UPSC Prelims 2016 Q19: Current Affairs – International Relations & Treaties
Consider the following pairs: Community sometimes mentioned in the news - In the affairs
of
1. Kurd - Bangladesh
2. Madhesi - Nepal
3. Rohingya - Myanmar
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
- (a) 1 and 2
- (b) 2 only
- (c) 2 and 3
- (d) 3 only
Answer: (c) 2 and 3
Explanation
Communities in the news and the countries concerned
| Pair | Verdict | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Kurd - Bangladesh | Incorrect | Kurds live across Turkey, Iraq, Syria and Iran |
| 2. Madhesi - Nepal | Correct | Madhesis live in the Terai plains of Nepal; they protested against the 2015 Constitution |
| 3. Rohingya - Myanmar | Correct | Rohingyas are a Muslim minority of Rakhine State, denied citizenship |
More on each community:
| Community | Issue |
|---|---|
| Kurds | Largest ethnic group without a state; fought Islamic State |
| Madhesis | Sought fair representation and federal boundaries in Nepal |
| Rohingyas | Stateless; many fled to Bangladesh |
Answer: (c) 2 and 3.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Kurds are a West Asian people; they are not in the affairs of Bangladesh.
- (b) Incorrect. Pair 3 is also right: Rohingyas belong to the affairs of Myanmar.
- (c) CORRECT. Madhesi - Nepal and Rohingya - Myanmar are correctly matched.
- (d) Incorrect. Pair 2 is also right: Madhesis are a community of Nepal.
Key point
Kurds - Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Iran; Madhesis - Nepal's Terai; Rohingyas - Rakhine State, Myanmar.
Remember
Kurds = West Asia; Madhesi = Nepal; Rohingya = Myanmar.
Common mistakes
- Linking Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh to the wrong pair.
- Not knowing that the Kurds are spread over four countries.
- Confusing Madhesis (plains of Nepal) with hill communities.
Exam tip
Match the community to its home region, not to where refugees went.
Sources
- Ministry of External Affairs — India-Nepal and India-Myanmar bilateral briefs
- UNHCR — Rohingya emergency