BRICS - GS questions based on daily current affairs

1)   Which of the following are the highlights of the Goa Declaration of the 8th BRICS Summit?

1) Resolution on civil war in Syria
2) Urgent need to reforms of the United Nations, including UN Security Council
3) Included Pakistan-sponsored terrorism


a. 1, 3
b. 1, 2
c. 2, 3
d. All of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 1, 2

Explanation:

  • Comments on terrorism were made but no country was named as such directly. BRICS failed to reach a consensus on including Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in its Goa declaration.
  • On Syria, the declaration called upon all parties involved to work for a comprehensive and peaceful resolution of the conflict taking into account the legitimate aspirations of the people of Syria, through inclusive national dialogue and a Syrian-led political process.
  • They also resolved to continue the relentless pursuit against terrorist groups so designated by the UN Security Council including ISIL, Jabhat al-Nusra and other terrorist organisations designated by the UN Security Council.
  • The declaration asks for a comprehensive reform of the UN, including its Security Council, with a view to making it more representative, effective and efficient, and to increase the representation of the developing countries so that it can adequately respond to global challenges.


2)   Which of the following are key initiatives taken during the 8th BRICS Summit held in India?

1) BRICS TB/AIDS Council
2) BRICS Digital Conclave
3) BRICS Film Festival


a. 2, 3
b. 1, 3
c. 1, 2
d. All of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 2, 3

Explanation:
Few key initiatives during India’s BRICS chairmanship -

  • BRICS Film Festival
  • BRICS Convention on Tourism
  • BRICS Digital Conclave
  • BRICS Wellness Forum
  • BRICS Friendship Cities Conclave
  • BRICS Smart Cities Workshop
  • 3rd BRICS Urbanisation Forum
  • BRICS Local Bodies Conference
  • BRICS Handicraft Artisans’ Exchange Programme
  • BRICS Young Scientist Conclave
  • BRICS Innovative Idea Prize for Young Scientists
  • BRICS Economic Research Award.


3)   Which of the following are key initiatives taken during the 8th BRICS Summit held in India?

1) BRICS Rating Agency
2) BRICS Trade Fair
3) BRICS Children’s Parliamentarians’ Forum


a. 2, 3
b. 1, 2
c. 1, 3
d. All of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 1, 2

Explanation:
Few key initiatives during India’s BRICS chairmanship -

  • BRICS Agriculture Research Platform
  • BRICS Railway Research Network
  • BRICS Sports Council
  • BRICS Rating Agency
  • BRICS Institute for Economic Research and Analysis
  • MoU on Environmental Cooperation
  • Regulations on BRICS Customs Cooperation Committee
  • MoU on Cooperation between Diplomatic Academies of BRICS Countries
  • MoU on Cooperation among BRICS Development Banks and the NDB
  • BRICS Women Parliamentarians’ Forum
  • BRICS Under-17 Football Tournament
  • BRICS Trade Fair


4)   Which of the following 8th BRICS events are correctly matched to their locations?

1) BRICS Convention of Tourism – New Delhi
2) Meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Science, Technology & Innovation - Jaipur
3) Meeting of BRICS Environment Ministers - Goa


a. 1, 3
b. 1, 2
c. 2, 3
d. All of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 2, 3

Explanation:
Various events and their locations are -

  • BRICS Convention of Tourism – Khajuraho
  • Meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Science, Technology & Innovation - Jaipur
  • Meeting of BRICS Environment Ministers - Goa
  • BRICS Youth Summit, Guwahati
  • BRICS Film Festival, New Delhi
  • Meeting of the BRICS Ministers for Disaster Management, Udaipur
  • BRICS Women Parliamentarians' Forum, Jaipur
  • BRICS Wellness Forum, Bengaluru
  • 3rd Meeting of the BRICS Urbanization Forum, Visakhapatnam
  • Meeting of BRICS Agriculture Ministers, New Delhi
  • Meeting of BRICS Education Ministers, New Delhi
  • BRICS Trade Fair, New Delhi


5)   A joint mechanism was proposed to finance infrastructure projects in BRICS nations. Which of the following are parts of this mechanism??

1) Russian Direct Investment Fund
2) India’s National Investment and Infrastructure Fund
3) China’s Silk Road Fund


a. 1, 3
b. 2, 3
c. 1, 2
d. All of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 1, 3

Explanation:

  • Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) have backed the initiative of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and agreed to establish a joint mechanism for financing of infrastructure projects.
  • The Russian Direct Investment Fund together with sovereign wealth funds from its peers among the BRICS developing nations aims to form a joint fund to invest in infrastructure projects.
  • The relevant agreement was signed by RDIF, Indian group IDFC, Brazil's BTG Pactual, Chinese fund Silk Road, and Development Bank of Southern Africa during the BRICS summit in Ufa.
  • The parties agreed to jointly look for and fund infrastructure projects that contribute to greater trade, economic and investment cooperation among BRICS states.
  • The RDIF originally put forward its proposal to set up the infrastructure projects funding mechanism at the BRICS summit in Brazil in 2014.
  • Established in June 2011, the RDIF is in charge of encouraging investment primarily in Russian companies jointly with leading foreign financial and strategic investors.
  • RIDF now has become sovereign fund of Russia.


6)   Which of the following is/are true regarding BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ declaration?

1) Member countries will pursue multi-lateral social security agreements.
2) BRICS is committed to take steps to establish a network of lead labour research and training institutions in BRICS member states.


a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:

  • BRICS supports designing and implementation of comprehensive social security systems that are effective, equitable, and economically sustainable and address the needs of the society.
  • BRICS therefore endorses the portability of social security benefits for migrant workers, encourage bi-lateral social security agreements amongst the BRICS member states and work towards developing a general framework for cooperation.
  • BRICS is committed to take steps to establish a network of lead labour research and training institutions in BRICS member states for undertaking joint research and training activities, capacity building of various stakeholders and exchange of information in areas of expertise, with the cooperation of international organizations in particular the ILO.


7)   Which of the following are linked to the informality in labour market?

1) Low income jobs
2) Sufficient access only to basic services
3) Lack of social protection


a. 1, 3
b. 2, 3
c. 1, 2
d. All of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 1, 3

Explanation:

  • Informality in the labour market remains a big challenge for all BRICS member states.
  • Informality is often linked to low income jobs, lack of social protection and insufficient access to basic services.
  • Recognizing the multiple issues in our national labour markets context, BRICS is committed to tackling both the existing as well as emerging forms of informality.
  • Consistent with the objectives of the ILO Recommendation No.204, BRICS aims at improving the livelihood of workers engaged in the informal economy and facilitating their transition to the formal economy, while at the same time enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of enterprises.
  • BRICS encourages the adoption of measures to enhance employability of workers in the informal economy through expanding social security, skilling and re-skilling of the workforce and adopting amongst others of a regulatory environment, which promotes formalization through easier compliance and adequate safeguards for labour rights.


8)   Which of the following are key areas of BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ declaration?

1) Employment generation
2) Social protection
3) Formalization of labour markets


a. 1, 2
b. 1, 3
c. 1, 2
d. All of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:

  • As key operational areas, the BRICS member states will focus on employment generation, formalization of labour markets and social protection.
  • In promoting inclusion and greater equality in the labour market, a top priority for BRICS member states is the generation of adequate decent and productive job opportunities, fair wages and adequate social protection systems for all, including floors.
  • This, will in turn help in tackling poverty and lead to sustainable growth.


9)   BRICS Business Council was established during which BRICS Summit?

a. 5th
b. 7th
c. 1st
d. 3rd
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 5th

Explanation:

  • The BRICS Business Council was established during the fifth BRICS Summit in Durban, South Africa, with the objective of promoting and strengthening business, trade and investment ties amongst the business communities of the five countries.
  • The seven working groups in the areas of Infrastructure, Manufacturing, Financial Services, Energy & Green Economy, Skills Development, Agribusiness and Deregulation have been formed under the aegis of the BRICS Business Council.
  • They engage in interactions with a view to better understand the market opportunities and build synergies based on their respective competitive strengths and to promote industrial development and job creation.


10)   BRICS Trade Fair and Exhibition will be held in India. Which is true about it?

a. It was first proposed by Brazil’s President in Durban, South Africa
b. It was first proposed by India’s PM in Ufa, Russia
c. It was first proposed by China’s President in Johannesburg, South Africa
d. It was first proposed by Russia’s President in Beijing, China
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: It was first proposed by India’s PM in Ufa, Russia

Explanation:

  • The first BRICS Trade Fair and Exhibition will be staged just ahead of the BRICS political summit in Goa (October 15-16, 2016).
  • This major initiative was proposed by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, in 2015 during his address to the members of the BRICS Business Council at Ufa, Russia.
  • In line with the overall core theme for BRICS in 2016, the focus of the Trade Fair is ‘Building BRICS – Innovation for Collaboration’.
  • The Trade Fair is expected to give an impetus to intra-BRICS economic engagement and to foster connects amongst members of our business community.


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