Consider the following countries : 1. Denmark 2. Japan 3. Russian Federation 4. United Kingdom 5. United States of America Which of the above are the members of the ‘Arctic Council’?
- (a) 1, 2 and 3
- (b) 2, 3 and 4
- (c) 1, 4 and 5
- (d) 1, 3 and 5 ✓ UPSC's answer
Why the answer is (d)
• The Arctic Council (1996) has eight members — the States with Arctic territory: Canada, Denmark (via Greenland), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the USA (via Alaska).
• Denmark (1), Russia (3) and the USA (5) are members; Japan (2) and the UK (4) are only observers (India became an observer in 2013).
• Hence 1, 3 and 5, option (d).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1, 2 and 3
- Japan is only an observer.
- (b) 2, 3 and 4
- Japan and the UK are observers, not members.
- (c) 1, 4 and 5
- The UK is only an observer.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2014, held on 24 August 2014. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.