Trump administration touts deal with Iran as payday for U.S. farmers; Tehran denies it

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 Turkey | Rescinded its membership of NATO|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?

1. A. Only one pair
2. B. Only two pairs
3. C. All three pairs
4. D. None of the pairs

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

Which of the following countries are members of the European Union ?

1. Belarus
2. Poland
3. Germany
4. Switzerland

Select the answer using the code given below :

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

In the Indian context, what is the implication of ratifying the 'Additional Protocol' with the `International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'?

1. A. The civilian nuclear reactors come under IAEA safeguards.
2. B. The military nuclear installations come under the inspection of IAEA.
3. C. The country will have the privilege to buy uranium from the Nuclear Suppliers Group NSG.
4. D. The country automatically becomes a member of the NSG.

What is the importance of developing Chabahar Port by India?

1. A. India’s trade with African countries will enormously increase.
2. B. India’s relations with oil-producing Arab countries will be strengthened.
3. C. India will not depend on Pakistan for access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.
4. D. Pakistan will facilitate and protect the installation of a gas pipeline between Iraq and India.

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 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

The longest border between any two countries in the world is between :

1. A. Canada and the United States of America
2. B. Chile and Argentina
3. C. China and India
4. D. Kazakhstan and Russian Federation

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

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

Does tribal development in India centre around two axes, those of displacement and of rehabilitation? Give your opinion.

Achieving sustainable growth with emphasis on environmental protection could come into conflict with poor people’s needs in a country like India – Comment.

How do you account for the growing fast food industries given that there are increased health concerns in modern society? Illustrate your answer with the Indian experience.

Discuss the evolution of collegium system in India. Critically examine the advantages and disadvantages of the system of appointment of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India and that of the USA.

Indian Constitution has conferred the amending power on the ordinary legislative institutions with a few procedural hurdles. In view of this statement, examine the procedural and substantive limitations on the amending power of the Parliament to change the Constitution.

Mahatma Jotirao Phule’s writings and efforts of social reforms touched issues of almost all subaltern classes. Discuss.

What was the primary point of contention between the U.S. and Iran regarding the unfreezing of Iranian assets in the interim deal discussed in the article?

1. A. The total amount of assets to be unfrozen.
2. B. The specific use of the unfrozen assets.
3. C. The duration of the interim agreement.
4. D. The mechanism for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the article, which of the following statements about the Strait of Hormuz is correct?

1. A. It is primarily used for the export of Iranian agricultural products.
2. B. It was closed due to the US-Iran conflict and the deal aims to reopen it.
3. C. A fifth of the world's oil and natural gas once passed through it.
4. D. It is a major route for global natural gas but not oil.

Based on the views of sanctions experts mentioned in the article, what is a significant practical challenge for the U.S. in enforcing its demand that unfrozen Iranian assets be used exclusively for purchasing American farm products?

1. A. The U.S. lacks the legal authority under international law to impose such conditions on sovereign nations.
2. B. International banks are legally bound to follow Iran's instructions, not the U.S. Treasury's, regarding asset movement.
3. C. Banks might refuse to comply with U.S. demands, even if it means risking U.S. sanctions themselves.
4. D. Iran has already secured long-term contracts with alternative suppliers for food and medical supplies, making U.S. demands irrelevant.

The recent interim deal between the U.S. and Iran, despite its stated aim of de-escalation, highlights the complex interplay of economic leverage, national sovereignty, and geopolitical interests in international relations. In light of this, discuss the challenges and implications of using economic sanctions as a tool to dictate the internal economic decisions of a sovereign nation.

Introduce the US-Iran context and the disputed asset allocation. Elaborate on the U.S.'s attempt to dictate asset use and Iran's rejection, along with expert skepticism. Discuss the broader challenges (enforceability, international law, sovereignty) and implications (strained relations, impact on global trade, effectiveness of sanctions) of such policies.

The U.S. administration's attempt to link the unfreezing of Iranian assets to the purchase of American agricultural products reflects a growing trend of economic diplomacy. Examine the potential benefits and drawbacks of such an approach for both the imposing and the targeted nation, as well as for global trade dynamics.

Define economic diplomacy in the context of the article. Discuss potential benefits for the U.S. (e.g., supporting farmers, economic leverage) and drawbacks (e.g., alienating trade partners, perception of 'cash grab'). For Iran, consider potential benefits (access to goods) and drawbacks (loss of autonomy, potentially higher prices). Analyze the impact on global trade dynamics, including market distortion and competition.