Consider the following pairs : Country | Reason for being in the news 1. Argentina | Worst economic crisis 2. Sudan | War between the country's regular army and paramilitary forces 3. Turkey | Rescinded its membership of NATO How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched ?
- (a) Only one pair
- (b) Only two pairs ✓ UPSC's answer
- (c) All three pairs
- (d) None of the pairs
Why the answer is (b)
• Pair 1 is correct: Argentina has been in the news for one of its worst economic crises — inflation above 200%, a collapsing peso and repeated IMF bailouts — leading to President Milei's 'shock therapy' from December 2023.
• Pair 2 is correct: since April 2023 Sudan has been torn by war between the regular Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, displacing millions.
• Pair 3 is wrong: Turkey has not rescinded its NATO membership; it remains a member (since 1952) and, after delay, ratified Sweden's accession in January 2024.
• Hence two pairs, option (b).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) Only one pair
- Both the Argentina and Sudan pairs are correct.
- (c) All three pairs
- Turkey remains in NATO, so pair 3 is wrong.
- (d) None of the pairs
- Pairs 1 and 2 are correctly matched.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2024, held on 16 June 2024. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.