UPSC Prelims 2015 GS Paper I · Q31 of 100 Economy easy

The terms 'Agreement on Agriculture', 'Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures' and 'Peace Clause' appear in the news frequently in the context of the affairs of the

  1. (a) Food and Agriculture Organization
  2. (b) United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change
  3. (c) World Trade Organization ✓ UPSC's answer
  4. (d) United Nations Environment Programme

Why the answer is (c)

• The Agreement on Agriculture and the SPS Agreement are WTO agreements from the Uruguay Round (1995); the 'Peace Clause' is the Bali (2013) decision that shields developing countries' public food-stockholding subsidies from WTO challenge — all WTO matters, option (c).

• India's MSP-based procurement for the NFSA is the reason it seeks a permanent peace clause.

• FAO (a), UNFCCC (b) and UNEP (d) do not govern trade rules.

• Hence option (c).

Why the other options are wrong

(a) Food and Agriculture Organization
FAO does not make trade agreements.
(b) United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change
UNFCCC deals with climate.
(d) United Nations Environment Programme
UNEP deals with environment, not trade rules.

Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2015, held on 23 August 2015. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

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