UPSC Prelims 2014 · GS Paper I
Question 11: International Relations and Current Affairs
With reference to a grouping of countries known as BRICS, consider the following statements :
- 1.The First Summit of BRICS was held in Rio de Janeiro in 2009.
- 2.South Africa was the last to join the BRICS grouping.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
BRIC began as a grouping of Brazil, Russia, India and China, and its first summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009, not in Rio de Janeiro. South Africa joined in 2010, and the group became BRICS; as of 2014 it was the last member to join, so statement 2 is correct. Remember: first summit Yekaterinburg 2009, South Africa the 2010 addition.
- 1. The first summit was at Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009.
- 2. South Africa joined in 2010, the latest addition at that time.
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: The first summit was at Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (d) goes: it leaves 2 out.
What you needed to know: South Africa joined in 2010, the latest addition at that time.
Only (b) is left. This one needs every statement.
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) Wrong. Statement 1 is false because the first summit was in Yekaterinburg, not Rio de Janeiro.
- (b) Right. South Africa was the last to join (2010), as the grouping stood in 2014.
- (c) Wrong. Statement 1 is false.
- (d) Wrong. Statement 2 was correct when the question was set.
Worth knowing: BRICS has added members since 2024 (Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE and others), so South Africa is no longer the last to join.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2014, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.