Russia denounces NATO summit decisions on aid for Ukraine, defence

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 ?

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

Which of the following is not a member of ‘Gulf Cooperation Council’?

1. A. Iran
2. B. Saudi Arabia
3. C. Oman
4. D. Kuwait

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 Turkey | Rescinded its membership of NATO|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

Consider the following countries:

I. Austria
II. Bulgaria
III. Croatia
IV. Serbia
V. Sweden
VI. North Macedonia

How many of the above are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization?

1. A. Only three
2. B. Only four
3. C. Only five
4. D. All the six

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 countries
1. Armenia
2. Azerbaijan
3. Croatia
4. Romania
5. Uzbekistan

Which of the above are members of the Organization of Turkic States?

1. A. 1, 2 and 4
2. B. 1 and 3
3. C. 2 and 5
4. D. 3, 4 and 5

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.

1. A. 1 only
2. B. 2, 3 and 4
3. C. 1 and 3 only
4. D. 1, 2 and 5 only

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 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

With reference to the “United Nations Credentials Committee”, consider the following statements:
1. It is a committee set up by the UN Security Council and works under its supervision.
2. It traditionally meets in March, June and September every year.
3. It assesses the credentials of all UN members before submitting a report to the General Assembly for approval.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

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?

Discuss the nature of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly after the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019. Briefly describe the powers and functions of the Assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Explain the significance of the 101st constitutional amendment act. To what extent does it reflect the accommodative spirit of federalism.

Account for legal and political factors responsible for the reduced frequency of using article 356 by the union government mid-1990s.

The states in India seem reluctant to empower urban local bodies both functionally as well as financially. Comment.

While the national political parties in India favour centralisation, the regional parties are in favour of State autonomy.” Comment.

At the recent NATO summit in Turkey, which of the following was a key decision announced by the alliance, as per the article?

1. A. Pledging €70 billion in military assistance to Russia for 2026.
2. B. Reaffirming members’ commitment to collective defence under Article 5.
3. C. Announcing a new joint economic development fund for Central Asian nations.
4. D. Initiating a comprehensive dialogue with Russia on European security architecture.

According to Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, as mentioned in the article, NATO's priorities include which of the following?

1. A. Promoting demilitarization across the European continent.
2. B. Building up defence capabilities and preparing for an armed conflict with Russia.
3. C. Fostering closer diplomatic ties with non-member states in Eastern Europe.
4. D. Reducing military spending to focus on humanitarian aid initiatives.

The article highlights 'cracks' between the United States and its NATO partners. Which specific issue was cited as an example of this disappointment from the American perspective?

1. A. Disagreement over the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.
2. B. The unresolved issue with Greenland not proceeding according to the American scenario.
3. C. Lack of consensus on imposing sanctions against certain Middle Eastern countries.
4. D. Opposition to the United States' proposed trade tariffs on European goods.

The recent NATO summit decisions, including pledging substantial military aid to Ukraine and reaffirming Article 5, have been denounced by Russia as potentially leading to 'catastrophic consequences'. Analyze the geopolitical ramifications of these developments for global stability, particularly in the context of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the evolving international order.

Introduce the context of the NATO summit and Russia's reaction. Analyze the implications for European security, the balance of power between major global actors, the future of military alliances, and the potential for escalation in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Despite public displays of unity, the article points to 'cracks' within NATO, particularly concerning the United States and its partners, citing issues like the 'Greenland scenario'. Examine the inherent challenges faced by military alliances in maintaining cohesion and achieving common objectives amidst divergent national interests and shifting global power dynamics.

Begin by explaining the concept of alliance cohesion. Discuss the specific 'cracks' mentioned in the article and then broaden the analysis to general factors that challenge alliance unity, such as burden-sharing, leadership changes, and differing strategic priorities among members. Conclude on the resilience and adaptability of such alliances.