State-sponsored Terrorism and Transnational Repression
State-sponsored terrorism and transnational repression involve states using various means, including proxies, to target critics or achieve political aims bey...
Two jailed for stabbing Iranian journalist in London in attack blamed on Tehran
Two Romanian men were sentenced in London for the stabbing of Iranian journalist Pouria Zeraati, a presenter at London-based Iran International. The judge and UK security officials attributed the attack to the Iranian state, citing overwhelming evidence. This incident is part of a pattern of alleged Iranian state-backed plots on British soil targeting opposition media and the Jewish community. The attackers were arrested in Romania and extradited to the UK.
Syllabus mapping
Mains syllabus topics
Freedom Struggle
Federal Structure
Parliament Legislatures
Executive Judiciary Pressure Groups
International Institutions
Prelims takeaways
- The incident highlights the issue of state-sponsored activities on foreign soil.
- It involves a journalist from an opposition media outlet, raising concerns about freedom of the press.
- The UK's domestic intelligence service, MI5, is mentioned in the context of countering foreign threats.
- The case involved extradition of suspects from Romania to the UK.
Elimination traps
- Specific dates of the attack or sentencing.
- Names of the convicted individuals (Nandito Badea, George Stana).
- The exact number of 'disrupted plots' mentioned by MI5.
Static concepts
- State-sponsored terrorism
- Freedom of the press
- Extradition
- Intelligence agencies
Probable question areas
Question areas
- Questions on state-sponsored terrorism and its implications for international law and relations.
Question areas
- Role of intelligence agencies in national security and countering foreign threats.
Question areas
- Challenges to freedom of the press globally, especially for journalists critical of authoritarian regimes.
Question areas
- The concept and process of extradition in international legal cooperation.
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
Correct answer
B. Israel
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.
International Relations
Current Affairs
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
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?
Explanation
Correct answer
A. 1 only
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.
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
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
Correct answer
D. 1, 2 and 3
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.
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Which of the following is not a member of ‘Gulf Cooperation Council’?
Explanation
Correct answer
A. Iran
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.
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
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
Correct answer
C. 1 and 3 only
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.
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
The ‘Fortaleza Declaration’ recently in the news, is related to the affairs of:
Explanation
Correct answer
B. BRICS
The Fortaleza Declaration is related to the affairs of the BRICS group of countries. BRICS stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The Fortaleza Declaration was signed during the Sixth BRICS Summit held in Fortaleza, Brazil, in July 2014.
International Relations
Current Affairs
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect
Explanation
Correct answer
A. India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran
The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a multimodal transport network aimed at boosting trade between India, Central Asia, Russia, and Europe, using a combination of sea, rail, and road routes via Iran. The corridor connects Mumbai → Bandar Abbas (Iran) → Azerbaijan → Russia → Europe, with access to Central Asia.
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
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?
Explanation
Correct answer
C. Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
* 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.
International Relations
Current Affairs
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Emerging Information Technologies
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
Correct answer
C. Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
* 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.
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
In the Indian context, what is the implication of ratifying the 'Additional Protocol' with the `International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'?
Explanation
Correct answer
A. The civilian nuclear reactors come under IAEA safeguards.
India signed the Additional Protocol to the IAEA safeguards agreement on May 15, 2009. An additional protocol to the Safeguards Agreement between the Government of India and the IAEA for the Application of Safeguards to Civilian Nuclear Facilities entered into force on 25 July 2014. Hence option 1 is correct.
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
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.
Bilateral, regional and global groupings involving India
Policies of developed/developing countries and Indian diaspora
Important International institutions, agencies and fora
View Mains PYQ
"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?
Bilateral, regional and global groupings involving India
Important International institutions, agencies and fora
View Mains PYQ
What are environmental pressure groups? Discuss their role in raising awareness, influencing policies and advocating for environmental protection in India.
Executive, Judiciary and pressure groups
Development processes, NGOs, SHGs and stakeholders
Governance, transparency, accountability and e-governance
View Mains PYQ
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?
Union and States — federal structure and devolution
Government policies and interventions
View Mains PYQ
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 — evolution, features, amendments, basic structure
Comparison of Indian constitutional scheme with other countries
Executive, Judiciary and pressure groups
View Mains PYQ
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.
Indian Constitution — evolution, features, amendments, basic structure
Parliament and State legislatures
View Mains PYQ
Pouria Zeraati, the Iranian journalist who was stabbed in London, is primarily associated with which of the following media organizations?
Explanation
The article explicitly states that Pouria Zeraati is 'a presenter at London-based Iran International'.
The recent stabbing of Iranian journalist Pouria Zeraati, which UK security officials attributed to the Iranian state, occurred in which city?
Explanation
The article mentions that Zeraati was stabbed 'outside his home in the Wimbledon area of London'.
Regarding the two Romanian men sentenced for the attack on Iranian journalist Pouria Zeraati, which of the following statements is correct?
Explanation
The article states, 'Badea and Stana were arrested in Romania in December 2024 and extradited to the U.K.'
The recent sentencing of individuals for an attack on an Iranian journalist in London, attributed by UK officials to the Iranian state, highlights the growing challenge of state-sponsored plots on foreign soil. Discuss the implications of such actions for international law, sovereignty, and global security.
Introduce the context of state-sponsored actions. Analyze implications for international law (violation of UN Charter, non-interference), sovereignty (breach of territorial integrity), and global security (destabilization, proxy conflicts, erosion of trust). Conclude with the need for international cooperation.
The alleged targeting of journalists critical of their home governments on foreign soil raises serious concerns about freedom of expression and national security. In light of the incident involving Pouria Zeraati, examine the challenges faced by host countries in protecting such individuals and the role of international cooperation, including extradition, in bringing perpetrators to justice.
Define the threat to freedom of press and national security posed by such incidents. Discuss challenges for host countries (intelligence gathering, legal jurisdiction, resource allocation). Highlight the importance of international legal frameworks like extradition treaties and intelligence sharing in addressing these transnational crimes.