.S. decision to waive sanctions on Iranian oil imports and discuss unfreezing Iranian assets for agricultural purchases highlights the evolving role of economic measures in international diplomacy. Examine the effectiveness and implications of using economic sanctions and their waivers as tools of foreign policy, with specific reference to the recent U.S.-Iran engagement.

Define economic sanctions as a foreign policy tool, discuss their objectives and historical effectiveness, then analyze how the recent U.S.-Iran case demonstrates their use for de-escalation and negotiation, including the humanitarian aspect of unfreezing assets for food.