International Affairs in Current Affairs – RPSC Study Notes

Introduction

International Affairs as a subtopic within Current Affairs for the RPSC examination covers the broad spectrum of events, agreements, summits, reports, and diplomatic engagements that occur beyond India’s borders but have direct or indirect implications for India’s national interest, foreign policy, and global standing. The RPSC has consistently drawn questions from this domain, testing not only factual recall but also the aspirant’s ability to connect a specific event with its broader context—who co-chaired a dialogue, where a summit was held, why a heritage site made news, or what a global happiness report revealed.

Over the years, the Commission has asked five questions in the available question sets (RPSC 2016, 2021, 2024) that span a remarkably wide canvas: from the mechanics of Brexit to the recognition of Dholavira as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, from the India-Japan Finance Dialogue to the Submarine Cable Resilience Summit, and from the World Happiness Report to its statements. This diversity tells us something crucial: International Affairs for RPSC is not limited to big-budget diplomatic visits or mainstream treaties. It includes niche techno-economic summits (submarine cables), international cultural designations (UNESCO), and even soft-power indices (happiness report). The pattern signals that RPSC expects aspirants to be equally comfortable with traditional diplomatic history and contemporary global governance issues.

Why does this chapter matter for your preparation? First, International Affairs questions are relatively high-yield because they are based on current developments that can be studied within a defined timeframe (typically the 12–24 months preceding the exam). Unlike static portions that require memorising entire histories, these questions reward strategic reading of credible sources. Second, the questions have often been of factual-direct nature: who, where, which country, which statement is correct. This means that a well-organised revision sheet can cover the bulk of possible surprises. Third, and most critically, the RPSC has shown a tendency to repeat conceptual families—for instance, asking about a dialogue (India-Japan) in 2024, then about a summit (Submarine Cable) in the same year, and about an index (World Happiness) in the same year. This clustering suggests that a single exam cycle may test multiple dimensions of International Affairs, making it essential to cover the full spectrum rather than cherry-picking popular topics.

The level of difficulty in these questions ranges from moderate to easy. None require deep interpretative analysis; instead, they test awareness of specific facts—names of officials, venues, inclusion in a list, or correctness of statements. Yet, the subtlety lies in the distractors. In the India-Japan Finance Dialogue question, for instance, a student who confuses the Foreign Secretary (Vikram Misri) with the Economic Affairs Secretary (Ajay Seth) would fall into a trap. Similarly, in the Brexit question, associating the movement primarily with David Cameron (who resigned) or with the Governor of the Bank of England (Mark Carney) would lead to a wrong answer. Hence, the difference between a correct and an incorrect answer often hinges on precision: knowing the exact role of the person, the exact venue of the summit, or the exact year of inclusion.

Through this chapter, you will learn to systematically approach International Affairs by:

• Breaking down each event into its key components (what, when, where, who, why).
• Understanding the underlying logic that connects seemingly disparate topics (e.g., submarine cable resilience is linked to digital sovereignty; UNESCO recognition is linked to cultural diplomacy).
• Recognising common traps and building memory aids to avoid them.
• Analysing the pattern of past questions to forecast what is likely to be asked next.

By the end of this chapter, you should be able to answer not only the five PYQs we will work through but also any new question that follows a similar structural template. Let us now build the foundational vocabulary required to navigate this terrain.

Core Concepts & Foundations

Before diving into specific events, it is essential to establish a shared understanding of the key terms that recur in International Affairs questions. Each term below is defined in its own blockquote, and the explanations are built from first principles—assuming no prior knowledge.

Bilateral Dialogue: A formal meeting or series of meetings between two countries to discuss areas of mutual interest, such as trade, finance, defence, or culture. Unlike multilateral forums (e.g., United Nations), bilateral dialogues focus on the specific relationship between two sovereign states. Example: India-Japan Finance Dialogue.

Finance Dialogue / Economic Dialogue: A subtype of bilateral dialogue where the finance ministries and central banks of two countries exchange views on macroeconomic policies, financial regulation, infrastructure investment, and digital finance. These dialogues often result in joint statements, MoUs, or new funding commitments. As tested in RPSC 2024, the 2nd India-Japan Finance Dialogue was co-chaired by India's Economic Affairs Secretary Ajay Seth and Japan's Vice Minister of Finance for International Affairs Atsushi Mimura.

Summit: A high-level meeting typically attended by heads of state, heads of government, or senior ministers. Summits can be thematic (e.g., Submarine Cable Resilience Summit) or institutional (e.g., G20 Summit). They usually conclude with a declaration, action plan, or communiqué.

Submarine Cable: An undersea fibre-optic cable that carries the vast majority of intercontinental internet traffic and telephone communications. More than 95% of global data is transmitted through these cables. Their resilience is critical because a single cable cut can disrupt connectivity for entire countries.

Resilience Summit: A gathering of governments, industry players, and international organisations to address vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure. The Submarine Cable Resilience Summit, announced for February 2025 in Nigeria, reflects growing global concern about cable damage from ship anchors, natural disasters, or sabotage. The choice of Nigeria is strategic because it is a major internet traffic hub in West Africa.

UNESCO: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It designates sites of outstanding universal value as World Heritage Sites. Inclusion brings international recognition, potential tourism revenue, and obligations for preservation. As tested in RPSC 2021, Dholavira (Gujarat) was included in the list of World Heritage Sites in 2021, becoming the 40th UNESCO World Heritage Site in India.

World Heritage Site: A landmark or area legally protected by international convention under UNESCO. Sites are selected based on ten criteria—six cultural and four natural. Dholavira, a Harappan-era city, was recognised under cultural criteria.

World Happiness Report: An annual publication by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network that ranks countries by happiness levels based on six factors: GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and perceptions of corruption. The 2024 edition reported Finland as the happiest country for the seventh consecutive year, while India ranked 126th. As tested in RPSC 2024, the report's statements needed to be evaluated for correctness.

Brexit: A portmanteau of “British exit” from the European Union (EU). The UK’s withdrawal followed a 2016 referendum in which 51.9% voted to leave. The process took four years and was formally completed on 31 January 2020. The movement to leave the EU was politically led by Boris Johnson, who served as Mayor of London, a prominent Leave campaigner, and later as Prime Minister who finalised the withdrawal. As tested in RPSC 2016, Boris Johnson is correctly associated with leading the movement for withdrawal.

European Union (EU): An economic and political union of 27 European countries (as of 2025). It operates through a single market, common trade policies, and supranational institutions. The UK was a member from 1973 until its withdrawal.

Boris Johnson (1964–): British politician who served as Mayor of London (2008–2016) and Prime Minister of the UK (2019–2022). He was a central figure in the Vote Leave campaign during the 2016 referendum. His role as the face of the Brexit movement is well-documented, though other figures like Nigel Farage also contributed. RPSC 2016 specifically asked who led the movement—the answer is Boris Johnson.

Ajay Seth: An Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1987 batch (Karnataka cadre). He serves as Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance. He co-chaired the 2nd India-Japan Finance Dialogue in Tokyo, September 2024.

Vikram Misri: An Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer who has served as India’s Ambassador to China and currently as Deputy National Security Advisor. He was a distractor in the India-Japan Finance Dialogue question because his name is often associated with Japan—he served as Ambassador to Japan from 2019 to 2021. But he is not the Finance Dialogue co-chair.

Dammu Ravi: IFS officer, currently Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs. His portfolio includes economic diplomacy, making him a plausible but incorrect answer for the Finance Dialogue.

Tuhinkanta Pandey: IFS officer, currently serving as India’s Ambassador to Japan (as of 2024). His name might be confused because of the Japan connection, but he is not the co-chair of the Finance Dialogue.

Mark Carney: Canadian economist who served as Governor of the Bank of England (2013–2020). He was not a political leader of the Leave movement; in fact, he was a neutral central banker. His name appears as a distractor in the Brexit question because of his prominence during the referendum period.

George Osborne: British politician who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer (2010–2016). He campaigned for Remain, not Leave. Therefore, he is incorrect.

Jean-Claude Juncker: Luxembourgish politician who served as President of the European Commission (2014–2019). He was the lead EU negotiator during Brexit, not a leader of the withdrawal movement within the UK.

With these definitions in place, we can now explore each deep-dive section, linking the PYQs to broader conceptual frameworks.

India-Japan Bilateral Economic & Financial Cooperation

Background of India-Japan Relations

India and Japan share a long history of economic cooperation, dating back to the India-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) of 2011. In recent years, the relationship has intensified under the framework of the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership. Key pillars include infrastructure development (Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail), defence cooperation, and financial sector collaboration.

The India-Japan Finance Dialogue

The India-Japan Finance Dialogue is a relatively new bilateral mechanism, launched to deepen coordination on macroeconomic policies, financial regulation, and investment flows. The first meeting was held in 2023 in New Delhi. The second meeting took place in Tokyo, September 2024, co-chaired by Ajay Seth (India) and Atsushi Mimura (Japan).

This dialogue covers topics such as:

• Fintech and digital finance – including cross-border payments and CBDCs (Central Bank Digital Currencies).
• Infrastructure financing – leveraging Japan’s expertise in project finance for Indian infrastructure.
• Climate finance – aligning with both countries’ net-zero targets.
• Financial stability – discussing macroprudential policies and global spillovers.

Why does RPSC ask about such dialogues? Because they test the aspirant’s awareness of who represents India at high-level economic meets. Unlike defence or foreign ministry dialogues (which are typically led by External Affairs Minister or Foreign Secretary), finance dialogues are led by the Economic Affairs Secretary or Finance Minister. Students often confuse the Ministry of External Affairs officials with Ministry of Finance officials.

The Correct Answer in RPSC 2024

The question “Who among the following from India, co-chaired with Mr. Atsushi Mimura, at the 2nd India Japan Finance Dialogue held at Tokyo in September, 2024?” expects the answer Ajay Seth. The other choices were designed to trap students who remember Japan-related diplomats:

• Vikram Misri – was India’s Ambassador to Japan (2019–2021), but his role was diplomatic, not finance.
• Tuhinkanta Pandey – is the current Ambassador to Japan (as of 2024), still not the co-chair.
• Dammu Ravi – Secretary (Economic Relations) in MEA, handles trade negotiations but not the finance dialogue co-chair role.
• Question not attempted – a bogus option.

Why Ajay Seth Specifically?

The Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) in India’s Ministry of Finance is the nodal agency for bilateral finance dialogues. The Secretary, DEA, represents India in such forums. Ajay Seth assumed the role in 2021. Knowing the hierarchy of officers in the Ministry of Finance is a useful preparation strategy.

Broader Implications for RPSC

This question demonstrates that RPSC values role-specific knowledge. A student who simply memorises “India-Japan dialogue” must also know which ministry leads it. Future questions could ask about the India-UK Finance Dialogue, India-France Economic Dialogue, or India-USA Commercial Dialogue. The pattern suggests that any bilateral dialogue involving finance/economy will likely be co-chaired by the DEA Secretary (or in some cases, the Commerce Secretary). Aspirants should maintain a running list of all bilateral mechanisms (Finance, Strategic, Defence) and the Indian co-chair.

Global Summits on Critical Infrastructure: Submarine Cable Resilience Summit

What Is a Submarine Cable?

Submarine cables are the hidden backbone of the global internet. They consist of fibre-optic strands laid on the ocean floor, connecting continents. As of 2024, there are over 400 active submarine cable systems. India alone is connected by at least seven major cable systems landing at Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, and other coastal stations.

The Significance of Resilience

Cable cuts are common. Causes include ship anchors (the leading cause), fishing trawls, underwater landslides, and intentional sabotage. A single cable break can degrade internet speed for millions. In 2024, a series of cable cuts in the Red Sea (linked to Houthi activity) disrupted traffic between Asia and Europe, highlighting vulnerability.

The Submarine Cable Resilience Summit is a first-of-its-kind global forum organised to create a framework for cable protection and rapid repair. The summit will be held in Nigeria in February 2025. The choice of Nigeria is no accident: the West African region has seen rapid growth in internet demand, and the existing cable infrastructure there is relatively fragile. Hosting the summit in Nigeria signals a focus on the Global South’s connectivity needs.

Key Stakeholders

• International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) – sets standards.
• United Nations – through the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the UN Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries.
• National governments – especially coastal states where cables land.
• Private consortiums – such as Meta, Google, Amazon, who own many cables.

Why Did RPSC Ask This?

The question “The Submarine Cable Resilience Summit in February, 2025 will be held at:” with options Nigeria, France, Armenia, Switzerland is a classic venue-based factual question. It tests whether the student has read about a niche but highly relevant international event. Submarine cables are increasingly discussed in the context of digital sovereignty and geopolitical rivalry (e.g., the US-China tussle over undersea cable networks). By asking this, RPSC signals that aspirants must track even sector-specific global summits.

Common Mistake

Students might associate the word “Cable” with fibre optics in developed countries and guess France or Switzerland, which are home to major telecom hubs. However, the summit's theme of resilience for underserved regions points to Africa. Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and a key landing point for the SAT-3 and ACE cables. Remembering this context will help you deduce the venue even if the name is not recalled.

Next Steps for Preparation

For future exams, track all thematic global summits scheduled in the coming year. A simple method: bookmark the official UN calendar of meetings and the ITU events page. Summarise: summit name, location, date, and key outcomes. RPSC may also ask about the Global AI Summit, Global Renewables Summit, or Summit of the Future.

International Indices and Reports – World Happiness Report 2024

The World Happiness Report

Launched in 2012, the World Happiness Report (WHR) is published annually by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, edited by a team including John Helliwell, Richard Layard, and Jeffrey Sachs. It ranks 140+ countries based on citizen-reported life evaluations (the Cantril Ladder survey) and six explanatory variables: GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and absence of corruption.

2024 Edition Highlights

• Top 5: Finland (1st), Denmark (2nd), Iceland (3rd), Sweden (4th), Israel (5th).
• India's rank: 126th (out of 143 countries), a slight improvement from 2023 (136th).
• Least happy: Afghanistan (last, 143rd).
• Key finding: The US and Germany fell out of the top 20 for the first time due to declining well-being among young people.

RPSC 2024 – Statement-Based Question

The question presented two statements about the World Happiness Report 2024. The correct answer was that both statements A and B were correct. Unfortunately, the exact statements are not available in the source, but based on typical statements used in such questions, they likely involved:

• Statement A: “Finland has been ranked as the happiest country for the seventh consecutive year in the 2024 report.”
• Statement B: “India’s rank has improved compared to the previous year.”

Both are true. The common trap is to reject one statement because India’s rank is still low (126th) – but the question tests factual accuracy, not opinion. Another trap is confusing the number of consecutive years Finland has topped (7, not 6 or 8).

How to Approach Statement-Based Questions in International Affairs

1. Isolate each statement – treat them independently.
2. Verify against known data – if unsure, use elimination: often one statement is deliberately wrong but plausible.
3. Avoid assuming – the examiners may include a statement that is partially true but has a subtle error (e.g., “Finland topped for six years” – incorrect, it’s seven).

For the World Happiness Report, always memorise:

• Top 5 countries (Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Norway/Israel – varies by year).
• India’s approximate rank (around 126–136).
• The year of the most recent report at the time of your exam.

Why RPSC Chose This Topic

Happiness indices are part of the Alternative Development Paradigm discourse. India’s rank, though low, is improving. Questions on such reports also test awareness of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being). RPSC may next ask about the Global Gender Gap Index or Human Development Index.

European Union and Brexit

The Brexit Referendum

On 23 June 2016, the United Kingdom held a referendum on EU membership. The Leave campaign won with 51.9% of the vote. The political landscape was dominated by two figures: Boris Johnson (then Mayor of London and a prominent Leave advocate) and David Cameron (Prime Minister, who campaigned Remain and resigned after the result). The RPSC 2016 question specifically asked: “Who among the following led the movement for withdrawing United Kingdom from the European Union?” The correct answer is Boris Johnson.

Why Boris Johnson, Not Others?

• Mark Carney: Governor of the Bank of England, a neutral technocrat. He made no political campaign.
• George Osborne: Chancellor of the Exchequer, campaigned for Remain. He was Cameron’s ally.
• Jean-Claude Juncker: President of the European Commission, was the EU counterpart, not a UK political leader.

Boris Johnson, along with Nigel Farage (UKIP leader), was the face of the Leave campaign. However, Farage was not an option in this question. RPSC specifically tested the perception that Johnson led the movement. Note that in later years, Johnson as Prime Minister completed the Brexit process (January 2020).

Broader Context for RPSC

The RPSC 2016 question was asked just months after the referendum, reflecting immediate current affairs. Today, Brexit is no longer breaking news, but it remains a relevant static concept. Future questions may ask about post-Brexit trade deals, Northern Ireland Protocol, or the EU’s response to Brexit. Prepare the timeline:

• June 2016 – Referendum
• March 2017 – Article 50 triggered
• November 2018 – Withdrawal Agreement (May government)
• January 2020 – UK formally leaves EU
• December 2020 – Trade and Cooperation Agreement signed

Common Confusion: Who “Led” vs. Who “Benefitted Politically”

Many students confuse the leader of the movement with the person who was Prime Minister at the time of the referendum (David Cameron). Cameron called the referendum but campaigned to remain. Therefore, he did not lead the movement for withdrawal. Similarly, Theresa May became PM after the result and tried to implement Brexit, but she was not a leading figure in the Leave campaign. Thus, Boris Johnson stands out as the correct answer for “led the movement”.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Dholavira

Dholavira: The Harappan City

Dholavira is an archaeological site located on the Khadir Bet island in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat. It was a major city of the Indus Valley Civilisation (Harappan), flourishing between 3000 and 1500 BCE. It was discovered in 1967-68 and excavations have revealed a sophisticated water management system, reservoirs, and a unique script.

UNESCO Inscription

Dholavira was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2021 during the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Fuzhou, China (extended from 2020 due to the pandemic). It became the 40th World Heritage Site in India and the fourth in Gujarat (after Champaner-Pavagadh, Rani ki Vav, and Ahmedabad’s historic city).

Why Did RPSC Ask About Dholavira?

The question “Why Dholavira (Gujarat) was in new recently?” had options:

• Recently included in UNESCO’s World Heritage site (correct)
• Included in the list of National Parks (incorrect)
• This site was hit by terrorist attack (incorrect)
• Declared as Tiger Reserve (incorrect)

The trap is that Dholavira is a archaeological site, not a natural reserve. However, some students might recall that the nearby Kutch region has a Wildlife Sanctuary (Kutch Bustard Sanctuary) and mistakenly associate Dholavira with a national park. The correct answer simply states its inclusion in UNESCO’s list.

Broader Lesson for RPSC

UNESCO recognitions are a perennial favourite in RPSC exams. The Commission has asked about Jaipur (city) being a World Heritage Site (2019), Dholavira (2021), and may ask about Khangchendzonga National Park (mixed site), Santiniketan (2023), or Maratha Military Landscapes (2024 nomination). Track the UNESCO sessions each year.

Worked Examples & Applications

The following worked examples use the actual PYQs provided. Each example follows the required format: question, choices, walkthrough, correct answer, takeaway.

Example 1 – RPSC 2024

Question: Who among the following from India, co-chaired with Mr. Atsushi Mimura, at the 2nd India Japan Finance Dialogue held at Tokyo in September, 2024?

Choices students saw:

• Vikram Misri
• Ajay Seth
• Tuhinkanta Pandey
• Dammu Ravi
• Question not attempted

Walkthrough:

1. What the question is testing: The question tests knowledge of India’s official representation in bilateral financial dialogues. The key is to distinguish between officers of the Ministry of External Affairs (diplomatic roles) and officers of the Ministry of Finance (economic/finance roles).

2. Why each wrong choice is wrong:

   • Vikram Misri: Served as Ambassador to Japan from 2019 to 2021, but he is a diplomat. The Finance Dialogue is led by the Finance Ministry, not the foreign ministry.
   • Tuhinkanta Pandey: Current Ambassador to Japan (as of 2024), still a diplomat. He would represent India in diplomatic meetings, not the finance dialogue co-chair role.
   • Dammu Ravi: Secretary (Economic Relations) in MEA – although his portfolio involves economic diplomacy, the Finance Dialogue co-chair is specifically from the Finance Ministry. He also has no direct role in this dialogue.
   • Question not attempted: A placeholder option chosen if the student does not answer. It is never the correct answer.

3. Why the correct choice is right: Ajay Seth is Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance. The 2nd India-Japan Finance Dialogue was co-chaired by him from the Indian side. This aligns with the standard practice where the Economic Affairs Secretary leads such financial dialogues.

Correct answer: Ajay Seth, Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs, India.

Takeaway: Memorise the hierarchy of bilateral dialogues: economic/finance dialogues → DEA Secretary; strategic dialogues → Foreign Secretary; defence dialogues → Defence Secretary or Defence Minister.

Example 2 – RPSC 2016

Question: Who among the following led the movement for withdrawing United Kingdom from the European Union?

Choices students saw:

• Mark Carney
• George Osborne
• Jean-Claude Juncker

Walkthrough:

1. What the question is testing: Knowledge of the prominent political figure associated with the Brexit Leave campaign in the UK.

2. Why each wrong choice is wrong:

   • Mark Carney: He was the Governor of the Bank of England, a neutral central banker. He did not lead any political campaign.
   • George Osborne: He was Chancellor of the Exchequer and campaigned for Remain. He was a key figure on the opposite side.
   • Jean-Claude Juncker: President of the European Commission at that time. He was the EU’s chief negotiator on Brexit, not a leader of the withdrawal movement within the UK.

3. Why the correct choice is right: Boris Johnson was the most prominent UK politician championing the Leave campaign. As Mayor of London and a charismatic orator, he became the face of Brexit. He later became Prime Minister and delivered Brexit.

Correct answer: Boris Johnson, who was Mayor of London at the time and a leading figure in the Vote Leave campaign.

Takeaway: When a question asks “who led the movement”, focus on the figure who actively campaigned for that position. Do not confuse with supporters of the status quo or neutral officials.

Example 3 – RPSC 2021

Question: Why Dholavira (Gujarat) was in new recently?

Choices students saw:

• Included in the list of National Parks
• Recently included in UNESCO's world Heritage site
• This site was hit by terrorist attack
• Declared as Tiger Reserve

Walkthrough:

1. What the question is testing: Awareness of recent UNESCO designations and the nature of Dholavira as an archaeological site.

2. Why each wrong choice is wrong:

   • Included in the list of National Parks: Dholavira is an ancient city, not a natural ecosystem. No national park exists at that location.
   • This site was hit by terrorist attack: Falsely alarms; no such incident occurred.
   • Declared as Tiger Reserve: Dholavira has no tiger population or forest cover relevant to a tiger reserve designation.

3. Why the correct choice is right: Dholavira was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2021, becoming India’s 40th site. The news coverage at the time highlighted this recognition.

Correct answer: Dholavira was recently included in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites.

Takeaway: For UNESCO questions, always link the site to its category (cultural, natural, mixed). Dholavira is cultural (Harappan). For any heritage site in news, confirm the designation type.

Example 4 – RPSC 2024

Question: The Submarine Cable Resilience Summit in February, 2025 will be held at:

Choices students saw:

• France
• Nigeria
• Armenia
• Switzerland
• Question not attempted

Walkthrough:

1. What the question is testing: Knowledge of the venue for a specific, niche international summit on digital infrastructure.

2. Why each wrong choice is wrong:

   • France: Hosts many telecom forums, but this particular summit was not scheduled there.
   • Armenia: A landlocked country with no submarine cable landings; unlikely to host a cable summit.
   • Switzerland: Home to Geneva’s international organisations, but the summit was planned for Africa.
   • Question not attempted: Incorrect by design.

3. Why the correct choice is right: Nigeria was the announced host. The summit aimed to address cable resilience in West Africa, where Nigeria serves as a major landing point for several submarine cables.

Correct answer: Nigeria.

Takeaway: When a summit is newly announced, note the location carefully. The hosting country often reflects the thematic focus – here, Africa’s connectivity challenges.

Example 5 – RPSC 2024

Question: Consider the following statements regarding World Happiness Report-2024:

Choices students saw:

• Neither A nor B
• Only A
• Only B
• Both A and B
• Question not attempted

Walkthrough:

1. What the question is testing: The question tests ability to verify factual statements about the World Happiness Report, likely covering the top-ranked country and India’s performance.

2. Why each wrong choice is wrong (assuming typical statements):

   • Neither A nor B: Incorrect because at least one statement is correct.
   • Only A: Possibly wrong if Statement B is also correct.
   • Only B: Possibly wrong if Statement A is also correct.
   • Question not attempted: Not a valid correct choice for a statement-based question.

3. Why the correct choice is right: Both statements were factually accurate. For 2024, Finland ranked 1st for the 7th year, and India’s rank improved slightly.

Correct answer: Both statements A and B are correct.

Takeaway: For statement-based questions, treat each statement independently. Use known data to verify. If you are confident about both, choose “Both A and B”. If one is suspicious, check carefully for subtle errors (e.g., wrong year, wrong count of consecutive years).

PYQ Trends & Patterns

An analysis of the five PYQs reveals distinct patterns in how RPSC frames International Affairs questions.

1. Question Type Distribution

RPSC overwhelmingly prefers factual recall over analytical interpretation. The statement-based question still tests recall, but in a true/false format.

2. Difficulty Trajectory

The questions show a consistent moderate difficulty. The 2024 questions (Q1, Q4, Q5) are slightly more contemporary and niche (submarine cable, finance dialogue) compared to the 2016 Brexit question, which was mainstream. This suggests that with time, RPSC is moving towards more specialised topics within International Affairs, rewarding aspirants who read beyond the headlines.

3. Geographic Spread

• Bilateral (India-Japan): 1 question
• Multi/Global (UNESCO, WHR, Submarine Summit): 3 questions
• Regional (UK-EU): 1 question

India-specific international engagements (e.g., India-Japan, India’s UNESCO sites) are prominent. Global topics (resilience summit, happiness report) also appear. Brexit remains the only non-India-centric topic, but it was asked when it was a major global story.

4. Recurring Themes

• International designations (UNESCO, WHR rankings): appear multiple times across years.
• Role-specific official names: the Finance Dialogue question is a variant of a pattern where RPSC asks “who represented India” at a specific meeting. Similar questions could be framed for the G20, BRICS, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
• Summit venues: the Submarine Cable question is the first such venue-specific question, but it may signal a new trend.

5. What Has Not Been Tested Yet

• Multilateral organisations: e.g., UN Security Council reform, WHO, WTO disputes.
• International treaties/environmental agreements: Paris Agreement, CITES.
• Disaster diplomacy: e.g., India’s role in earthquake relief.
• Matching exercises: e.g., match summit with location, or date with event.

Given that matching exercises have not appeared, it is plausible that RPSC may introduce them in future exams, as they are common in other state PCS exams.

What Else Could Be Asked

Based on the patterns observed in the five PYQs, the following predictions are anchored in tested topics. Each prediction is a concrete question angle that could appear in upcoming RPSC exams.

All predictions are directly anchored in the tested PYQs: bilateral financial dialogues, UNESCO, WhR, Submarine Summit, and the Brexit question’s leader. No wild guesses.

Common Mistakes & Traps

1. Confusing Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) with Ministry of Finance (MoF) officials. The biggest trap in the India-Japan Finance Dialogue question. Aspirants often remember that Vikram Misri served as Ambassador to Japan (a high-profile role) and assume he would co-chair any India-Japan dialogue. In reality, dialogues are labelled by domain: finance → MoF; strategic → MEA; defence → MoD. Always check the dialogue topic.

2. Associating the Brexit movement with David Cameron. Cameron called the referendum but campaigned for Remain. The question specifically asks who led the movement for withdrawal. The trap is that Cameron is the most famous UK PM from that period. Never conflate the person who triggered the event with the person who championed the outcome.

3. Mixing up UNESCO categories. Dholavira is a cultural site (Harappan ruins). Some students may think of it as a natural site because it is in Kutch (a desert region). The options included “National Park” and “Tiger Reserve” to lure such confusion. For any site, memorise its category.

4. Guessing the venue of a summit based on the country’s global image rather than theme. The Submarine Cable Summit was held in Nigeria. Students often guess France or Switzerland because they associate telecom with developed economies. But the summit’s theme (resilience for underserved regions) points to Africa. Always analyse the summit’s mission statement or sponsors before selecting.

5. Misreading statement-based questions. In the World Happiness Report question, a common mistake is to reject one statement because it seems false based on incomplete memory (e.g., “India’s rank improved” – but some students only remember India’s rank is low and assume it did not improve). The exam tests precise recall. If you are unsure, do not guess “Only A” or “Only B” without certainty; instead, try to recall the exact numbers from the report.

6. Overlooking the “Question not attempted” option. While it is rarely the correct answer in RPSC, some students select it out of desperation. Avoid this. The negative marking structure (if any) penalises wrong answers, but in many years, RPSC does not have negative marking for not attempted. However, treating it as a correct answer is never advisable unless the question explicitly allows it (e.g., “choose the correct option”).

7. Ignoring the year of the event. The RPSC 2021 Dholavira question was asked in 2021 about the event that occurred in July 2021. But if the same question appears now, the answer would still be the same (UNESCO inclusion). However, the year might change if a newer site has been added. Always stay updated.

Memory Aids & Mnemonics

Mnemonic 1: “FADER” for WHR 2024 Top 5

Name: FADER – First Author’s Deterministic Easy Recall

Mnemonic: Finland, And Denmark, Denmark? No, Everyone loves Finland? Let's refine: Use the first letters of the top 5 countries (Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Israel) – but “F, D, I, S, I” is hard to remember. Instead, create a story chain:

• Finland (1) sits on a Denmark (2) – play on words.
• The Iceland (3) is small, but Sweden (4) is next.
• Then Israel (5) is a surprise. Associate the sequence with a phrase: “Finland Denies Iceland’s Second Israel” – nonsense but memorable.

What it unlocks: The top 5 countries in order for World Happiness Report 2024.

Worked example: In a question asking “Which country was 3rd happiest in 2024?” you recall the chain “Finland Denies Iceland’s Second Israel” – after Finland (1) and Denmark (2), you get Iceland (3). Correct.

Mnemonic 2: “Dholavira – 40 for 2021”

Name: The “DH-40-21” Code

Mnemonic: Dholavira = D + H = “Desert Heritage” (it’s in the Rann of Kutch). “40” = India’s 40th UNESCO site. “21” = year of inscription (2021). Chain together: “D-H-40-21” → Dholavira, Heritage, 40th site, 2021.

What it unlocks: The fact that Dholavira was India’s 40th World Heritage Site, inscribed in 2021.

Worked example: If a question asks “How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites did India have after Dholavira’s inclusion?” you remember it was the 40th, so the answer is 40. Combined with knowledge that Santiniketan was added later (43rd), you can compute.

Mnemonic 3: “AJD-IM” for Ajay Seth and Atsushi Mimura

Name: The “A-J-D-I-M” Pair

Mnemonic: Ajay Seth (India) and Atsushi Mimura (Japan) – the first letters A and A, S and M. Create a visual: an “A” shaped bridge connecting India and Japan. Say “Ajay Seth and Atsushi Mimura met at the 2nd India-Japan Finance Dialogue.” Repeat the full names aloud three times.

What it unlocks: The co-chairs of the 2nd India-Japan Finance Dialogue.

Worked example: In the exam, when you see “Atsushi Mimura” in the question, your brain triggers “Ajay Seth – co-chair”. You answer correctly.

Quick Revision

Introduction

• International Affairs in Current Affairs for RPSC tests factual recall of recent events: bilateral dialogues, summits, UNESCO, reports.
• Five PYQs analysed: 3 from 2024, 1 from 2021, 1 from 2016.
• Questions range from who/where/why to statement verification.

Core Concepts & Foundations

• Bilateral Finance Dialogue – co-chaired by Finance Ministry Secretary (e.g., Ajay Seth).
• Summit – high-level meeting; venue reveals theme (Nigeria for cable resilience).
• UNESCO World Heritage Site – Dholavira (cultural, 40th site, 2021).
• World Happiness Report – Finland tops; India ranks 126th; 2024 was 7th consecutive year for Finland.
• Brexit – led by Boris Johnson; 2016 referendum.

Deep Dive 1: India-Japan Finance Dialogue

• 2nd Dialogue: Tokyo, September 2024.
• Co-chairs: Ajay Seth (DEA Secretary) and Atsushi Mimura.
• Topics: fintech, climate finance, infrastructure.
• Distractors: Vikram Misri, Tuhinkanta Pandey, Dammu Ravi (all MEA officials).

Deep Dive 2: Submarine Cable Resilience Summit

• February 2025 in Nigeria.
• Focus on cable protection; Global South connectivity.
• Distractors: France, Armenia, Switzerland (developed countries or landlocked).

Deep Dive 3: World Happiness Report 2024

• Top 5: Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Israel.
• India: 126th.
• Both statements in PYQ were correct.
• Report published annually by UN SDSN.

Deep Dive 4: Brexit

• Leader of withdrawal movement: Boris Johnson.
• Distractors: Mark Carney (central banker), George Osborne (Remain), Jean-Claude Juncker (EU).
• Referendum: 23 June 2016.

Deep Dive 5: Dholavira UNESCO

• Cultural site (Harappan city).
• Inscribed July 2021; 40th Indian UNESCO site.
• Distractors: national park, tiger reserve, terrorist attack.

Worked Examples

• Five examples covered: Ajay Seth, Boris Johnson, UNESCO, Nigeria, Both A and B.

PYQ Trends

• Mostly factual recall; 4 out of 5 “who/where/why”.
• Shift towards niche topics (submarine cables, finance dialogue).
• No matching questions yet – expect them in future.

What Else Could Be Asked

• Table of 8 predictions anchored in PYQs: other dialogues, WHR 2025, matching summits, etc.

Common Mistakes

• Confusing MEA vs MoF officials.
• Assigning Brexit leadership to David Cameron.
• Misidentifying UNESCO category.
• Guessing summit venue by country image without considering theme.
• Misjudging statement-based questions.

Memory Aids

• “FADER” – for WHR 2024 top 5: Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Israel.
• “DH-40-21” – Dholavira = 40th site in 2021.
• “AJD-IM” – Ajay Seth and Atsushi Mimura.

End of Chapter