Major Treaties & Agreements — Set 8
International Relations · प्रमुख संधियां और समझौते · Questions 71–80 of 120
The Simla Agreement specified that both India and Pakistan would not alter the Line of Control:
Correct Answer: C. Unilaterally
Article 4(ii) of the Simla Agreement states that neither side shall seek to alter the Line of Control unilaterally irrespective of mutual differences and legal interpretations. This provision has been the legal basis for India's position that any changes to the status of Jammu and Kashmir must be bilateral. Pakistan's actions at Kargil in 1999 were considered by India as a violation of this commitment.
The NSG waiver allows India to import nuclear fuel and technology for civilian purposes while keeping its military nuclear program:
Correct Answer: C. Separate from civilian program
The NSG waiver and the 123 Agreement allow India to import nuclear fuel and technology for civilian nuclear purposes while keeping its strategic (military) nuclear program completely separate and outside IAEA safeguards. India agreed to separate its civilian and military nuclear facilities and place civilian facilities under IAEA Additional Protocol safeguards. This arrangement has been criticized by non-proliferation experts but was considered a pragmatic approach to bringing India into the global nuclear mainstream.
India's UNCLOS submission regarding the extended continental shelf was reviewed by which body?
Correct Answer: C. UN Commission on Limits of Continental Shelf
India submitted its claim for an extended continental shelf to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) in 2009, asserting rights over additional seabed area beyond the 200 nautical mile EEZ. The CLCS reviews submissions from coastal states and makes recommendations on the outer limits of the continental shelf. India's Bay of Bengal submission was an important part of its maritime zone claims.
The principle 'common but differentiated responsibilities' in international environmental law is most clearly embodied in:
Correct Answer: B. Kyoto Protocol 1997
The Kyoto Protocol most explicitly enshrined the principle of 'Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities' (CBDR-RC) by imposing binding emission reduction targets only on Annex-I (developed) countries while exempting developing nations like India and China. This principle recognizes that while all states share responsibility for environmental protection, developed countries bear greater obligations due to their historical emissions. The Paris Agreement maintains this principle but in a softer, nationally-determined form.
BIMSTEC was initially called BIST-EC when founded in 1997, and was renamed when which country joined?
Correct Answer: B. Myanmar
BIMSTEC was initially formed in 1997 as BIST-EC (Bangladesh-India-Sri Lanka-Thailand Economic Cooperation) with four members. When Myanmar joined in December 1997, it was renamed BIMST-EC (Bangladesh-India-Myanmar-Sri Lanka-Thailand Economic Cooperation). Nepal and Bhutan joined in 2004, leading to the current name BIMSTEC. The organization's Secretariat was established in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in 2014.
The India-UAE CEPA 2022 aims to increase bilateral trade to what amount within five years?
Correct Answer: C. $100 billion
The India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement aims to increase bilateral merchandise trade from approximately $60 billion to $100 billion within five years of its signing in 2022. The agreement also targets increasing services trade to $15 billion. The UAE is India's second-largest trading partner globally and the UAE-India corridor is one of the busiest trade routes in Asia.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) administered proceedings in the Indus Waters dispute regarding which Indian project?
Correct Answer: C. Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project
Pakistan referred the dispute over India's Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project to a Court of Arbitration under the Indus Waters Treaty dispute resolution mechanism, with proceedings administered by the Permanent Court of Arbitration. The final award in 2013 allowed India to proceed with the Kishanganga project with certain design modifications. The Kishanganga project on the Jhelum tributary was one of the most significant bilateral water disputes between the two countries.
The Montreal Protocol (1987) deals with substances that deplete which layer?
Correct Answer: C. Ozone layer
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1987) deals with the phase-out of ozone-depleting substances like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons. It is considered one of the most successful environmental treaties ever negotiated, leading to the recovery of the stratospheric ozone layer. India is a party to the Montreal Protocol and has progressively phased out the use of controlled substances.
The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) was established under which convention?
Correct Answer: B. UNCLOS 1982
The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) was established under UNCLOS 1982 and is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany. It provides a judicial forum for settling disputes arising under UNCLOS. India has participated in ITLOS proceedings, including the case involving the Italian marines who shot Indian fishermen from the MV Enrica Lexie.
Under the Paris Agreement, countries submit their climate action plans known as:
Correct Answer: B. Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
Under the Paris Agreement, each country submits its own Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) outlining its climate actions, targets, and plans. NDCs must be submitted every five years with the expectation that each successive NDC will be more ambitious than the previous one (the 'ratchet mechanism'). The NDCs are not legally binding in their content, though the obligation to submit them is legally binding under the Paris Agreement.