Genetically Modified (GM) Crops and India: 4 essential questions to understand the debate
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Disagreements over sensitive sectors such as agriculture and dairy have added to the uncertainty of an interim trade deal between India and the United States. As US negotiators are turning up the heat, urging India to open its agriculture market to genetically modified (GM) crops, India has been resisting US demands for greater access in the agriculture and dairy sectors and accepting GM imports. In this context, let's know about the GM crops — understanding the underlying technology, their potential benefits, and the broader concerns associated with them.
(Relevance: UPSC Syllabus General Studies- II, III: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Effects of liberalisation on the economy, Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.)
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) involve the modification of the genetic material of the host by the introduction of foreign genetic material. In the case of agriculture, soil bacteria is the best mining source for such genes, which are then inserted into the host genome using genetic engineering. For example, in the case of cotton, the introduction of the genes cry1Ac and cry2Ab mined from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) allows the native cotton plant to generate endotoxins to fight pink bollworm naturally. BT Cotton uses this advantage to help farmers naturally fight pink bollworm, which is the most common pest for cotton farmers.
Notably, GMOs is a broader term that includes GM crops as a subset. GM crops are plants used in agriculture whose DNA has been altered to add desired properties. They are usually developed to increase yield, resist pests/herbicides, and withstand extreme weather conditions.
Gene modification is different from genetic editing (GE). GM involves the introduction of genes from unrelated species into host plants. 'GM is nothing more than a breeding technique, much like crossing that we've been doing for thousands of years. But it's more sophisticated, so we can make very precise changes very rapidly,' said David Spencer, a phytopathologist and spokesperson for Replanet, an alliance of NGOs advocating for science-based solutions to climate change and the loss of biodiversity.
GE, also known as genome editing, on the other hand, entails mere 'editing' of genes naturally present in the host plant, leading to mutation or changes in their DNA sequence. No foreign genes or DNA are incorporated. In simple terms, gene editing is a technique that allows scientists to 'cut' DNA strands and edit genes. The technology enables a simple but remarkably efficient way to 'edit' the genetic codes of organisms, thus opening up the possibility of 'correcting' genetic information to cure diseases, prevent physical deformities, or even produce cosmetic enhancements.
There is significant resistance to GM crops in India. Only one GM crop, Bt cotton, is approved for cultivation. No GM food crop is commercially grown, although experimental trials continue. However, imports of GM soybean oil and canola oil are permitted.
Ashok Gulati and Ritika Juneja write- 'Approval for Bt brinjal and GM mustard (DMH 11), developed at Delhi University by Deepak Pental's team, remains on hold. These crops cleared in principle by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) haven't received full commercial green light. Bt brinjal has been under moratorium since 2009, while GM mustard got conditional environmental release in 2022—but commercialisation has stalled pending further regulatory checks and potentially a Supreme Court ruling.'
Regulation of GM crops
In India, the introduction of GM crops is a laborious process which involves multiple levels of checks. The GEAC, a high power committee under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, is the regulator for introduction of any GM material and in case of agriculture multiple field trials, data about biosafety and other information is necessary for getting the nod before commercial release of any GM crop.
According to the GEAC's An Overview of Genetically Modified Crops – 'Development, cultivation and transboundary movement of GM crops is regulated to ensure the safety of animal health, human health and biodiversity. In India, such regulations are provided in the Rules for Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms (HM) Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells, 1989 under the Environment Protection Act (1986). The rules cover:
📌All activities involving research and development of products containing GMOs including transgenic crops, pharma products, industrial products, food and foodstuffs.
📌Field and clinical trials
📌Deliberate or unintentional release
📌Import, export and manufacture
Notably, use of the unapproved GM variant can attract a jail term of 5 years and fine of Rs 1 lakh under the Environmental Protection Act ,1989.
After knowing the basics of GM crops, let's now understand the debate surrounding their potential benefits and associated concerns.
Across the world, GM crops have been a topic of debate, with many environmentalists opposing them on the grounds of biosafety and incomplete data, but for some experts it is the best science-based method for a sustainable global food system amidst biodiversity loss and a rising population.
The conventional plant breeding methods are very time-consuming and often not very accurate. Thus, genetically modified crops offer a novel way to improve yield, build resistances to pests, frost or drought, or add nutrients.
For example, in 2002 the government of India allowed Bt cotton in India, and later improved production of cotton was seen. Explaining this, Ashok Gulati and Ritika Juneja write, 'The only crop that is GM in India is cotton. It was Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government in 2002 when this bold decision to allow Bt cotton was taken. Today, more than 90 per cent of India's cotton area is under Bt cotton.
The results were dramatic. Cotton production surged from 13.6 million bales in 2002–03 to 39.8 million bales in 2013–14 — a phenomenal 193 per cent growth. Productivity shot up by 87 per cent (from 302 kg/ha to 566 kg/ha), and cultivated area expanded by 56 per cent, with Bt cotton dominating. Farmers' incomes soared, and Gujarat even witnessed an agrarian boom — the state averaged over 8 per cent annual growth in agri GDP. By then, India had become the world's second-largest cotton producer after China and the second-largest exporter after the US, hitting $4.1 billion of net exports during 2011-12.'
Crops can also be modified to reduce carbon emissions and boost the sustainability of food production. While widespread, GM crop production uses only about 10% of the land non-GM crop production uses.
Fred Schwaller writes, 'Gene editing technology has also helped save crop production from blights. In the late 20th century, the papaya ringspot virus almost wiped out papaya crops in Hawaii, but a local scientist developed a modified papaya that was resistant to the virus. Seeds were distributed to farmers, saving papaya production a decade later.'
When GM crops were first developed 30 years ago, uncertainty and concerns about safety were shared by scientists. Environmentalists argue that the long-lasting effect of GM crops is yet to be studied and thus they should not be released commercially. Genetic modification, they say, brings about changes that can be harmful to humans in the long run.
Ravi Dutta Mishra of The Indian Express explains, 'a 2013 report by the European Network of Scientists for Social and Environmental Responsibility (ENSSER) emphasised that many studies deeming GM foods safe were industry-funded and that long-term, independent studies were lacking.
New Delhi-based think tank GTRI said: 'Environmental studies have shown that widespread use of Bt crops can lead to pest resistance, such as in the pink bollworm, and pose risks to non-target species such as monarch butterflies, as suggested in a 1999 Nature study. Additionally, the overuse of glyphosate with herbicide-tolerant GM crops has led to 'superweeds' and increased herbicide use.'
The GTRI said that GM and non-GM crops may intermingle at various stages of the supply chain – during transport, storage or processing. 'Once GM material enters, there is a high risk it could leak into local farming systems or processed food chains, posing risks to food safety, environmental integrity, and India's export reputation – especially in GM-sensitive markets such as the EU,' the think tank warned.
It said the import of GM products, like animal feed, could negatively affect India's agricultural exports to the EU which enforces strict GM-labelling rules and faces strong consumer opposition to GM-linked products.
Although GM feed is permitted, many European buyers prefer fully GM-free supply chains. India's fragmented agri-logistics and lack of segregation infrastructure increase the likelihood of cross-contamination and trace GM presence in export consignments. This could result in shipment rejections, higher testing costs, and erosion of India's GM-free image, particularly in sectors like rice, tea, honey, spices and organic foods, the GTRI said.'
Additionally, GM crops are also criticised due to the overuse of specific herbicides. GM crops are mainly used to produce crops that are herbicide-resistant or produce pesticides. Farmers can then use herbicides on those crops to control weeds more effectively, without the plants themselves dying. This leads to higher yields on less land, and often with less chemicals used overall.
However, these crops rely on the use of lab-made chemicals. And although the government regulates them, ethical and safety debates continue. People raise concerns over potential long-term health impacts, impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems, and the increased corporate control over agriculture.
Prelims
(1) Other than resistance to pests, what are the prospects for which genetically engineered plants have been created? (UPSC CSE 2012)
1. To enable them to withstand drought
2. To increase the nutritive value of the produce
3. To enable them to grow and do photosynthesis in spaceships and space stations
4. To increase their shelf life
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 2 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
(2) Bollgard I and Bollgard II technologies are mentioned in the context of (UPSC CSE 2021)
(a) clonal propagation of crop plants
(b) developing genetically modified crop plants
(c) production of plant growth substances
(d) production of biofertilizers
(3) What is Cas9 protein that is often mentioned in news? (UPSC CSE 2019)
(a) A molecular scissors used in targeted gene editing
(b) A biosensor used in the accurate detection of pathogens in patients
(c) A gene that makes plants pest-resistant
(d) A herbicidal substance synthesized in genetically modified crops
Mains
How can biotechnology help to improve the living standards of farmers? (UPSC CSE 2019)
(Sources: Amid impasse over India deal, Trump says tariff letters for 12 nations signed, GM food, Knowledge Nugget: What to know about gene editing for UPSC as world's first GE rice varieties make headlines, geacindia.gov.in, GM seeds: the debate, and a sowing agitation, What's the latest on GMOs and gene-edited foods)
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Roshni Yadav is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She is an alumna of the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she pursued her graduation and post-graduation in Political Science. She has over five years of work experience in ed-tech and media. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. Her interests lie in national and international affairs, governance, economy, and social issues. You can contact her via email: roshni.yadav@indianexpress.com ... Read More
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Named SPARSH — System for Pension Administration Raksha — it is supposed to facilitate army veterans' access to their pension. — The cases reported in the story suggest that for many users, the portal is proving difficult to manage. The precise details it demands are not easy to fill in. — This story is not all that different from what admission seekers to colleges and universities experience. Session after session, the digitally managed centralised process of competition and admission has proved wasteful — in terms of time and effort. It is hardly possible to justify this loss as an 'inevitable teething trouble'. — Its latest avatar — artificial intelligence — is similarly perceived within a set frame. Unavoidability is the underlying assumption of this frame. — The idea of teaching as a means to encourage learning is incompatible with artificial intelligence. This is because teaching is a relational activity, its success being dependent on the student's sense of a human bond with the teacher. — Interactive smart boards and exposure to virtual reality can only destroy little children's innate search for bonding with their teacher. Of course they will feel excited while using AI equipment, but the psychological ill effects will not take long to manifest. Do You Know: — Vidyasagar Sharma writes: The recent incident in Rajasthan, where the roof of a government primary school collapsed during morning prayers, starkly illustrates the most basic need of any educational institution: A safe classroom, which our government schools have yet to achieve. — In rural and backward regions, many school buildings are in a state of decay. Separate toilets for girls are missing, and basic drinking water is unavailable. In such a state of infrastructural crisis, how can we expect our young minds to unleash creativity and develop design thinking skills? — Drishya Thekkumbad, in her article 'Digital Dreams, Divided Realities: Navigating Educational Access in India,' highlighted that 'only 32.4 per cent of India's 1.47 million schools have access to functional computers. Only 24.4 per cent have smart classrooms to aid teaching new-age skills.' — She further argued that the disparity is worse in government and rurally located schools, where access to WiFi, computers, and other equipment lags compared to private and urban-centric schools. — If we want to build Viksit Bharat — I would prefer what B R Ambedkar says, 'Prabuddha Bharat', an enlightened India — we must inculcate critical pedagogy in our curriculum, foster a scientific temperament, and cultivate civic consciousness among our young generations. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍'Digital India' is not prepared for digital education 📍What AI could do in the classroom Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: Professor Amartya Sen has advocated important reforms in the realms of primary education and primary health care. What are your suggestions to improve their status and performance? (2016) Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies-I, III: Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes, Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. What's the ongoing story: Stephen Alter writes-'This year's monsoon has been particularly destructive in the lower Himalaya, causing devastating erosion and flash floods in many parts of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.' Key Points to Ponder: — What are the ecological challenges faced by the Himalayan states? — How are extreme climate events causing disasters in the Himalayan region? — What is the interplay between natural climatic events and anthropogenic factors in causing disasters in the Himalayan region? — What are the factors behind the increasing vulnerability of Himalayan towns to flash floods and erosion? — Read about the Char Dham project. — What are cloudbursts? Is the frequency of cloudbursts increasing? Can cloudbursts be forecast? — Why do cloudbursts mostly occur in hilly or mountainous areas, and how can they lead to flash floods? — What should India do to reduce the risk of future catastrophe? Key Takeaways: — 'As early as mid-May, heavy rain struck the mountains, several weeks before the anticipated arrival of the monsoon. Friends and neighbours in my hometown of Mussoorie blamed these unexpected storms on 'climate change', shaking their heads with fatalistic despair. Somehow, they seemed to forget that violent pre-monsoon thunderstorms have occurred in Mussoorie for generations.' — 'Without a doubt, rapidly rising temperatures on our planet and the increasing presence of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere pose an enormous risk to the future of life on Earth as we know it. However, automatically blaming erratic weather on climate change often distracts us from the real causes and consequences. Unfortunately, this repeated refrain has become an alternative to the old, weather-beaten phrase, 'acts of god,' which insurance companies always invoked as a disclaimer.' — 'In recent memory, we have seen the catastrophic flash floods of 2013, when Kedarnath and the Mandakini Valley were inundated by an unstoppable surge of water and debris caused by a glacial outburst that was triggered by excessive rain. Two years earlier, in 2011, the Assi Ganga Valley near Uttarkashi was scoured of life by a powerful flood that washed away a large hydropower project along with many labourers who were camped by the river.' — 'All of this is to say that the tragic consequences of a heavy monsoon in populated areas of the Himalaya is not something new or unexpected. What has changed is the indiscriminate, unplanned and often illegal construction of homes, guesthouses, ashrams, hotels, Maggi points and military camps that lie directly in the path of potential flash floods.' — 'Much of the recent construction along the Char Dham Yatra route in Uttarakhand is in response to constantly increasing numbers of pilgrims visiting sacred sites near the sources of the Ganga. These were once remote shrines that devotees approached on foot, but they are now interconnected by ever-widening motor roads, not to mention helicopter services. Without some sort of control over the number of visitors that travel through these valleys, the magnitude of forthcoming disasters will only increase.' — 'The true consequences of global warming will be far more profound and prolonged than the natural disasters we are seeing today. Shifting weather patterns and melting glaciers in the — — — Himalaya are certainly part of the outcome. However, by always pointing a finger at climate change, we distance ourselves from the more immediate and avoidable factors that make these crises so horrendous and painfully familiar.' Do You Know: — As changing climate has destabilised weather patterns, in order to saving lives and reduce damage during natural disasters effective early warning systems are critical. For the same expanding and modernising weather monitoring infrastructure, especially in the Himalayas and fragile mountain regions, is essential. Establishing more Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) and utilising satellite-based observation systems can provide real-time data critical for early warnings. — Integrating ecological solutions into broader infrastructure planning is vital. As Anjal Prakash explains 'Instead of relying solely on grey infrastructure (such as dams and embankments), India must embrace ecological solutions — restoring wetlands, mangroves, and natural sponge zones that absorb floodwaters and reduce runoff. These nature-based solutions are cost-effective, sustainable, and adaptable to changing climate conditions. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍UPSC Issue at a Glance | Uttarkashi Cloudburst: What UPSC aspirants must-know for Prelims and Mains Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (4) Which of the following statements with regard to cloudburst is/are correct? (UPSC CDS 2017) 1. It is defined as sudden localized very heavy downpour with cloud thunder and lightning. 2. It mostly occurs in the hilly areas. 3. It results into very high intensity of rainfall, i.e., 250 mm-300 mm in a couple of hours. 4. It occurs only during the daytime. Select the correct answer using the code given below. (a) 1, 2, and 3 (b) 1, 3, and 4 (c) 2 and 3 (d) 2 only Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for July 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at
Indian Express
a day ago
- Indian Express
Daily subject-wise static quiz: History and Culture MCQs on Swadeshi, Quit India Movement, and more (Week 121)
Are you preparing for UPSC CSE Prelims? UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of daily subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today's subject quiz on History and Culture to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for July 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Consider the following quote: 'Calcutta is the centre from which the Congress party is manipulated throughout the whole of Bengal and indeed the whole of India.' Whose words are these? (a) Raja Ram Mohan Roy (b) Lord Canning (c) Lala Lajpat Rai (d) Lord Curzon On July 19, 1905, the then Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon, announced the division of Bengal into two provinces – East Bengal and Assam (predominately Muslim) and the western province called Bengal (primarily Hindus). While apologists of Curzon's regime claimed that the partition of Bengal aimed at administrative convenience, nationalist leaders called it a deliberate divide and rule policy. The political motive behind the bifurcation was to encourage Hindu-Muslim tensions and divide nationalist leaders of East and West Bengal, thereby weakening the growing opposition against the British rule in the province. It was evident in the words of Curzon: 'Calcutta is the centre from which the Congress party is manipulated throughout the whole of Bengal and indeed the whole of India.' Therefore, d is the correct answer. (For more, refer:Revisiting the legacy of Swadeshi movement amid Trump's tariff tirade, Dileep P Chandran, The Indian Express) Where was the idea of boycotting British goods first proposed during India's struggle for independence? (a) Weekly Sanjivani (b) Bipin Chandra Pal's New India (c) British House of Commons 1907 (d) Public meeting in Calcutta Town Hall in 1905 The failure of moderates' 'mendicant policies' (appealing to the British through prayers and petitions) to counter Curzon's repressive reforms led to the search for a new technique to demand revocation of the Bengal partition. The idea of boycotting British goods was first proposed in Krishnakumar Mitra's weekly Sanjivani on July 13, 1905, and later adopted by nationalist leaders at a public meeting in Calcutta Town Hall on August 7, 1905. Therefore, a is the correct answer. (For more, refer: Revisiting the legacy of Swadeshi movement amid Trump's tariff tirade, Dileep P Chandran, The Indian Express) Consider the following pairs: 1. Brahmobandhab Upadhyay : Sandhya and Yugantar 2. Aurobindo Ghosh : Bande Mataram 3. Bipin Chandra Pal : New India Which of the pairs given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 3 only (c) 2 and 3 0nly (d) 1, 2 and 3 Contrary to the expectation of the colonial administration that the protests against the partition would fade away soon, the Swadeshi movement expanded into a broader struggle for Swaraj, attracting young, educated youth. For the first time in the history of India, the movement attracted women, workers, peasants, and the marginalised to nationalist ideas. The period also witnessed the rapid growth of the vernacular press with a nationalistic tone. Young nationalists in Bengal viewed the partition as a 'national insult'. They were not satisfied with the mere call for self-reliance, like Rabindranath Tagore's concept of atmashakti (self-strengthening), and appealed for revolutionary politics. Publications like Bipin Chandra Pal's New India, Aurobindo Ghosh's Bande Mataram, Brahmobandhab Upadhyay's Sandhya and Yugantar called for a struggle for Swaraj, dismissing the peaceful movement of self-reliance as inadequate. Therefore, d is the correct answer. (For more, refer: Revisiting the legacy of Swadeshi movement amid Trump's tariff tirade, Dileep P Chandran, The Indian Express) Consider the following: 1. Formation of the Muslim League 2. Morley-Minto Reforms 3. Split between the moderates and extremists (Surat Session) What is the correct chronological order of events, starting with what happened first? (a) 1 – 2 – 3 (b) 1 – 3 – 2 (c) 3 – 1 – 2 (d) 3 – 2 – 1 The Swadeshi movement (1905-1911) laid the groundwork for many strategies adopted during the Gandhian phase of the national movement. Later, Mahatma Gandhi extended the idea of Swadeshi into the spiritual realm by linking it to a moral duty. He wrote, 'I should use only things that are produced by my immediate neighbours and serve those industries by making them efficient and complete where they may be found wanting.' However, there emerged differences among the leaders of the Swadeshi movement mainly at two levels. First, they could not agree over the political methods and goals, and resulted in the split between the moderates and extremists within the Indian National Congress at the Surat session in 1907. Second, there was a controversy associated with combining religious revivalism with political methods. The fusion of nationalism with Hindu symbols alienated minority communities from the national movement. The colonial administration exploited these tensions and deliberately fostered communal divisions, as seen in the formation of the Muslim League in 1906 and the introduction of separate electorates for Muslims in the Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909. Therefore, b is the correct answer. (For more, refer: Revisiting the legacy of Swadeshi movement amid Trump's tariff tirade, Dileep P Chandran, The Indian Express) Consider the following statements: 1. The slogan 'Quit India' was coined by Mahatma Gandhi. 2. India Wins Freedom (1959) is an autobiography of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. 3. Allama Iqbal wrote Urdu classic Ghubaar-e-khaatir which included Taraana-e-hind. Which of the statements given above is/are true? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1 and 3 only The Quit India Movement officially began on August 8, 1942. A few weeks earlier, on 14 July 1942, the Congress Working Committee had passed the Quit India Resolution, demanding a complete end to British rule. The slogan 'Quit India' was coined by Yusuf Meherally, a socialist leader, who was then the mayor of Bombay. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, who served as the youngest President of the Indian National Congress and after independence became India's first Education Minister, recalls in his autobiography India Wins Freedom (1959) how the resolution generated an 'electric atmosphere in the Country'. The Quit India movement triggered a wave of arrests, especially of senior Congress leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, who were interned at the Ahmednagar Fort Prison. Mahatma Gandhi was detained in the Agha Khan's Summer Palace in nearby Poona. During more than two years they spent in Ahmednagar Fort Prison, Nehru and Azad, who were not just leaders of the national movement but also men of quite extensive learning, began writing two of their finest works. Nehru wrote his seminal work, The Discovery of India, while Azad composed his much-loved Urdu classic, Ghubaar-e-khaatir, a collection of letters penned in the early morning hours when the Maulana would ruminate over subjects as diverse as life, literature, philosophy, and history, all over his favourite cup of Chinese Jasmine tea. Interestingly, other eminent co-prisoners and intellectuals, including J.B. Kripalani and Pattabhi Sitaramayya, also spent their time writing books. Therefore, b is the correct answer. (For more, refer: Quit India Movement – Protests, prison writings, and post-war order by Amir Ali, The Indian Express) 'I wanted India to take an eager and active part in the mighty conflict, for I felt that high principles would be at stake, and out of this conflict would come great and revolutionary changes in India and the world.' Whose words are these, in reference to India's potential role in World War II ? (a) Lord Linlithgow (b) Muhammad Ali Jinnah (c) Jawaharlal Nehru (d) Subhas Chandra Bose The backdrop to the Quit India movement was thus very much shaped by the uncertain global situation that had arisen with the Second World War. Some leaders of the Indian national movement tended to sympathise more with the Allied powers, who claimed to be on the side of democracy and freedom as they fought against the Fascist Axis powers of Germany, Italy and Japan. However, there was a feeling that support for the Allied powers needed to be tied to a greater commitment on the part of the British towards granting India self-rule after the war. US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt advocated freedom for India, exerting pressure on Britain and further reiterating his 'Four Freedoms' outlined in his State of the Union Address in 1941. In India, resentment had already been building over the way the then Viceroy Lord Linlithgow, at the very outset of the war in 1939, unilaterally declared India's involvement in the war effort without consulting the national leadership. Notably, Jawaharlal Nehru presented his assessment of the political situation in The Discovery of India in the following manner: 'I wanted India to take an eager and active part in the mighty conflict, for I felt that high principles would be at stake, and out of this conflict would come great and revolutionary changes in India and the world.' Therefore, c is the correct answer. (For more, refer: Quit India Movement – Protests, prison writings, and post-war order by Amir Ali, The Indian Express) Consider the following statements: 1. In June 1945, the then Viceroy, Lord Linlithgow, announced his intention of holding a conference at Simla (Simla Conference), proposing that Indian leaders be included in the Viceroy's Executive Council to create an interim self-government, with a view to prospective self-rule. 2. The Simla Conference failed due to the Muslim League's insistence that it alone would nominate Muslim representatives to the Executive Council. Which of the above given statements is/are true? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 During Quit India Movement: While the Congress leadership was in jail, the Muslim League under the leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah continued to be active outside. In June 1945, the then Viceroy, Lord Archibald Wavell, announced his intention of holding a conference at Shimla, proposing that Indian leaders be included in the Viceroy's Executive Council to create an interim self-government, with a view to prospective self-rule. The timing reflected the changed wartime context: the war in Europe had come to an end, though Japan had not yet surrendered. However, the Simla Conference failed due to the Muslim League's insistence that it alone would nominate Muslim representatives to the Executive Council. Therefore, b is the correct answer. (For more, refer: Quit India Movement – Protests, prison writings, and post-war order by Amir Ali, The Indian Express) With reference to Ahmednagar Fort, consider the following statements: 1. The Quit India movement triggered a wave of arrests, especially of senior Congress leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, who were interned at the Ahmednagar Fort Prison. 2. Jawaharlal Nehru wrote 'The Discovery of India' while imprisoned at the Ahmednagar Fort by the British, during the Quit India Movement between 1942 and 1946. Which of the statements give above is/are true? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 The Quit India movement triggered a wave of arrests, especially of senior Congress leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, who were interned at the Ahmednagar Fort Prison. Mahatma Gandhi was detained in the Agha Khan's Summer Palace in nearby Poona. During more than two years they spent in Ahmednagar Fort Prison, Nehru and Azad, who were not just leaders of the national movement but also men of quite extensive learning, began writing two of their finest works. Nehru wrote his seminal work, The Discovery of India, while Azad composed his much-loved Urdu classic, Ghubaar-e-khaatir, a collection of letters penned in the early morning hours when the Maulana would ruminate over subjects as diverse as life, literature, philosophy, and history, all over his favourite cup of Chinese Jasmine tea. Interestingly, other eminent co-prisoners and intellectuals, including J.B. Kripalani and Pattabhi Sitaramayya, also spent their time writing books. In the final chapter of The Discovery of India, titled 'Ahmednagar Fort Again', dated August 13, 1944, Nehru observes: 'It is just over two years since we came here, two years of a dream life rooted in one spot, with the same few individuals to see, the same limited environment, the same routine from day to day'. Therefore, b is the correct answer. (For more, refer: Quit India Movement – Protests, prison writings, and post-war order by Amir Ali, The Indian Express) You are invited to the next Express with Uttam Kumar Sinha, Senior Fellow at Manohar Parrikar-IDSA and Managing Editor of Strategic Analysis in conversation with Amitabh Sinha, Editor, Climate and Science, The Indian Express. Date:- June 13, 2025 l Time:- 6:00 P.M.|Place:- Zoom Topic- Indus Waters Treaty Join Now: Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
Daily subject-wise quiz : International Relations MCQs on Nagorno-Karabakh, BIMSTEC and more (Week 122)
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today's subject quiz on International Relations to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for July 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at With reference to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), consider the following statements: 1. It is a connectivity project to develop infrastructure to enhance trade among India, the Arabian Peninsula, the Mediterranean region and Europe. 2. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the IMEC was signed in 2023 in New Delhi during the G-20 summit. 3. The IMEC comprises two corridors — India-Gulf and Gulf-Europe. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Explanation — India's National Security Council Secretariat hosted envoys and officials from the United States, UAE, Saudi Arabia, France, Italy, Germany, Israel, Jordan and the European Union, to discuss progress on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). — The IMEC was announced during the G20 Summit held in New Delhi in 2023 'to stimulate economic development through enhanced connectivity and economic integration between Asia, the Arabian Gulf, and Europe.' Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct. — The IMEC comprises two corridors — India-Gulf and Gulf-Europe. Hence, statement 3 is correct. — Its eastern section would transport containers from India's western ports to the UAE, from where a high-speed goods railway will transport commodities across the Arabian peninsula (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan) to Israel's port of Haifa. — The second leg will see cargo carried from Haifa to ports in Greece and Italy, from where Europe's well-established train networks would transport goods to their final destinations throughout the continent. — Overall, the IMEC is intended to reduce shipping time from India to Europe by around 40% compared to the Red Sea route. However, after the announcement, development has been minimal. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. With reference to the BIMSTEC, consider the following statements: 1. It includes countries of the Bay of Bengal region and seeks to act as a bridge between South and Southeast Asia. 2. The latest members to join BIMSTEC are Myanmar and Sri Lanka. 3. China has undertaken a massive drive to finance and build infrastructure in South and Southeast Asia through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in all BIMSTEC countries. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Explanation — BIMSTEC includes countries of the Bay of Bengal region and seeks to act as a bridge between South and Southeast Asia. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — Originally formed as BIST-EC (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand Economic Cooperation) in 1997, it became BIMST-EC after Myanmar joined, and BIMSTEC in 2004 with Nepal and Bhutan. Hence, statement 2 is not correct. — It provides a common platform for countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia at a time when the SAARC is more or less defunct. While the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is seen as one of more cohesive groupings in the world, the lack of forward movement in the fraught India-Pakistan relationship has left few options for South Asian countries. Landlocked countries, Nepal and Bhutan, may also benefit from access to the Bay of Bengal as a result of better ties with BIMSTEC countries. — China is another key part of the equation. It has undertaken a massive drive to finance and build infrastructure in South and Southeast Asia through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the last decade, in almost all BIMSTEC countries except Bhutan and India. Hence, statement 3 is not correct. — BIMSTEC could allow India to push a constructive agenda to counter Chinese investments, and the Bay of Bengal can be showcased as open and peaceful, contrasting with China's behaviour in the South China Sea. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. The nuclear weapons storage site at Coulport was in the news due to the release of low levels of tritium. The site is located in: (a) Russia (b) United Kingdom (c) Ukraine (d) Iran Explanation — Radioactive water from the UK's nuclear weapons storage site at Coulport was allowed to enter the sea after a series of burst pipes, according to official files obtained by The Guardian. — The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) found that the leaks, which released low levels of tritium into Loch Long near Glasgow, were the result of 'shortfalls in maintenance' by the Royal Navy. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. The dissolution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in December 1991 gave rise to: 1. Belarus 2. Russia 3. Kyrgyzstan 4. Tajikistan 5. Turkey Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a) 2, 3 and 4 (b) 1, 2, 3 and 4 (c) 3, 4 and 5 (d) 3 and 4 only Explanation — The dissolution of the Soviet Union dismantled the ideological 'iron curtain' and paved the way for a new global order characterised by the rise of powers like India and China, exerting significant influence in global politics. — The dissolution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in December 1991 gave rise to 15 new republics. These included Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. The region of Nagorno-Karabakh was in the news. It is located in: (a) Azerbaijan (b) Georgia (c) Armenia (d) Turkey Explanation — Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a US-brokered peace agreement that would boost bilateral economic ties after decades of conflict and move them toward a full normalization of their relations. — Armenia and Azerbaijan have been at odds since the late 1980s when Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous Azerbaijani region mostly populated by ethnic Armenians, broke away from Azerbaijan with support from Armenia. Azerbaijan took back full control of the region in 2023, prompting almost all of the territory's 100,000 ethnic Armenians to flee to Armenia. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 120) Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 122) Daily subject-wise quiz — Science and Technology (Week 122) Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 122) Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 122) Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 121) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
