3. Rakhine region, recently seen in the news, belongs to which of the following countries?

4. Consider the following statements about NATO.
1. The North Atlantic Treaty forms the basis of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
2. Collective defence is the goal behind this organisation.
3. It is open to countries in Africa and South America.

Answer: C
Soln:
● Rakhine State is the most western state in Myanmar and has a population of three
million. Hence, option C is correct.

Answer: A
Soln:
● The Washington Treaty – or North Atlantic Treaty – forms the basis of the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization – or NATO. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● The Treaty was signed in Washington D.C. on 4 April 1949 by 12 founding members.
● The Treaty derives its authority from Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which
reaffirms the inherent right of independent states to individual or collective defence.
● Collective defence is at the heart of the Treaty and is enshrined in Article 5. It commits
members to protect each other and sets a spirit of solidarity within the Alliance. Hence,
statement 2 is correct.
● NATO’s purpose is to guarantee the freedom and security of its members through
political and military means.
○ POLITICAL – NATO promotes democratic values and enables members to consult
and cooperate on defence and security-related issues to solve problems, build trust
and, in the long run, prevent conflict.
○ MILITARY – NATO is committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes. If diplomatic
efforts fail, it has the military power to undertake crisis-management operations.
○ These are carried out under the collective defence clause of NATO's founding treaty
– Article 5 of the Washington Treaty or under a United Nations mandate, alone or in
cooperation with other countries and international organisations.

● NATO enlargement: NATO membership is open to “any other European state in a
position to further the principles of this Treaty and to contribute to the security of the
North Atlantic area.” Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.

5. Durand line, recently seen in news, forms the rough boundary between Afghanistan and which of the following countries?

Answer: D
Soln:
● Durand Line is the international land border that stretches for about 1,600 miles (2,600 km) between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Hence, option D is correct.
● It was established in 1893 as the border between British India and the Emirate of Afghanistan, marking their respective spheres of influence.
● It is named for Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, the foreign secretary of British India, who induced Abdur Rahman Khan, the emir of Afghanistan, to agree to an international boundary.
● This line is not accepted by Afghanistan at present. It says that the line splits many native Pashtun families residing in the region for centuries. Of late, this has caused tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Session #1 of the Mock Board Interview Programme at Officers IAS Academy, Delhi

Date: 11.01.2025

Panel Members:
- Chairman: Mr. B.K. Tripathi (Retd. IAS)
- Mr. Balamurugan D IAS, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs
- Dr. Sivasankari, Academician
- Mr. Francis Bosco, Social Activist
- Mr. Vijay Iyer, Senior Corporate Professional

This programme offers aspirants an invaluable opportunity to gain practical experience and insightful feedback from a distinguished panel of experts.

#OfficersIASAcademy #MockBoardInterview #UPSCPreparation #IASInterview #DelhiCentre #UPSC2025

Session #4 of the Mock Board Interview Programme at Officers IAS Academy, Delhi

Date: 11.01.2025

Panel Members:
- Chairman: Mr. Rama Subramani IPS (Retd. DGP)
- Mr. Senthil Kumaran IRS, Commissioner
- Mr. AR Sekar, Former Chairman of New India Assurance (PSU)
- Mr. Ashok Clement, Startup Founder
- Dr. Ravi Kumar, Academician

The Mock Board offers aspirants an exceptional platform to refine their interview skills under the guidance of an esteemed panel of experts.

#OfficersIASAcademy #MockBoardInterview #UPSCPreparation #IASInterview #DelhiCentre #UPSC2025

1. Consider the following statements about UNICEF.
1. It was created to provide emergency food and healthcare to children and mothers incountries that had been devastated by World War II.
2. It was created by the United Nations General Assembly.

Answer: C
Soln:
UNICEF:
● The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), originally known as the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, was created by the United Nations General Assembly in 1946. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
● It was created to provide emergency food and healthcare to children and mothers in countries that had been devastated by World War II. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● In 1950, UNICEF's mandate was extended to address the long-term needs of children and women in developing countries everywhere.
● In 1953, it became a permanent part of the United Nations System.

2. Which of the following countries are termed as Baltic states in Europe?
1. Latvia
2. Lithuania
3. Estonia
4. Ukraine
5. Poland

Answer: D
Soln:
● The three Baltic states are Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Hence, options 1, 2 and 3 are correct.

3. The Santa Ana Winds, recently seen in the news, blows in which of the following continents?

Answer: C
Soln:
● Santa Ana winds blow when high pressure builds over the Great Basin — the area
between the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada (a mountain range in the Western
United States, North America) — and the pressure is low over California’s coast.
Hence, option C is correct.
● The difference in pressure triggers the movement of powerful winds from the Basin’s inland
deserts, east and north of Southern California, over the mountains toward the Pacific Ocean.
● As the wind comes down the mountains, it compresses and heats up. The wind’s humidity
also drops, sometimes to less than 20% or even less than 10%.
● The extremely low moisture turns vegetation dry, making it ready to burn. This process
helped fuel the three wildfires in Southern California.
● Santa Ana winds usually occur from October to January.