CSS Compulsory Papers Current Affairs Flashcards

24 sample cards from the Current Affairs deck

Sampled from the end of the deck, so these are different cards from the ones shown on the syllabus page.

1. What is the core dispute between India and Pakistan over Jammu and Kashmir?

   A territorial and self-determination dispute since 1947 over the Muslim-majority princely state. Both claim it in full; it is divided by the Line of Control. Pakistan seeks resolution per UN resolutions calling for a plebiscite.

2. What was the significance of India's revocation of Article 370 in August 2019?

   India abrogated the special autonomous status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated it into union territories. Pakistan condemned it as illegal under UN resolutions, downgraded diplomatic ties, and intensified its diplomatic campaign on Kashmir.

3. What is the Line of Control (LoC)?

   The military control line dividing Indian- and Pakistani-administered Kashmir, established by the 1972 Simla Agreement (formerly the 1949 ceasefire line). It is not a recognized international border.

4. What is the Indus Waters Treaty (1960), and who brokered it?

   A water-sharing treaty between India and Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank, allocating the three eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India and the three western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) largely to Pakistan.

5. What is the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and what is Pakistan's role in it?

   The second-largest intergovernmental organization after the UN, with 57 member states representing the Muslim world, headquartered in Jeddah. Pakistan is a founding/active member and uses it to mobilize support on Kashmir and Islamophobia.

6. Why is Saudi Arabia historically important to Pakistan's foreign and economic policy?

   It is a key source of financial support (loans, deferred oil payments, deposits), a major destination for Pakistani labor and remittances, custodian of Islam's holiest sites, and a strategic security partner.

7. What is notable about Pakistan-Iran relations regarding energy and security?

   They cooperate on the (largely stalled) Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline and share a border, but tensions arise over Baloch militancy and cross-border strikes (e.g., the January 2024 tit-for-tat strikes), balanced against the need for neighborly ties.

8. What role did Pakistan play in normalizing US-China relations in the 1970s?

   Pakistan served as the secret diplomatic channel facilitating Henry Kissinger's 1971 visit to China, helping pave the way for the historic US-China rapprochement and President Nixon's 1972 visit.

9. How would you characterize the strategic logic of the Pakistan-China relationship?

   An 'all-weather strategic cooperative partnership' driven by shared concern over India, deep defense cooperation, CPEC economic ties, and mutual diplomatic support, often described as 'higher than the mountains, deeper than the oceans.'

10. What has been the main strain in Pakistan-US relations in the post-9/11 era?

    A transactional, trust-deficit relationship: cooperation in the 'War on Terror' alongside disputes over drone strikes, the 2011 Abbottabad raid, allegations of harboring militants, and aid suspensions, reflecting divergent strategic priorities.

11. What is the significance of the BRICS grouping in global power shifts?

    BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, plus newer members) is a bloc of major emerging economies seeking to rebalance global governance away from Western dominance, promoting alternative financial institutions and multipolarity.

12. Define 'multipolarity' in international relations.

    A distribution of global power among three or more major power centers (e.g., US, China, EU, Russia, India), as opposed to unipolarity (one dominant power) or bipolarity (two), increasing competition and shifting alliances.

13. What is the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), and is Pakistan a member?

    A Eurasian political, economic, and security organization led by China and Russia, focused on regional security and counter-terrorism. Pakistan became a full member in 2017, alongside India.

14. What is the difference between a 'unipolar' and a 'bipolar' world order?

    A unipolar order has a single dominant superpower (e.g., the US after the Cold War). A bipolar order has two competing superpower blocs (e.g., US vs USSR during the Cold War). The system is trending toward multipolarity today.

15. What are the main blocs in the ongoing US-China strategic rivalry?

    The US-led bloc emphasizes alliances like QUAD, AUKUS, and NATO and 'de-risking' supply chains; China builds influence via BRI, RCEP, and BRICS+. The rivalry spans trade, technology (semiconductors), Taiwan, and the Indo-Pacific.

16. What is the Russia-Ukraine war (since February 2022) and one major global consequence?

    Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine triggered Europe's largest conflict since WWII. Global consequences include energy and food price shocks, sweeping Western sanctions on Russia, and accelerated NATO expansion (Finland and Sweden joining).

17. What is the core issue in the Israel-Palestine conflict, and what is Pakistan's stance?

    A protracted dispute over land, statehood, Jerusalem, refugees, and occupation. Pakistan does not recognize Israel, supports a two-state solution with a sovereign Palestinian state, and advocates for Palestinian rights at the OIC and UN.

18. What is the strategic significance of the Taiwan issue in US-China tensions?

    China claims Taiwan as part of its territory under the 'One China' principle and threatens reunification; the US maintains 'strategic ambiguity' while arming Taiwan. It is the most likely flashpoint for direct US-China conflict.

19. What is ASEAN, and why is it strategically important?

    The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a 10-member regional bloc promoting economic integration and stability in Southeast Asia. It is central to Indo-Pacific geopolitics and manages South China Sea disputes via consensus diplomacy.

20. What is the QUAD, and which countries comprise it?

    The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue—the United States, Japan, India, and Australia—a strategic grouping seen as a counterbalance to China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

21. What is SAARC, and why has it become largely ineffective?

    The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (8 members) promotes regional cooperation in South Asia. It has stalled largely due to India-Pakistan tensions, with summits suspended since 2016.

22. What are the five permanent members (P5) of the UN Security Council?

    The United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China—each holding veto power over substantive Security Council resolutions.

23. What is the World Trade Organization (WTO), and what is its core function?

    The global body that sets and enforces rules for international trade, administers trade agreements, and provides a dispute-settlement mechanism to liberalize trade and reduce barriers among member states.

24. What is the difference between the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF)?

    The IMF focuses on short-term macroeconomic stability—balance-of-payments support, exchange rates, and crisis lending. The World Bank focuses on long-term development financing for poverty reduction, infrastructure, and structural projects.

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