Major Treaties & Agreements — Set 7
International Relations · प्रमुख संधियां और समझौते · Questions 61–70 of 120
Which year was the Biological Weapons Convention opened for signature?
Correct Answer: B. 1972
The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) was opened for signature on April 10, 1972, and entered into force on March 26, 1975. It was the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning an entire category of weapons of mass destruction. The convention has a significant weakness in that it lacks a formal verification mechanism, which India and many other states have repeatedly sought to address.
UNCLOS was adopted at which conference?
Correct Answer: C. UNCLOS III (1982)
UNCLOS (also called the Law of the Sea Convention) was adopted at the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III) in Montego Bay, Jamaica, on December 10, 1982. It is sometimes called the 'constitution of the oceans' as it provides a comprehensive legal framework for all ocean activities. The convention covers navigation, overflight, mineral rights, fishing, pollution, and scientific research.
The Ottawa Treaty on landmines was opened for signing in which year?
Correct Answer: C. 1997
The Ottawa Treaty (Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction) was opened for signature in Ottawa, Canada, on December 3, 1997. The treaty entered into force on March 1, 1999. The campaign to ban landmines, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997, was largely driven by international NGOs and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL).
India ratified the Paris Agreement in which year?
Correct Answer: B. 2016
India ratified the Paris Agreement on October 2, 2016, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, a symbolically significant date for a climate action commitment. India was among the early large economies to ratify, helping the agreement reach the threshold for entry into force on November 4, 2016. India's early ratification demonstrated its commitment to climate action while maintaining its position on differentiated responsibilities.
The India-USA Civil Nuclear Agreement (123 Agreement) was signed during the presidency of:
Correct Answer: B. George W. Bush
The India-USA Civil Nuclear Agreement, formally known as the Agreement for Cooperation between the Government of India and the Government of the United States of America Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy (123 Agreement), was signed on October 10, 2008, during the presidency of George W. Bush. The agreement was initiated during PM Manmohan Singh's visit to Washington in July 2005. It was a landmark shift in US non-proliferation policy that recognized India as a 'responsible state with advanced nuclear technology.'
Under the Indus Waters Treaty, India can build 'run of river' hydroelectric projects on which rivers allocated to Pakistan?
Correct Answer: C. Western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) with certain restrictions
The Indus Waters Treaty allows India to build run-of-river hydroelectric projects on the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab) that are primarily allocated to Pakistan, subject to specified design and operational constraints. This has been a persistent source of disputes, with Pakistan objecting to Indian projects like Baglihar Dam and Kishanganga project. The treaty's dispute resolution provisions have been invoked multiple times over these projects.
SAFTA was signed at which SAARC summit?
Correct Answer: B. 12th Summit (Islamabad)
The SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Area) Agreement was signed at the 12th SAARC Summit held in Islamabad, Pakistan, in January 2004. It was designed to reduce tariffs among SAARC member countries to create a free trade area in South Asia. Despite the agreement, intra-SAARC trade remains very low (less than 5% of total trade) compared to other regional groupings.
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961 was negotiated under the auspices of which organization?
Correct Answer: B. United Nations
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations was negotiated at a conference convened by the United Nations and adopted on April 18, 1961. The International Law Commission had prepared the draft articles that formed the basis for negotiations. It has achieved near-universal ratification with 193 states parties, making it one of the most widely accepted multilateral treaties.
The concept of 'persona non grata' in diplomatic relations refers to:
Correct Answer: B. A diplomat declared unwelcome by the host country
Under Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, a receiving state may at any time and without explanation declare any member of a diplomatic mission 'persona non grata' (an unwanted person), requiring the sending state to recall that person. This is one of the most powerful tools in diplomatic relations for expressing displeasure. India has declared Pakistani and other foreign diplomats persona non grata on various occasions.
The WTO's dispute settlement body issues rulings that are binding on:
Correct Answer: B. All WTO member states
The WTO's Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) issues rulings that are binding on all WTO member states. The WTO dispute settlement system is considered one of the most effective international dispute resolution mechanisms. India has been both complainant and respondent in numerous WTO dispute settlement cases, including disputes on solar panels, poultry, sugar subsidies, and steel products.