UPSC Prelims 2020 Q10: Current Affairs – International Relations & Treaties
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 4 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 2, 3 and 4 only
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
Explanation
International Agreements: Subject Matching
| Agreement/Setup | Subject | Match? |
|---|---|---|
| Alma-Ata Declaration (1978) | Healthcare of the people | CORRECT |
| Hague Convention (1899/1907) | Biological + chemical weapons | WRONG - Hague addresses laws of war, weapons treaties are Geneva/CWC |
| Talanoa Dialogue (2017) | Global climate change | CORRECT |
| Under2 Coalition | Child rights | WRONG - focuses on climate action by sub-national govts, not child rights |
Alma-Ata Declaration (1978) - WHO Conference in USSR on primary healthcare. Talanoa Dialogue (2017) - UNFCCC process for climate negotiations. Only 1 and 3 match correctly.
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Hague Convention is about laws of war, not biological/chemical weapons.
- (b) Incorrect. Under2 Coalition is climate-focused, not child rights.
- (c) CORRECT. Only Alma-Ata Declaration (healthcare) and Talanoa Dialogue (climate change) are correctly matched. Hague is about laws of war; Under2 is about climate.
- (d) Incorrect. Both Hague and Under2 pairings are wrong.
Key point
Correct pairings: (1) Alma-Ata Declaration - primary healthcare (1978). (3) Talanoa Dialogue - climate negotiations (2017). Wrong: Hague Convention (laws of war, not bioweapons/chemical weapons); Under2 Coalition (sub-national climate action, not child rights).
Remember
The correctly matched pairs are (1) Alma-Ata Declaration - Healthcare of the people, and (3) Talanoa Dialogue - Global climate change. The Hague Convention addresses laws of war, not bioweapons/chemical weapons. The Under2 Coalition focuses on climate action by sub-national governments, not child rights.
Common mistakes
- Confusing Hague Convention (laws of armed conflict) with Biological Weapons Convention (1972) and Chemical Weapons Convention (1997).
- Assuming Under2 Coalition targets child rights. It's a coalition of sub-national governments (cities, states) committed to climate action.
- Missing Alma-Ata's historical significance as the foundational 'Health for All by 2000' declaration.
Exam tip
Treaty families: Hague Conventions = laws of war (1899, 1907, plus protocols). Bioweapons/Chem weapons = separate treaties (1972, 1997). Talanoa Dialogue = Fiji-led UNFCCC initiative (2017) on pre-2020 climate action. Under2 Coalition = sub-national networks (C40, ICLEI).
Sources
- Alma-Ata Declaration, 1978 - WHO/UNICEF Joint Declaration
- UNFCCC - Talanoa Dialogue (2017)
- Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907