UPSC Prelims 2022 Question:

Consider the following pairs:

Sl. No.	Country		Important reason for being in the news recently
1.	Chad	:	Setting up of permanent military base by China
2.	Guinea	:	Suspension of Constitution and Government by military
3.	Lebanon	:	Severe and prolonged economic depression
4.	Tunisia	:	Suspension of Parliament by President

How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

Explanation: 

• • Chad:  In 2020, President Idris Deby Itno was killed and in April 2021 during fighting against rebels in northern Chad, he was succeeded by his son, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, as the head of a military junta. It was not in the news for setting up of permanent military base by China. So, pair 1 is not correctly matched.
    
    
  • Guinea: Some US officials are reported to have warned that Beijing plans to establish a permanent military installation in Guinea. Recently, Guinea's military leaders have suspended the constitution and closed the country's borders. So, pair 2 is correctly matched.
    
    
  • Lebanon: Lebanon is enduring a severe and prolonged economic depression. According to the latest World Bank Lebanon Economic Monitor (LEM), the economic and financial crisis is likely to rank in the top 10, possibly top 3, most severe crises episodes globally since the mid-nineteenth century. So, pair 3 is correctly matched.
    
    

• Tunisia: Recently, Tunisia’s President Kais Saied has dissolved the country’s parliament. So, pair 4 is correctly matched.
  
  

Therefore, option (3) is the correct answer.

Subject: Polity|International Relations