UPSC Prelims 2015— Question 3

Correct answer: Option B. The Fortaleza Declaration was adopted at the Sixth BRICS Summit held at Fortaleza, Brazil, in 2014. BRICS—Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa—used the summit to advance cooperation on finance, development and international institutions. The declaration is therefore associated with BRICS rather than ASEAN, OECD or WTO. Option-wise analysis: Option A: “ASEAN” is incorrect. It does not match the specific fact, definition, institutional role, geographical association, or constitutional/economic principle required here. The key distinction is the one identified in the core explanation, so this option can be eliminated. Option B: “BRICS” is correct. It directly matches the factual or conceptual requirement tested by the question and is supported by the principle explained above. Option C: “OECD” is incorrect. It does not match the specific fact, definition, institutional role, geographical association, or constitutional/economic principle required here. The key distinction is the one identified in the core explanation, so this option can be eliminated. Option D: “WT” is incorrect. It does not match the specific fact, definition, institutional role, geographical association, or constitutional/economic principle required here. The key distinction is the one identified in the core explanation, so this option can be eliminated. Prelims takeaway: Focus on the precise institutional role, constitutional provision, geographical association, or technical definition being tested. UPSC questions often place a broadly familiar fact beside a narrowly incorrect qualifier; identifying that qualifier is essential for elimination.