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Astana Format

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International

Astana Format

Which of the following best describes ‘Astana Format’ sometimes seen in news?

	A	Framework for intra-Syrian peace negotiations.

	B	Framework for negotiations on Afghanistan polity and peace process.

	C	Forum of EU and UK representatives for hammering out withdrawal agreement of Brexit.

	D	A representative body of proposed RCEP members for RCEP negotiations.

Your Ans is

Right ans is A

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

Astana Format is a series of meeting held in Astana, Kazakhstan for Syrian settlement which includes representatives of Syrian government and opposition. Russia, Turkey and Iran are the guarantor states of Astana talks which also enjoys the support of the UN. Its next round of talks is scheduled in July 2019.

Related Question

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

Consider the following statements with reference to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO):

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Charter was signed during the St.Petersburg SCO Heads of State meeting in June 2002, and entered into force on 19 September 2003.
The SCO counts three observer states, namely the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Mongolia.

Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:

	A	Only 1

	B	Both 1 and 2

	C	Only 2

	D	Neither 1 nor 2

Your Ans is

Right ans is A

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation, the creation of which was announced on 15 June 2001 in Shanghai (China) by the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People's Republic of China, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan. It was preceded by the Shanghai Five mechanism.
The SCO Charter was signed during the St.Petersburg SCO Heads of State meeting in June 2002, and entered into force on 19 September 2003.
The SCO's main goals are as follows: strengthening mutual trust and neighbourliness among the member states; promoting their effective cooperation in politics, trade, the economy, research, technology and culture, as well as in education, energy, transport, tourism, environmental protection, and other areas; making joint efforts to maintain and ensure peace, security and stability in the region; and moving towards the establishment of a democratic, fair and rational new international political and economic order.
The organisation has two permanent bodies — the SCO Secretariat based in Beijing and the Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) based in Tashkent.

Members

Eight Member States- the Republic of India, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People's Republic of China, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Four Observer States - the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Republic of Belarus, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Mongolia.
Six Dialogue Partners - the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Armenia, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, the Republic of Turkey, and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

UN Security Council

Consider the following statements:

A State which is a Member of the United Nations but not of the Security Council may participate, without a vote, in its discussions when the Council considers that country's interests are affected.
Both Members and non-members of the United Nations, if they are parties to a dispute being considered by the Council, may be invited to take part, without a vote, in the Council's discussions.

Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:

	A	Both 1 and 2

	B	Only 1

	C	Only 2

	D	Neither 1 nor 2

Your Ans is

Right ans is A

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

The United Nations Charter established six main organs of the United Nations, including the Security Council in 1945.
It gives primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security to the Security Council, which may meet whenever peace is threatened.
The council has 15 members: five permanent and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.
The five permanent members are- United States, the Russian Federation, France, China and the United Kingdom.

Non-Council Member States

A State which is a Member of the United Nations but not of the Security Council may participate, without a vote, in its discussions when the Council considers that country's interests are affected.
Both Members and non-members of the United Nations, if they are parties to a dispute being considered by the Council, may be invited to take part, without a vote, in the Council's discussions; the Council sets the conditions for participation by a non-member State.

South Asian Association For Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

Recently, both India and Pakistan boycotted each other’s statements at a meeting of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Foreign Ministers held in New York. Consider the following statements about the SAARC:

SAARC) was established with the signing of the SAARC Charter in Kathmandu in December 1985.
It comprises of nine Member States: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Myanmar, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:

	A	Only 1

	B	Only 2

	C	Both 1 and 2

	D	Neither 1 nor 2

Your Ans is

Right ans is D

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established with the signing of the SAARC Charter in Dhaka on 8^th December, 1985.
It consists of eight Member States: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The Secretariat of the Association was set up in Kathmandu on 17^th January, 1987.

Objectives

To promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to improve their quality of life
To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region and to provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to realize their full potentials
To promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia
To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, cultural, technical and scientific fields

Eurasian Economic Forum

Recently, India did not attend Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Eurasian Economic Forum held in China. Consider the following statements about theEurasian Economic Forum:

The Eurasian Economic Union is an international organization for regional economic integration that came into existence on 1^st January, 2014.
The Member-States of the Eurasian Economic Union are the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic and the Russian Federation.

Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:

	A	Only 1

	B	Only 2

	C	Both 1 and 2

	D	Neither 1 nor 2

Your Ans is

Right ans is D

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

The Eurasian Economic Union is an international organization for regional economic integration. It has international legal personality and is established by the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union.
The Agreement on the Eurasian Economic Union was signed by the presidents of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation on May 29, 2014.This Agreement came into force on January 1, 2015.
The Member-States of the Eurasian Economic Union are
The Republic of Armenia
The Republic of Belarus
The Republic of Kazakhstan
The Kyrgyz Republic
The Russian Federation

Significance

The Union is being created to comprehensively upgrade, raise the competitiveness of and cooperation between the national economies, and to promote stable development in order to raise the living standards of the nations of the Member-States.
It provides for free movement of goods, services, capital and labor, pursues coordinated, harmonized and single policy in the sectors determined by the Treaty and international agreements within the Union.

Source: Civil Services Chronicle Online

New Development Bank

Recently, a one-day Joint India - New Development Bank(NDB) workshop on Enhancing NDB’s engagement with the India private and public sector was held in New Delhi. Consider the following statements regarding NDB:

The idea to form a new Development Bank to mobilize resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects was mobilized at fifth annual BRICS summit, held in Durban, South Africa in 2013.
As of now, NDB’s approved loan proportion to India is 18%, the third highest after China and Russia amongst the BRICS countries.

Which of the following statements given above is/are correct?

	A	Only 1

	B	Only 2

	C	Both 1 and 2

	D	Neither 1 nor 2

Your Ans is

Right ans is D

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

The idea of NDB was conceived at the fourth BRICS Summit held in New Delhi (2012).The group leaders considered the possibility of setting up a new Development Bank to mobilize resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging economies, as well as in developing countries.
During the sixth BRICS Summit in Fortaleza (2014), the leaders signed the Agreement establishing the New Development Bank (NDB).
As of now, NDB’s approved loan proportion to India is 28%, the second highest after China amongst the BRICS countries.

New Development Bank(NDB)

Headquartered: Shanghai
The NDB is the first Multilateral Development Bank established by developing countries and emerging economies — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa(BRICS). The mandate of the Bank is to mobilize resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging economies and developing countries, complementing the existing efforts of multilateral and regional financial institutions for global growth and development. India is one of the founding members, holding 20% stake in the Bank.

Source: Civil Services Chronicle Online

Virus Outbreak International Emergency

Recently the outbreak of which virus has been declared as an international emergency by the World Health Organisation (WHO)?

	A	Nipah Virus

	B	Ebola Virus

	C	Zika Virus

	D	Both Ebola and Zika Virus

Your Ans is

Right ans is B

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

On 17^th July, 2019, WHO declared Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which surfaced in August 2018, an international emergency.
The declaration raises the outbreak’s visibility and public health officials hope it will awaken the global community to combat the spread of the fatal disease.
The outbreak, the second largest in history, started in August 2018 and is affecting two provinces in DR Congo - North Kivu and Ituri.

Ebola Virus:

The genus Ebolavirus is a virological taxon included in the family Filoviridae. The members of this genus are called ebolaviruses.
There are six known ebolavirus strain according to the regions: Sudan, Tai Forest, Bundibugyo, Reston,Zaire and Bombali ebolavirus.
The Zaire Ebolavirusis the most dangerous of the six ebolavirus species which are the causative agents of Ebola virus disease.
Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a rare but severe, often fatal illness in humans.
Ebola is considered a zoonotic virus, meaning that it originated in animals and then spread to humans.

Source: Civil Services Chronicle Online

Organisation Of Petroleum Exporting Countries

Consider the following statements about Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC):

Iran is the only major oil producing country which is not a member of OPEC.
OPEC is concerned mainly with oil which is the reason why Qatar has quit the bloc recently.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

	A	1 only

	B	2 only

	C	Both 1 and 2

	D	Neither 1 nor 2

Your Ans is

Right ans is B

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

Iran is a member of OPEC which makes the first statement incorrect. Qatar has recently withdrawn from the bloc because its economy is largely based on gas and oil plays a minimum role.

UN’s Economic And Social Council

Consider the following about UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC):

Apart from economic and social issues ECOSOC also gives recommendations on environment issues.
It engages a variety of stakeholders like policy makers, parliamentarians, business sector representatives and NGOs.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

	A	1 only

	B	2 only

	C	Both 1 and 2

	D	Neither 1 nor 2

Your Ans is

Right ans is C

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

ECOSOC is one of the six main organs of the UN. It is the principal body for coordination, policy review, policy dialogue and recommendations on economic, social and environmental issues, as well as for implementation of the internationally agreed development goals. ECOSOC engages a wide variety of stakeholders, viz. policymakers, parliamentarians, academics, foundations, business sector representatives and registered NGOs in a productive dialogue on sustainable development through a programmatic cycle of meetings.

International Whaling Commission

Consider the following statements with respect to International Whaling Commission:

The International Whaling Commission (IWC) is an international body set up under the aegis of United Nations.
Japan is the only country opposing it.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

	A	1 only

	B	2 only

	C	Both 1 and 2

	D	Neither 1 nor 2

Your Ans is

Right ans is D

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

The International Whaling Commission (IWC) is an international body set up by the terms of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW), which was signed in Washington, D.C., United States, on December 2, 1946. In 1982, the IWC adopted a moratorium on commercial whaling. Currently, Japan, Russia, and a number of other nations oppose this moratorium.

‘AWaRe’ Campaign

Which organization has launched the campaign ‘AWaRe’?

	A	Ministry of Human Resources

	B	WHO

	C	IMF

	D	UNDP

Your Ans is

Right ans is B

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a global campaign ‘AWaRe’ (Access, Watch and Reserve) that urges countries to adopt its new online tool aimed at guiding policy-makers and health workers to use antibiotics safely and more effectively. Its objective is to limit drugs that are at risk of resistance.

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