UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Damning report

Q1. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. For the same pattern of killings of civilians, a finding of genocide is generally harder to establish than a finding of crimes against humanity.
  2. Crimes against humanity require that the attack on a civilian population be both widespread and systematic.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q2. A government that faces no armed conflict of any kind carries out a sustained, organised campaign of torture and enforced disappearances against members of an opposition political party across the country. Under international criminal law, this conduct is most appropriately characterised as which of the following?

  • A. Genocide
  • B. Crimes against humanity
  • C. The crime of aggression
  • D. War crimes

Q3. With reference to the UN International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It was established by the UN Security Council, which also appoints its members.
  2. Its mandate extends to alleged violations of international humanitarian law as well as alleged violations and abuses of international human rights law.
  3. It is a treaty body that monitors the compliance of States parties with a single human rights convention.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. Consider the following facts: A Commission of Inquiry established by the UN Human Rights Council reports to the Council and to the UN General Assembly. Its latest report concludes that genocide is being committed, asks States to investigate and prosecute suspects, and notes that member States have taken 'little or no action' on its earlier recommendations. Which of the following inferences can validly be drawn from the above?

  1. Once presented to the General Assembly, the Commission's conclusions became legally binding on all UN member States.
  2. The Commission's conclusion that genocide is being committed does not, by itself, establish the criminal guilt of any individual.
  3. Whether the Commission's findings lead to accountability depends on action taken by States or by judicial bodies.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q5. With reference to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC), consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The ICJ can decide whether a State has breached its obligations under the Genocide Convention, but it cannot convict an individual of genocide.
  2. The ICC was established through a convention drafted within the UN system but functions as an entity independent of the UN.
  3. The ICC's jurisdiction extends only to natural persons, so it cannot hold a State as such responsible for genocide.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 1 and 3 only

Q6. With reference to the duty to prevent genocide and the Responsibility to Protect (R2P), consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Under the Genocide Convention, the obligation to prevent genocide rests solely on the State in whose territory the genocidal acts are taking place.
  2. Under the Genocide Convention, genocide is a crime when it is committed in time of war but not when it is committed in time of peace.
  3. The R2P commitment made at the 2005 World Summit extends to all serious human rights violations, including famine and large-scale political repression.
  • A. 2 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 3 only

Q7. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Under the Responsibility to Protect as endorsed at the 2005 World Summit, States may collectively use force to protect a population without Security Council authorisation once the State concerned manifestly fails to protect it.
  2. Under the Responsibility to Protect, each individual State bears the primary responsibility to protect its own population from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q8. Consider the following assertion: A soldier who strikes a civilian selected by an AI-enabled targeting tool cannot escape legal responsibility by attributing the choice of target to the tool. Which of the following statements support/supports the above assertion?

  1. Human responsibility for decisions on the use of weapons systems must be retained, because accountability cannot be transferred to machines.
  2. A binding protocol under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons has already prohibited all weapons systems with autonomous functions.
  3. Persons who commit or order serious violations of international humanitarian law can be tried and held criminally liable as individuals.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 1 and 2 only