UPSC Prelims 2016 · GS Paper I
Question 41: International Relations and Current Affairs
With reference to the ‘Trans-Pacific Partnership’, consider the following statements :
- 1.It is an agreement among all the Pacific Rim countries except China and Russia.
- 2.It is a strategic alliance for the purpose of maritime security only.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).
The Trans-Pacific Partnership, signed in February 2016 by twelve countries including the US, Japan, Australia and Canada, is a trade and investment agreement, not a maritime security alliance. It was not an agreement of all Pacific Rim countries except China and Russia, because others such as South Korea, Indonesia and the Philippines were also outside it. Both statements are wrong.
- 1. More Pacific Rim countries than China and Russia were outside it, such as South Korea and Indonesia.
- 2. It is a trade and investment agreement, not a maritime security alliance.
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: More Pacific Rim countries than China and Russia were outside it, such as South Korea and Indonesia.
The red flag in statement 1 is “all”. In UPSC’s papers, statements with “all” were true 41% of the time (76 statements). A hint, not a rule.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (b) goes: it includes 2.
What you needed to know: It is a trade and investment agreement, not a maritime security alliance.
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.
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) Statement 1 is wrong: several other Pacific Rim countries were also outside it.
- (b) Statement 2 is wrong: it is a trade agreement, not a security alliance.
- (c) Both statements are wrong, so 'both' fails.
- (d) Right: neither statement is correct.
Worth knowing: The US withdrew in January 2017, and the remaining eleven countries concluded the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), in force from December 2018.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2016, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.