Geopolitics & International Conflicts

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) has established several specialized centres to foster regional cooperation. The correct matching of these centres with their locations is as follows: * BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory (BCIO): Located in Thimphu, Bhutan. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for its establishment was signed during the Third BIMSTEC Summit in 2014 to promote cultural cooperation and preserve heritage.
* BIMSTEC Energy Centre (BEC): Located in Bengaluru, India. Housed at the Central Power Research Institute, it coordinates regional energy cooperation, capacity building, and acts as the Secretariat for the BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection Coordination Committee.
* BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate (BCWC): Located in NOIDA, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is hosted at the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) to enhance regional cooperation in weather prediction, climate modeling, and disaster preparedness.
* BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility (TTF): Located in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Memorandum of Association (MoA) for its establishment was signed during the Fifth BIMSTEC Summit in 2022 to facilitate technology sharing, innovation, and capacity building among member states. Therefore, the correct matching is A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3, which corresponds to the correct option.

The correct matching of the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations with their respective periods of operation is as follows: * UNMIL (United Nations Mission in Liberia): Established in September 2003 following the end of the Second Liberian Civil War, this mission aimed to support the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and the peace process. It officially closed on March 30, 2018. Thus, A matches 3.
* MINURCAT (United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad): Established in September 2007 to protect civilians, promote human rights, and support regional peace in the face of spillover violence from the Darfur conflict. Its mandate officially ended on December 31, 2010. Thus, B matches 1.
* MINUSTAH (United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti): Established in April 2004 after the 2004 Haitian coup d'état to restore a secure and stable environment. The mission officially ended on October 15, 2017, transitioning to a smaller justice support mission (MINUJUSTH). Thus, C matches 4.
* UNMISET (United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor): Established on May 20, 2002, to provide assistance to the newly independent nation of East Timor (Timor-Leste) in developing core administrative structures and maintaining security. It successfully completed its mandate on May 20, 2005. Thus, D matches 2. Therefore, the correct matching is A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2.

Statement 1 is Correct: The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project connects the eastern Indian seaport of Kolkata with the Sittwe seaport in Myanmar by sea, and then links Sittwe to Mizoram in India via river and road. Since Myanmar is an ASEAN member, this project is a key component of India's connectivity with the ASEAN region under its Act East Policy. Statement 2 is Correct: The India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) Trilateral Highway connects Moreh in India with Mae Sot in Thailand via Myanmar. Both Myanmar and Thailand are ASEAN members, making this highway a flagship project for India-ASEAN physical connectivity. Statement 3 is Incorrect: The Agartala-Akhaura Rail Line is an international railway project connecting Agartala in Tripura, India, with Akhaura in Bangladesh. Since Bangladesh is not a member of ASEAN (it is a member of SAARC and BIMSTEC), this project falls under India-Bangladesh bilateral cooperation, not India-ASEAN cooperation. Therefore, the correct option is A.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (ILO No. 122) is one of the International Labour Organization's governance (priority) conventions. India ratified it on November 17, 1998. Statement 2 is Incorrect: The Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (ILO No. 105) is a fundamental ILO convention. India ratified it on May 18, 2000. Statement 3 is Correct: The International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (1990) is a UN multilateral treaty. India has neither signed nor ratified this convention. Statement 4 is Incorrect: The Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War (1949) (also known as the Fourth Geneva Convention) was ratified by India on November 9, 1950, and implemented domestically via the Geneva Conventions Act, 1960. *(Note: The question setter likely confused this with the 1951 Refugee Convention, which was adopted in Geneva and which India has not ratified).* Statement 5 is Correct: The Convention on Reduction of Statelessness (1961) has not been signed or ratified by India. India is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention, the 1954 Convention on Statelessness, or this 1961 Convention. *Conclusion:* Factually, only conventions 3 and 5 have not been ratified by India. However, among the given options, there is a discrepancy as no option perfectly matches "3 and 5". Since any correct answer must include the unratified conventions 3 and 5, Option D is the only possible choice by elimination.

World Food Programme (WFP) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize once in 2020 for its efforts to combat hunger and prevent its use as a weapon of war and conflict. United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize once in 1965 for its humanitarian work and efforts to enhance solidarity between nations. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize twice (1954 and 1981). The 1954 prize recognized its post-WWII refugee relief efforts, and the 1981 prize honored its ongoing work promoting the fundamental rights of refugees globally. International Labour Organisation (ILO) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize once in 1969 for its role in improving working conditions, promoting social justice, and contributing to global peace. Since only one organisation (UNHCR) out of the four listed has been awarded the Nobel Prize twice, the correct option is A.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: During the visit, an MoU was signed to strengthen cooperation in traditional medicine between Gujarat Ayurveda University and German institutions. (An earlier MoU in late 2025 was agreed upon between the All India Institute of Ayurveda and Charité Universitätsmedizin in Berlin, not the University of Hamburg). Statement 2 is Correct: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Youth Hockey Development was officially signed between Hockey India and the German Hockey Federation. Statement 3 is Correct: The two nations announced the establishment of a new bilateral dialogue mechanism on the Indo-Pacific, alongside a Track 1.5 Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue. Statement 4 is Incorrect: Following the Chancellor's focus on Gujarat, Germany announced the appointment of an Honorary Consul in Ahmedabad to foster closer cooperation in the western region, rather than in Lucknow. Since the question asks for the statements that are not correct, statements 1 and 4 fit the criteria. Therefore, the correct option is B.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: Belarus is an Eastern European country that is not a member of the European Union. It maintains close political and economic ties with Russia and has never formally applied for EU membership. Statement 2 is Correct: Poland is a full member state of the European Union. It joined the bloc during the major eastward expansion in May 2004. Statement 3 is Correct: Germany is a full member state of the European Union. It is one of the original six founding members of the EU's predecessor, the European Economic Community, established in 1957. Statement 4 is Incorrect: Switzerland is not an EU member state. Although it is geographically surrounded by the EU and participates in the EU's single market and the Schengen Area through a series of bilateral treaties, it maintains its historic neutrality. It is a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) instead. Therefore, the correct answer is 2 and 3.

Option A is correctly matched: The 3 Corps (Spear Corps) is headquartered at Rangapahar Military Station in Dimapur, Nagaland. It operates under the Eastern Command and handles counter-insurgency and border defense in the Northeast. Option B is correctly matched: The 4 Corps (Gajraj Corps) is headquartered in Tezpur, Assam. It operates under the Eastern Command and is primarily responsible for defending the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh. Option C is correctly matched: The 14 Corps (Fire and Fury Corps) is headquartered in Leh, Ladakh. It operates under the Northern Command and guards the Kargil-Leh frontiers with China and Pakistan, as well as the Siachen Glacier. Option D is incorrectly matched: The 33 Corps (Trishakti Corps) is headquartered in Sukna (near Siliguri), West Bengal, and not in Srinagar. It operates under the Eastern Command and is responsible for the Sikkim sector and the strategically vital Siliguri Corridor. The Indian Army corps headquartered in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, is the 15 Corps (Chinar Corps). Therefore, the correct option is D.

Critical minerals are essential for modern technologies and clean energy, but many countries, including India, depend on imports for several of them. To strengthen supply chains, India has joined international partnerships and reformed mining laws. ✅ Statement I: Correct India joined the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) in 2023 to ensure reliable access to critical minerals. ❌ Statement II: Incorrect India is not resource-rich in all 30 critical minerals it has identified and remains import-dependent for several, like cobalt and nickel. ✅ Statement III: Correct In 2023, Parliament amended the Mines and Minerals Act, giving the Central Government power to auction leases for critical minerals.

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.