2015 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2015 · GS Paper I

Question 67: International Relations and Current Affairs

With reference to 'Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)', consider the following statements :

  1. 1.It was established very recently in response to incidents of piracy and accidents of oil spills.
  2. 2.It is an alliance meant for maritime security only.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a1 only
b2 only
cBoth 1 and 2
dNeither 1 nor 2

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).

The Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) was established in 1997, not recently, and was renamed the Indian Ocean Rim Association in 2013. It was set up to promote trade and economic cooperation among Indian Ocean littoral States, not in response to piracy and oil spills, and it is not an alliance limited to maritime security. Both statements are wrong.

  • 1. It was established in 1997 to promote economic cooperation, not as a response to piracy or oil spills.
  • 2. Its remit covers trade and economic cooperation, not maritime security alone.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (b) and (c) go: each of them includes 2.

    What you needed to know: Its remit covers trade and economic cooperation, not maritime security alone.

    The red flag in statement 2 is “only”. In UPSC’s papers, statements with “only” were true 27% of the time (82 statements). A hint, not a rule.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) goes: it includes 1.

    What you needed to know: It was established in 1997 to promote economic cooperation, not as a response to piracy or oil spills.

Only (d) 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: it was founded in 1997 and not because of piracy or oil spills.
  • (b) Wrong: its remit is economic cooperation, not only maritime security.
  • (c) Wrong: neither statement is correct.
  • (d) Correct: neither statement is correct.

Worth knowing: The grouping was renamed the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in 2013, and its agenda now includes maritime safety and security among six priority areas.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2015, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.