1. The United Nations General Assembly has officially declared which day as “World Fair Play Day”?
[A] May 19
[B] May 20
[C] May 21
[D] May 22
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [May 19]
Notes:
The United Nations General Assembly has officially declared May 19 as World Fair Play Day starting from 2025. The day aims to recognize the role of sports in promoting peace, inclusion, and justice across the globe. It highlights how sports go beyond just competition and help build values like fairness, discipline, respect, and unity. World Fair Play Day encourages people to see sports as a way to break barriers of race, religion, and nationality. It promotes shared human values such as mutual respect and perseverance through sportsmanship and ethical behavior in all games.
2. Consider the following:
- The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
- The Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ)
- The Nice Ocean Agreements
- The Paris Climate Agreement
Which international framework is crucial for the governance of marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdictions?
[A] 1 and 2 only
[B] 2 and 3 only
[C] 1 and 4 only
[D] 3 only
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [1 and 2 only]
Notes:
Statement 1 is correct: UNCLOS is a fundamental international framework for ocean governance. Statement 2 is correct: The BBNJ Agreement focuses on marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdictions, which covers more than 60% of the ocean. Statement 3 refers to the Nice Ocean Agreements, which are focused on ocean conservation but not specifically on the governance of marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdictions. Statement 4 refers to climate change governance, not ocean governance.
3. The United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) was established by which organization?
[A] United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
[B] United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
[C] United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
[D] World Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)]
Notes:
India recently took part in the 20th Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF20) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) was created in 2000 by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC) to support sustainable forest management globally. It includes all UN Member States and related forest organisations, meeting annually for technical or policy-level discussions. India, as a founding member, plays a key role in shaping global forest policy. At UNFF20, India showcased its forest conservation efforts and support for Voluntary National Contributions (VNCs) under the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests (UNSPF) 2017–2030.
4. Which country is the host of United Nations Day of Vesak 2025?
[A] Japan
[B] Indonesia
[C] Sri Lanka
[D] Vietnam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Vietnam]
Notes:
Vietnam hosts the United Nations (UN) Day of Vesak in 2025 from May 6 to 8 in Ho Chi Minh City. The United Nations Day of Vesak marks the birth, enlightenment, and passing away of Lord Buddha. In a historic first, the sacred Buddha Relic from Sarnath, India, will be sent to Vietnam for special exposition. The event is being organized by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, along with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC).
5. Consider the following:
- The Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) process on United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reforms is mandated by the General Assembly and is based on consensus among all member states.
- One of the goals of the UNSC reform is to ensure that the restructured Security Council endures for the next century.
- The last expansion of elected members in the UNSC occurred in 2000.
Which of the above statements is / are correct?
[A] Only 1 and 2
[B] Only 2
[C] Only 2 and 3
[D] All Are Correct Statements
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Only 1 and 2]
Notes:- Statement 1 is accurate as the IGN is a General Assembly-mandated process, aiming for consensus among all member states.
- Statement 2 is also true because the UNSC reform’s objective is to ensure the restructured Security Council lasts through the next century, as pointed out by Ambassador AlBanai.
- However, Statement 3 is not correct. The last expansion (increase in elected members) took place in 1965 rather than in 2000.
6. With reference to the recent statements on United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reforms, consider the following statements:
- The current membership of the UN Security Council includes 11 permanent members and 14 non-permanent members.
- India, as part of the G4, advocates for text-based negotiations to expedite UNSC reform.
- The IGN process focuses on five key clusters, including regional representation and veto power.
- Ambassador Tareq AlBanai, Co-Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiations, is India’s Permanent Representative to the UN.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
[A] 1 and 2 only
[B] 2 and 3 only
[C] 1, 3 and 4 only
[D] 2, 3 and 4 only
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [2 and 3 only]
Notes:- Statement 1 is incorrect: The current UNSC consists of 5 permanent members and 10 non-permanent members.
- Statement 2 is correct: India, as part of the G4, has urged for text-based negotiations.
- Statement 3 is correct: The five clusters include regional representation, veto power, working methods, membership categories, and UNSC-General Assembly relationship.
- Statement 4 is incorrect: Tareq AlBanai is Kuwait’s Permanent Representative, not India’s.
7. United Nations English Day is observed annually on which day?
[A] April 21
[B] April 22
[C] April 23
[D] April 24
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [April 23]
Notes:
April 23 is celebrated as World English Day, also known as United Nations (UN) English Language Day. The date was chosen to honour William Shakespeare, as it marks both his birth and death anniversary, recognizing his deep influence on the English language. English has grown to become one of the most widely spoken languages across the globe. It plays a key role in global communication, including areas like diplomacy, education, business, and science.
8. Which city is home to the headquarters of United Nations Security Council (UNSC)?
[A] Paris
[B] Geneva
[C] New York
[D] London
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [New York]
Notes:
Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, who chairs the Intergovernmental Negotiations on UNSC reforms, recently stated that India will be a strong contender if the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is expanded. Kuwait and Austria currently co-chair the Intergovernmental Negotiations on United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reform. The UNSC is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, tasked with maintaining international peace and security. All UN member states must comply with UNSC decisions under the UN Charter. The UNSC determines threats to peace, recommends settlement methods, imposes sanctions, and authorizes military actions. It consists of 15 members: 5 permanent members with veto power and 10 elected non-permanent members. The UNSC is headquartered in New York City.
9. With reference to carbon rights, consider the following:
- Carbon rights determine who can access and benefit from carbon stored in ecosystems like forests and wetlands.
- Carbon rights are universally recognized under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
- Carbon rights can influence participation in climate mitigation strategies such as REDD+.
Which of the above statements is / are correct?
[A] 1 and 2 only
[B] 1 and 3 only
[C] 2 and 3 only
[D] 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [1 and 3 only]
Notes:
Statement 2 is incorrect. Carbon rights are not universally recognized under the UNFCCC; they depend on national legal frameworks. Therefore, options involving statement 2 are incorrect. Carbon rights indeed determine the beneficiary of stored carbon (Statement 1) and can influence the participation in REDD+ (Statement 3), making option 2 the correct answer.
10. Consider the following statements:
- Statement-I: The Arctic region is primarily governed by an international treaty similar to that of the Antarctic.
- Statement-II: The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) governs territorial claims in the Arctic region.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
[A] Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
[B] Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
[C] Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
[D] Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct]
Notes:Statement-I:- This statement is incorrect.
- The Arctic lacks a comprehensive international treaty like the Antarctic Treaty System, which demilitarizes and protects the Antarctic region.
Statement-II:
- This statement is correct.
- UNCLOS provides the legal framework for territorial claims and maritime boundaries in the Arctic, allowing nations to assert rights over seabed resources.
