UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — 5TH EDITION OF INDIA-AUSTRALIA JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE AUSTRAHIND COMMENCES AT THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

Q1. With reference to the enforcement powers of the UN Security Council under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Before ordering sanctions or military action under this Chapter, the Council must first determine that a threat to the peace, a breach of the peace or an act of aggression exists.
  2. The Council may authorise military action only after non-military measures such as sanctions have actually been imposed and have been shown to fail.
  3. To stop a situation from getting worse, the Council may call on the parties to comply with provisional measures that do not prejudice their rights, claims or position.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. With reference to United Nations peace operations, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Impartiality of UN peacekeepers means that they remain neutral in carrying out their mandate as well as in their dealings with the parties.
  2. Traditional peacekeeping is deployed with the consent of the main parties to the conflict, whereas peace enforcement under Chapter VII does not require such consent.
  3. UN peacekeepers may use force at the tactical level not only in self-defence but also in defence of the mandate, with Security Council authorisation.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q3. With reference to the use of force under the UN Charter, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Charter's general prohibition covers the threat of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of a state, and not merely the actual use of force.
  2. Military action authorised by the Security Council under Chapter VII is a lawful use of force that is distinct from a state's right of self-defence.
  3. The Charter allows a Member to use force in self-defence whenever it judges that the Security Council has failed to act against a threat to the peace, even if no armed attack has occurred.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q4. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. When dealing with a dispute under Chapter VI of the UN Charter, the Security Council's powers are recommendatory, and it cannot impose a settlement on the parties.
  2. The UN Charter requires the parties to a dispute likely to endanger international peace first to seek a solution through peaceful means of their own choice, such as negotiation, mediation or arbitration.
  • 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

Q5. If the Security Council moves a UN mission from a traditional peacekeeping footing to a peace-enforcement mandate under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which one of the following changes would most directly follow?

  • A. Its use of force becomes confined strictly to self-defence of its own personnel
  • B. Its deployment no longer depends on the consent of the main parties to the conflict
  • C. Its troops are thereafter recruited directly by the UN instead of by member states
  • D. Its tasking turns into recommendations that member states are free to disregard

Q6. Consider the following assertion: 'The India–Australia Mutual Logistics Support Agreement makes it easier for the two armies to scale up the complexity of exercises such as AUSTRAHIND.' Which of the statements given below support/supports the above assertion?

  1. The agreement lets each side's forces use the other's bases for repair and replenishment of supplies.
  2. The agreement was signed at the same 2020 summit at which the two countries elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
  3. AUSTRAHIND is held alternately in India and Australia, so in every edition one contingent operates far from its home bases.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q7. State X, a member of the United Nations, suffers an armed attack by State Y. X responds militarily at once, before the Security Council has acted. With reference to Article 51 of the UN Charter, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. X's military response can be lawful even though the Security Council has not authorised it in advance.
  2. X must immediately report the measures it takes in self-defence to the Security Council.
  3. X's right of self-defence continues alongside, and independently of, any measures the Security Council later takes to restore international peace.
  4. State Z, which has not itself been attacked, may lawfully assist X in exercising the right of collective self-defence.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4