UPSC Prelims 2000 Q24: Current Affairs – International Conflicts & Security
- (a) A - 2, B - 1, C - 5, D - 3
- (b) A - 3, B - 4, C - 2, D - 1
- (c) A - 4, B - 1, C - 2, D - 3
- (d) A - 4, B - 3, C - 5, D - 2
Answer: (c) A - 4, B - 1, C - 2, D - 3
Explanation
International events of 1999-2000 and their places on a map
| Event | Place |
|---|---|
| A. Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, 1999 | Durban, South Africa (November 1999) |
| B. WTO Ministerial Conference, 1999 | Seattle, USA (third ministerial, November-December 1999) |
| C. Israel-Syria peace talks, January 2000 | Shepherdstown, West Virginia, USA |
| D. Russian military action, January 2000 | Grozny, Chechnya (Second Chechen War) |
The map for this question is not available, and no published copy we could find shows it or confirms the answer. The answer below is the key held in our question bank and is not independently verified.
The real places are certain: the Commonwealth summit met at Durban, the WTO ministerial at Seattle, Israel and Syria talked at Shepherdstown in the USA, and Russian troops fought for Grozny in Chechnya.
The bank key (c) puts A at 4, B at 1, C at 2 and D at 3 on the map.
Answer: (c) A - 4, B - 1, C - 2, D - 3 (key held in our bank; not independently verified).
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. The bank key places the events at 4, 1, 2, 3.
- (b) Incorrect. The bank key places the events at 4, 1, 2, 3.
- (c) CORRECT. Bank key, not independently verified: A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3.
- (d) Incorrect. The bank key places the events at 4, 1, 2, 3.
Key point
The 1999 Seattle WTO ministerial collapsed amid mass street protests ('Battle of Seattle').
Remember
CHOGM 1999 Durban; WTO 1999 Seattle; Israel-Syria 2000 Shepherdstown; Russia 2000 Grozny.
Common mistakes
- Placing the 1999 Commonwealth summit in London or Edinburgh (Edinburgh was 1997).
- Thinking the Israel-Syria talks were in the Middle East; they were in the USA.
- Mixing up Grozny (Chechnya) with Dagestan.
Exam tip
1999-2000: Durban, Seattle, Shepherdstown, Grozny.
Sources
- Commonwealth Secretariat — CHOGM 1999, Durban (thecommonwealth.org)
- World Trade Organization — Third Ministerial Conference, Seattle, 30 November-3 December 1999 (wto.org)