Mains GS Paper IIInternational RelationsHigh-yield

Multilateral Bodies — QUAD, SCO, BRICS, G20, ASEAN, Commonwealth & India's role

बहुपक्षीय निकाय — क्वाड, SCO, BRICS, G20, ASEAN

Multilateral Bodies — QUAD, SCO, BRICS, G20, ASEAN, Commonwealth & India's role is part of the UPSC Mains GS Paper II syllabus, under International Relations. It appeared in Mains GS Paper II question papers in 4 of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 (2018, 2020, 2022, 2024). It is marked high-yield: a topic worth revising more than once.

What should you study in Multilateral Bodies?

  • QUAD — tech, security, clean energy, vaccines partnership
  • SCO — India-Pakistan in same forum; counter-terrorism focus
  • BRICS+ — expansion (Saudi, UAE, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt)
  • G20 — India's presidency 2023; Global South voice, African Union membership

How often is Multilateral Bodies asked in UPSC Mains?

Asked in 4 of 10 years, including 2 of the last 5. Highlighted years below are the ones it appeared in.

  1. 2016: not asked
  2. 2017: not asked
  3. 2018: asked
  4. 2019: not asked
  5. 2020: asked
  6. 2021: not asked
  7. 2022: asked
  8. 2023: not asked
  9. 2024: asked
  10. 2025: not asked

About the Mains GS Paper II paper

GS Paper II is a 250-mark descriptive Mains paper covering governance, the Constitution, polity, social justice and international relations. See all 40 Mains GS Paper II topics.

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