Law Legal Studies · General Awareness

International Law

2,177 Questions

International law governs the legal frameworks, treaties, and conventions regulating relations between nations. This collection covers human rights, humanitarian interventions, diplomatic immunity, and refugee protections. These questions are highly relevant for UPSC, State PSC, and specialized law entrance examinations.

Humanitarian law principlesDiplomatic immunityHuman rights conventionsInternational crime lawsRefugee protection frameworks

International Law Questions

Multiple choice

Which of the following is/are the principal function(s) of the International Labour Organization?

  1. The formulation of international standards in the form of international labour conventions and recommendations
  2. Formulation of labour unions in every country
  3. Formulation of labour laws in every country

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 1 and 2

  3. Only 1 and 3

  4. 1, 2 and 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The principle of ILO is the formulation of international standards in the form of international labour conventions and recommendations. The ILO is the international organization responsible for drawing up and overseeing international labour standards. It is the only 'tripartite' United Nations agency that brings together representatives of governments, employers and workers to jointly shape policies and programmes promoting decent work for all.  

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements about NHRC:

  1. NHRC also reviews the living condition of jail inmates.
  2. NHRC is allowed to review Article 21.
  3. NHRC can study treaties and other international instruments that can affect human rights.

Which of the above is/are correct?

  1. Only 1

  2. 1 and 2

  3. 2 and 3

  4. 1, 2 and 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is correct. NHRC visits jails and detention places to study the living conditions of

inmates and make recommendations.

Statement 2 is correct. NHRC can review the constitutional and other legal safeguards for the protection of human rights and recommend measures for its effective implementation. Statement 3 is correct. NHRC also studies treaties and other international instruments on human rights.
Multiple choice

International Law is the law between sovereign state. A sovereign is the supreme authority not bound by legal constraints.

Which of the following derivation is correct?

  1. International law is not law binding on the sovereign states

  2. International law is only a positive morality

  3. International law is in the nature of pact between sovereign states

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

International law operates through agreements (pacts, treaties) between sovereign states. While states are supreme domestically, they voluntarily bind themselves internationally through these pacts. Option C correctly captures this dual nature - international law as consensual agreements between sovereigns, not imposed rules or mere morality.

Multiple choice

The basis of International law is:

  1. Ubi societas, ubijus

  2. Jus gentiwn

  3. Jus Cogens

  4. Droit des gens
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Jus Cogens (peremptory norms) are fundamental principles of international law from which no derogation is permitted (e.g., prohibitions against genocide, slavery, torture). They form the basis/boundary of modern international law.

Multiple choice

Identify the correct order in which the following bases nt Jurisdiction appear in the statute of the International Criminal Justice: (i) Consent ad hoc (ii) As provided in the U.N. Charter (iii) Consent under the optional system (iv) Transferred Jurisdiction

  1. (iv), (iii), (I) and (ii)

  2. (iii). (i), (ii) and (iv)

  3. (ii), (i), (iii) and (iv)

  4. (i), (ii), (iv) and (iii)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The correct order of jurisdiction bases in the ICC statute is: (ii) As provided in the UN Charter (UN Security Council referral), (i) Consent ad hoc (state acceptance for specific situation), (iii) Consent under the optional system (Article 14(3) optional declaration), and (iv) Transferred jurisdiction (from ad hoc tribunals). Option C correctly sequences these jurisdictional sources from most general to most specific.

Multiple choice

International law is

  1. Collection of legislations of various countries.

  2. Body of rules and principles of action which are binding upon civilized states in their relation with each other.

  3. Collection of customs of various countries.

  4. A legal instrument in service of domestic policy.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

International law is defined as the body of rules and principles that govern relations between states. Unlike domestic law, it's not a collection of legislations or customs of individual countries, nor is it an instrument for domestic policy. It regulates the conduct of states in their international relations.

Multiple choice

Article 21-A and Article 51-A (k) are:

  1. interrelated and integrated as right and obligation

  2. not interrelated and integrated as right and obligation

  3. mutually exclusive

  4. independent and not inter-dependent
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Multiple choice

Which one of the following statement is correct?

  1. Source of Public International Law is writings of jurists.

  2. Sources of Public International Law are treaties.

  3. Source of Public International Law is treatise.

  4. Sources of Public international Law are judicial precedents.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Multiple choice

Arrange the following international instruments in order in which they were adopted. Use the codes given below: I. The Charter of United Nations II. Universal Declaration of Human Rights III. International Convention for the protection IV. International Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

  1. I IV II III

  2. II IV I II

  3. I II IV III

  4. I III IV II

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The correct chronological order is: I (UN Charter, 1945), II (UDHR, 1948), IV (ICERD, 1965), III (ICESCR/ICCPR - though the option is truncated, this refers to the 1966 Covenants). The UN Charter was established in 1945 as the foundational document. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights followed in 1948. The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination was adopted in 1965, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (along with ICESCR) was adopted in 1966.

Multiple choice

The World Court refused to give its advisory opinion in:

  1. The Genocide convention case

  2. The legality of the use by a state of Nuclear Weapons in Armed conflict

  3. Interpretation of Peace Treaties case

  4. Legality of the threat or use of Nuclear Weapons case
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The ICJ refused to give an advisory opinion in the 'Legality of the use by a state of Nuclear Weapons in Armed conflict' case (WHO request) because it fell outside the WHO's mandate. The Court later did give an opinion in the separate 'Legality of the threat or use of Nuclear Weapons' case (UNGA request). Option B correctly identifies the case where refusal occurred.

Multiple choice

The theme of the 60th Anniversary celebrations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 1948 is:

  1. human Rights for all

  2. All Human Rights for all

  3. Justice and dignity for all

  4. Human Rights for Human Dignity
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The 60th anniversary (2008) theme of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was 'Dignity and Justice for All.' This theme reflects the core values of the UDHR - human dignity and equal justice for all people. Option C captures this theme. Option A is too generic, Option B incorrectly capitalizes 'All,' and Option D is not the official theme for the 60th anniversary.

Multiple choice

The Arrantzazu Mendi case deals with:

  1. Human Rights

  2. Recognition

  3. Nature of International Law

  4. Peaceful settlement of disputes
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Arrantzazu Mendi case (1939) dealt with whether the British government should recognize the Nationalist government of Franco in Spain as the legitimate government, displacing the Republican government it had previously recognized. The case established principles about state recognition in international law.

Multiple choice

The Charter of the United Nations requires that the organization and its members shall act in accordance with the principles enumerated in the charter. Which of the following is not one of such principles?

  1. Sovereign equality

  2. Settlement of international disputes by peaceful means

  3. Promotion of human rights

  4. Prohibition of threat or use of force
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Article 2(7) of the UN Charter outlines seven principles, including sovereign equality, peaceful settlement of disputes, and prohibition of threat/use of force. However, while human rights promotion is now a core UN principle, it was NOT originally enumerated as one of the Article 2(7) principles - these specific principles focus more on sovereign equality, peaceful dispute resolution, non-intervention, prohibition of force, and good faith fulfillment of obligations. The assertion that 'Promotion of human rights' is not one of these specific Article 2(7) principles is technically correct.

Multiple choice

The weaknesses of International law are: (i) Lack of institutions (ii) Lack of certainly (iii) Vital interests (iv) Lack of sanctions

  1. (iii) and (iv) are correct

  2. (ii) and (iv) are correct

  3. (i). (ii), (iii) and (iv) are correct

  4. (i), (ii) and (iii) are correct
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The traditional weaknesses of international law include: (1) Lack of institutions - while courts exist, enforcement is weak; (2) Lack of certainty - rules are often vague and interpretation varies; (3) Vital interests - states may prioritize national interest over international law; (4) Lack of sanctions - there's no strong enforcement mechanism. Options (ii) 'lack of certainty' (as written) and (iv) 'lack of sanctions' are recognized weaknesses. Note: there's a minor typo in option B - 'certainly' should be 'certainty'.