UPSC Prelims 2011 · GS Paper I
Question 49: International Relations and Current Affairs
Recently, the USA decided to support India's membership in multi-lateral export control regimes called the "Australia Group" and the "Wassenaar Arrangement". What is the difference between them ?
- 1.The Australia Group is an informal arrangement which aims to allow exporting countries to minimize the risk of assisting chemical and biological weapons proliferation, whereas the Wassenaar Arrangement is a formal group under the OECD holding identical objectives.
- 2.The Australia Group comprises predominantly of Asian, African and North American countries, whereas the member countries of Wassenaar Arrangement are predominantly from the European Union and American continents.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
AnswerThe answer is (d).
Both statements are wrong. The Australia Group, set up in 1985, is an informal export-control group on materials and equipment that could be used for chemical and biological weapons. The Wassenaar Arrangement is not a body under the OECD; it deals with export controls on conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies, not with chemical and biological weapons. Membership is also not as described: the Australia Group is largely European. India has since joined both.
- 1. Wassenaar is not under the OECD and covers conventional arms and dual-use items.
- 2. The Australia Group is largely European; the described membership pattern is wrong.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) and (c) go: each of them includes 1.
What you needed to know: Wassenaar is not under the OECD and covers conventional arms and dual-use items.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (b) goes: it includes 2.
What you needed to know: The Australia Group is largely European; the described membership pattern is wrong.
Only (d) is left. This one needs every statement.
This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.
Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Statement 1 is wrong: Wassenaar is not an OECD body and has different objectives.
- (b) Statement 2 is wrong: the Australia Group is largely European, not mainly Asian and African.
- (c) Neither statement is correct.
- (d) Right: both statements are incorrect.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2011, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.