International Relations and Organisations MCQs for UPSC Prelims with Answers

This UPSC Prelims practice paper on International Relations and international organisations has 15 questions on the United Nations, regional groupings, headquarters, boundary lines and India's foreign policy. These are scoring facts in the Prelims, and they also give you the background for the Mains questions on India's foreign relations. Every answer has a simple explanation. After the answer key, you will find tables, tricks and a revision plan.

Why International Relations Matters for UPSC

International relations is a part of GS Paper 2 in the Mains and appears in the Prelims through organisations, treaties, agreements and places in the news. A single fact, such as the headquarters of an organisation, can decide a question. The topic is also helpful for the Essay and the Interview. A student who revises organisations in a table and reads one good source on India's foreign policy can prepare this area in a few weeks. You can also use our international relations notes for the concepts.

Instructions

• Total questions: 15. Suggested time: 15 minutes.
• Each correct answer gives 2 marks and each wrong answer deducts 0.66 marks, as in the real Prelims.
• Attempt all the questions first and check the answer key only after you finish.

Practice Questions

Q1. The headquarters of the United Nations is located in
(a) Geneva
(b) New York
(c) Vienna
(d) Paris

Q2. Which of the following is NOT a permanent member of the UN Security Council?
(a) France
(b) Russia
(c) Germany
(d) China

Q3. The non-permanent members of the UN Security Council are elected for a term of
(a) One year
(b) Two years
(c) Three years
(d) Five years

Q4. The Secretariat of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is located in
(a) Moscow
(b) Beijing
(c) Tashkent
(d) Astana

Q5. The New Development Bank, set up by the BRICS countries, has its headquarters at
(a) Shanghai
(b) Mumbai
(c) Moscow
(d) Johannesburg

Q6. Which of the following is NOT a member of the Quad?
(a) Japan
(b) Australia
(c) South Korea
(d) United States

Q7. Which regional organisation was admitted as a permanent member of the G20 at the New Delhi Summit in 2023?
(a) ASEAN
(b) African Union
(c) European Union
(d) SAARC

Q8. The headquarters of SAARC is at
(a) Dhaka
(b) Colombo
(c) Kathmandu
(d) Thimphu

Q9. The Secretariat of BIMSTEC is located in
(a) Dhaka
(b) Bangkok
(c) New Delhi
(d) Yangon

Q10. The World Trade Organization is headquartered in
(a) Washington DC
(b) Geneva
(c) Brussels
(d) London

Q11. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has its headquarters in
(a) Manila
(b) Beijing
(c) Tokyo
(d) Singapore

Q12. The International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the UN, sits at
(a) Geneva
(b) New York
(c) The Hague
(d) Brussels

Q13. The Durand Line is the boundary between
(a) India and Pakistan
(b) Afghanistan and Pakistan
(c) India and China
(d) India and Nepal

Q14. The McMahon Line is associated with the boundary between
(a) India and Pakistan
(b) India and Nepal
(c) India and China (eastern sector)
(d) India and Myanmar

Q15. India's Look East Policy was initiated in 1991 under Prime Minister
(a) Indira Gandhi
(b) Rajiv Gandhi
(c) P. V. Narasimha Rao
(d) Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Answer Key with Explanations

1. Q1: (b) The UN headquarters is in New York. Geneva and Vienna host other UN offices, but the main organs such as the General Assembly and the Security Council meet in New York.
2. Q2: (c) The five permanent members (P5) are the USA, the UK, France, Russia and China. Germany is not a permanent member.
3. Q3: (b) Ten non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms.
4. Q4: (b) The SCO Secretariat is in Beijing. The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) is in Tashkent. India became a full member in 2017.
5. Q5: (a) The NDB is headquartered in Shanghai, China. It funds infrastructure and sustainable development projects in emerging economies.
6. Q6: (c) The Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) consists of India, the USA, Japan and Australia.
7. Q7: (b) The African Union became a permanent member of the G20 at the New Delhi Summit. The European Union was already a member.
8. Q8: (c) The SAARC Secretariat is in Kathmandu, Nepal. The organisation was established in 1985.
9. Q9: (a) BIMSTEC, which links South Asia and Southeast Asia around the Bay of Bengal, has its Secretariat in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
10. Q10: (b) The WTO, formed in 1995 as the successor to GATT, is based in Geneva, Switzerland.
11. Q11: (b) The AIIB is headquartered in Beijing. The Asian Development Bank, in contrast, is based in Manila.
12. Q12: (c) The ICJ sits at The Hague in the Netherlands and settles disputes between states. It should not be confused with the International Criminal Court, which is also at The Hague.
13. Q13: (b) The Durand Line, drawn in 1893, is the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
14. Q14: (c) The McMahon Line, drawn in 1914, marks the boundary between India and Tibet (China) in the eastern sector.
15. Q15: (c) The policy began under P. V. Narasimha Rao to strengthen ties with Southeast Asia. It was upgraded to the Act East Policy in 2014.

The UN System at a Glance

The United Nations came into existence on 24 October 1945, and India was one of its founding members. It has six principal organs: the General Assembly (all member states, one vote each), the Security Council (maintains international peace and security), the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Trusteeship Council (which suspended its operations in 1994), the International Court of Justice and the Secretariat headed by the Secretary-General. Decisions of the Security Council on important matters need nine votes out of fifteen, with no veto from any of the five permanent members. Remember that the veto power belongs only to the P5, and this is the reason why India demands the reform and expansion of the Council.

International Organisations and Their Headquarters

Important Boundary Lines

India's Foreign Policy Keywords

• Neighbourhood First: Priority to ties with South Asian neighbours.
• Act East: Closer links with Southeast Asia and East Asia, upgraded from the Look East Policy.
• Indo-Pacific vision (SAGAR): Security and Growth for All in the Region, a maritime approach.
• Strategic autonomy: India decides its policy on its own interests and does not join a rigid bloc.
• Non-alignment: India's historic policy of staying out of power blocs during the Cold War.

Tricks to Remember Headquarters

Group the organisations by city. Geneva has the WTO, WHO and ILO. Vienna has the IAEA and OPEC. Washington DC has the IMF and the World Bank. Beijing has the SCO Secretariat and the AIIB. Kathmandu has SAARC and Dhaka has BIMSTEC. When an option looks confusing, think about the city that hosts the maximum number of such bodies. The cities of the regional groups usually belong to a member country, which gives you another hint.

How to Prepare International Relations

Start with the basics: the UN system, its organs, the Security Council reform debate and the specialised agencies. Then study the regional groupings (SAARC, BIMSTEC, ASEAN, SCO, BRICS, G20, Quad) with their members, aims and India's role. Then read India's relations with the neighbours and major powers, and finally follow the news on summits and agreements. Our guide on current affairs preparation shows how to keep the notes. Use maps to remember locations of straits, borders and countries.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Mixing the ICJ and ICC: Both are at The Hague, but the ICJ settles disputes between states and the ICC tries individuals for serious crimes.
• Ignoring recent changes: Memberships and chairs change, so check the latest status of groupings before the exam.
• Learning headquarters without functions: Questions can ask the purpose of the body, not only its city.
• Not using maps: Boundary lines and straits are easier with a map.

After this test, revise your wrong answers and try the government schemes practice paper next.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which international organisations are important for UPSC Prelims?

The UN and its agencies, IMF, World Bank, WTO, WHO, SCO, BRICS, G20, Quad, ASEAN, SAARC and BIMSTEC are among the most important.

Where is the headquarters of the United Nations?

The headquarters of the United Nations is in New York.

Who are the permanent members of the UN Security Council?

The USA, the UK, France, Russia and China are the five permanent members of the Security Council.

Which countries form the Quad?

The Quad consists of India, the United States, Japan and Australia.

Where is the SCO headquarters?

The SCO Secretariat is in Beijing, China.

Where is the headquarters of SAARC and BIMSTEC?

SAARC is headquartered in Kathmandu and BIMSTEC in Dhaka.

What is the Durand Line?

The Durand Line is the boundary between Afghanistan and Pakistan, drawn in 1893.

What is the McMahon Line?

It is the boundary between India and Tibet (China) in the eastern sector, drawn in 1914.

What is the difference between the ICJ and the ICC?

The ICJ settles disputes between states, while the International Criminal Court tries individuals for serious international crimes.

What is India's Act East Policy?

It is India's policy to strengthen economic, strategic and cultural ties with Southeast and East Asia. It was upgraded from the Look East Policy in 2014.

How should I prepare international relations for the Prelims?

Study organisations with headquarters and members in tables, learn the boundary lines with maps, and follow summits and agreements through current affairs.

Is international relations important for the Mains?

Yes. It is a part of GS Paper 2 and also helps in the Essay and the Interview.