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UPSC Essentials daily subject quiz : International Relations MCQs (Week 162) — Check out answers with explanations

Published 2026-05-18 · Updated 2026-05-25 · 2 min · 329 words

What does this development mean for UPSC preparation?

UPSC CSE Context Why in News: WHO declared Ebola outbreak in DRC and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern. Syllabus Connection: International Relations: global health governance, bilateral trade, maritime geography. Exam Relevance: Prelims: map based questions on ports, disease outbreaks, trade par

UPSC CSE Context Why in News: WHO declared Ebola outbreak in DRC and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern. Syllabus Connection: International Relations: global health governance, bilateral trade, maritime geography. Exam Relevance: Prelims: map-based questions on ports, disease outbreaks, trade partners. Mains: India's strategic partnerships, health security. ## Core Issue Stakeholders: - Netherlands - UAE ## Static Knowledge High-Value Background: - Ebola is a zoonotic virus causing hemorrhagic fever; Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccines. - Gulf of Oman connects Arabian Sea to Strait of Hormuz; key ports include Fujairah, Chabahar, Sohar. Exam Linkage: - Useful for questions on global health emergencies, strategic ports, and India's trade partnerships. Concepts in Context: - PHEIC: WHO's highest alert level for extraordinary events with international spread risk. - Strait of Hormuz: strategic chokepoint for global oil shipments. Institutions and Mechanisms: - WHO: coordinates global health emergency response. - Indian Semiconductor Mission: promotes semiconductor ecosystem in India. ## Dynamic Analysis ### Health Security - Ebola PHEIC highlights gaps in vaccine development for rare strains like Bundibugyo. - DRC and Uganda at high risk due to land borders; international coordination critical. - Global health emergencies test WHO's response capacity and member state compliance. ### Geography and Maritime Security - Port of Fujairah in Gulf of Oman offers alternative to Strait of Hormuz for oil shipments. - Chabahar Port (Iran) and Sohar Port (Oman) are strategic for India's connectivity to Central Asia. - Maritime chokepoints like Hormuz are vulnerable to geopolitical tensions, affecting energy trade. ## Prelims Takeaways - Ports in Gulf of Oman: Fujairah, Chabahar, Sohar, Duqm. ## Mains Value Addition Arguments: - Global health emergencies require robust international health regulations and vaccine R&D. - Diversification of trade routes reduces dependence on chokepoints like Strait of Hormuz. Examples: - Tata Electronics-ASML MoU for semiconductor fab in Dholera, Gujarat. Counterpoints: - Bundibugyo virus lacks approved vaccines, complicating outbreak control. - Alternative routes via Gulf of Oman may increase shipping costs. ## Way Forward - Invest in R&D for vaccines against rare Ebola strains. - Strengthen WHO's early warning and response mechanisms. - Develop alternative maritime routes and port infrastructure to reduce chokepoint risks.

Primary/reference source: News

How should an aspirant use this analysis?

Connect the development to the relevant syllabus phrase, distinguish verified facts from interpretation, and use the cited source to confirm time-sensitive details. For Mains, frame the issue through stakeholders, constitutional or institutional context, implementation constraints and a balanced way forward. For Prelims, extract only testable terms, bodies, provisions, locations and cause-effect relationships.