Посты канала Officers IAS Academy - Study Group

Answer: D
Soln:
● Durand Line is the international land border that stretches for about 1,600 miles (2,600 km) between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Hence, option D is correct.
● It was established in 1893 as the border between British India and the Emirate of Afghanistan, marking their respective spheres of influence.
● It is named for Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, the foreign secretary of British India, who induced Abdur Rahman Khan, the emir of Afghanistan, to agree to an international boundary.
● This line is not accepted by Afghanistan at present. It says that the line splits many native Pashtun families residing in the region for centuries. Of late, this has caused tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

5. Durand line, recently seen in news, forms the rough boundary between Afghanistan and which of the following countries?

Answer: A
Soln:
● The Washington Treaty – or North Atlantic Treaty – forms the basis of the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization – or NATO. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● The Treaty was signed in Washington D.C. on 4 April 1949 by 12 founding members.
● The Treaty derives its authority from Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which
reaffirms the inherent right of independent states to individual or collective defence.
● Collective defence is at the heart of the Treaty and is enshrined in Article 5. It commits
members to protect each other and sets a spirit of solidarity within the Alliance. Hence,
statement 2 is correct.
● NATO’s purpose is to guarantee the freedom and security of its members through
political and military means.
○ POLITICAL – NATO promotes democratic values and enables members to consult
and cooperate on defence and security-related issues to solve problems, build trust
and, in the long run, prevent conflict.
○ MILITARY – NATO is committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes. If diplomatic
efforts fail, it has the military power to undertake crisis-management operations.
○ These are carried out under the collective defence clause of NATO's founding treaty
– Article 5 of the Washington Treaty or under a United Nations mandate, alone or in
cooperation with other countries and international organisations.

● NATO enlargement: NATO membership is open to “any other European state in a
position to further the principles of this Treaty and to contribute to the security of the
North Atlantic area.” Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.

Answer: C
Soln:
● Rakhine State is the most western state in Myanmar and has a population of three
million. Hence, option C is correct.

4. Consider the following statements about NATO.
1. The North Atlantic Treaty forms the basis of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
2. Collective defence is the goal behind this organisation.
3. It is open to countries in Africa and South America.

3. Rakhine region, recently seen in the news, belongs to which of the following countries?

Answer: A
Soln:
● The Z-Morh tunnel is set to become the first major milestone in the effort to build a
strategic corridor between Kashmir and Ladakh which is open all through the year.
Hence, option A is correct.

● It is built under the mountain glacier of Thajiwas Glacier between Gagangir and
Sonamarg, the tunnel bypasses the landslide- and avalanche-prone pockets of the road.
● An intelligent traffic management system will make it easier to control the flow of vehicles
and will also open up the Thajiwas Glacier and Sindh River for adventure tourism.
● The 6.5-km long two-lane tunnel is a key feature of the strategic access route to Ladakh.
● The main tunnel is 10.8 metres wide, with a modified horseshoe-shaped escape tunnel of
7.5 metres, D-shaped ventilation tunnel of 8.3 metres, two major culverts of 110 metres and
270 metres length, and one small culvert which is 30 metres long.
● The Z-Morh will lead towards the Zojila tunnel, which is being constructed nearby.

2. Z-Morh tunnel, recently seen in news, connects which of the following regions of India?

Answer: B
Soln:
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
● 9 January commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India in
1915. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● To mark this day, the tradition of celebrating Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) started in 2003.
● 1st PBD Convention was organised on 9 January 2003 to mark the contribution of the
overseas Indian community to the development of India.
● Since 2015, under a revised format, PBD Convention has been organised once every 2
years. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
● 17 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Conventions have been organised till date. 17th PBD was held
from 8 – 10 January 2023 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. The theme of the 17th PBD
Convention was "Diaspora: Reliable Partners for India's Progress in Amrit Kaal".
● The 18th PBD Convention will be held from 8 – 10 January 2025 in Bhubaneswar,
Odisha. The theme of the 18th PBD Convention is "Diaspora's Contribution to a Viksit
Bharat".
● The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) is the highest honour conferred on
overseas Indians. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
● PBSA is conferred by the Hon’ble President of India as part of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
Convention on Non-Resident Indians, Persons of Indian Origin or an
organization/institution established and run by the Non-Resident Indians or Persons of
Indian Origin in recognition of their outstanding achievements both in India and abroad.
● The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards will be conferred by the Hon’ble President of
India at the PBD Convention in the Valedictory Session of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
celebrations.

1. Consider the following statements about ‘Pravasi Bharatiya Divas’.
1. The day commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India in
1915.
2. The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) is the highest honour conferred on
overseas Indians.
3. A convention is organised once every year to mark the contribution of the overseas
Indian community to the development of India.