UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — First BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting concludes with adoption of Delhi Declaration

Q1. The Delhi Declaration calls for implementing one BIMSTEC convention that is in force and another that has only been signed. With reference to how international agreements acquire legal effect, and to India's practice, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Once a treaty India has signed enters into force internationally, it can change rights under existing Indian statutes without any Act of Parliament.
  2. Signing a convention does not by itself bind a state to perform the convention's obligations before the convention enters into force.
  3. Parliament can make a law implementing a treaty even on a matter that would otherwise fall in the State List.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q2. With reference to the legal instruments that BIMSTEC has signed or is negotiating for cooperation in criminal matters, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A mutual legal assistance convention enables a member to obtain help, such as service of summons and judicial documents, on persons located in another member state.
  2. A transfer-of-sentenced-persons convention is meant to allow an accused person to be tried in the home country rather than where the offence occurred.
  3. Serving a foreign non-bailable arrest warrant so as to bring a person back to the requesting country is handled as extradition rather than as routine mutual legal assistance.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1 only

Q3. A person convicted and sentenced by a court in Country X escapes before serving the sentence and is later found living freely in Country Y. Country X wants him handed over so that he serves his punishment in X. Under which one of the following arrangements would Country X ordinarily seek this?

  • A. An agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons
  • B. An extradition treaty between the two countries
  • C. A convention on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters
  • D. A convention on combating terrorism and organised crime

Q4. With reference to the constitutional prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour in India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The State cannot, under any circumstances, require persons to perform compulsory service, even for public purposes.
  2. The prohibition operates against private persons who traffic or exploit others, and not merely against the State.
  3. Debt bondage lies outside the prohibition because the labourer initially agreed to take the loan.
  • A. 2 only
  • B. 1 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q5. Several principles invoked in BIMSTEC's Delhi Declaration echo India's Panchsheel of 1954. Which one of the following was NOT among the five principles of Panchsheel?

  • A. Mutual non-aggression against each other
  • B. Equality and mutual benefit in relations
  • C. Mutual non-interference in internal affairs
  • D. Mutual aid against external aggression