UPSC Prelims 2009 Q115: Current Affairs – International Conflicts & Security
From which one of the following did Kosovo declare its independence ?
- (a) Bulgaria
- (b) Croatia
- (c) Macedonia
- (d) Serbia
Answer: (d) Serbia
Explanation
From which country Kosovo declared independence
This 2008 declaration marked a major, contested geopolitical event in the Balkans.
| Option | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| (a) Bulgaria | Incorrect | Not the country Kosovo separated from |
| (b) Croatia | Incorrect | Also not the relevant country |
| (c) Macedonia | Incorrect | Also unrelated to Kosovo's declaration |
| (d) Serbia | Correct | Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a move recognized by some countries but disputed by others, including Serbia itself |
Kosovo's independence facts:
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Declared independence from | Serbia |
| Year | 2008 |
Answer: (d) Serbia.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Bulgaria is unrelated to Kosovo's declaration.
- (b) Incorrect. Croatia is also unrelated.
- (c) Incorrect. Macedonia is also not the relevant country.
- (d) CORRECT. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008.
Key point
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008.
Remember
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia.
Common mistakes
- Confusing Kosovo's actual separation from Serbia with other former Yugoslav states.
- Not knowing the 2008 timeline of this declaration.
- Mixing up different Balkan countries' independence histories.
Exam tip
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 — a disputed but globally significant geopolitical event.
Sources
- International Court of Justice — Accordance with international law of the unilateral declaration of independence in respect of Kosovo, Advisory Opinion (22 July 2010)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Kosovo