International Law MCQs with Answers & Explanations
Introduction to Law
· Law
16 Questions• 12 Mins Practice• Updated for 2026 Competitive Exams
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16 Questions
1
What is the legal status of a diplomatic agent in Pakistan if they engage in commercial activities outside their official duties?
Correct Option
Option C
Explanation
Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which is recognized in international law, diplomatic immunity generally protects agents from civil jurisdiction. However, an exception exists for professional or commercial activities exercised by the diplomatic agent in the receiving state outside their official functions. The source answer suggests they can be sued, which aligns with the commercial activity exception to immunity.
2
Which article of the Statute of the International Court of Justice is widely recognized as the authoritative enumeration of the sources of international law?
Correct Option
Option D
Explanation
Article 38(1) of the ICJ Statute lists international conventions, international custom, general principles of law, and judicial decisions as the primary sources of international law.
3
What is the legal term for a peremptory norm of general international law from which no derogation is permitted?
Correct Option
Option A
Explanation
Jus cogens norms, as defined in Article 53 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, are fundamental principles that override any conflicting treaty or custom.
4
The principle that 'treaties must be observed' is known in international law as:
Correct Option
Option D
Explanation
Pacta sunt servanda is a foundational principle of international law codified in Article 26 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, requiring states to perform treaties in good faith.
5
Which theory suggests that international law and municipal law exist in two entirely separate legal spheres?
Correct Option
Option C
Explanation
Dualism posits that international law and domestic law are distinct legal systems, requiring international rules to be incorporated into national law to be enforceable.
6
What is the primary requirement for a practice to be considered 'customary international law' alongside state practice?
Correct Option
Option A
Explanation
Customary international law requires both consistent state practice and opinio juris, which is the belief that such practice is required by a legal obligation.
7
Under the Montevideo Convention of 1933, which of the following is NOT a criterion for statehood?
Correct Option
Option B
Explanation
Article 1 of the Montevideo Convention lists population, territory, government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states as the criteria for statehood; UN recognition is not a legal requirement.
8
Which international body serves as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations?
Correct Option
Option B
Explanation
The International Court of Justice, based in The Hague, was established by the UN Charter in 1945 as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.
9
What does the doctrine of 'sovereign immunity' primarily protect a state from?
Correct Option
Option D
Explanation
Sovereign immunity is a principle of international law that prevents a state from being sued in the courts of another sovereign state without its consent.
10
Which convention governs the law of treaties between states?
Correct Option
Option B
Explanation
The 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties provides the comprehensive legal framework for the formation, interpretation, and termination of international treaties.
11
What is the legal concept that allows a state to claim jurisdiction over crimes committed by its own nationals abroad?
Correct Option
Option C
Explanation
The active personality principle allows a state to exercise jurisdiction over its citizens for crimes committed anywhere in the world.
12
Which document is considered the primary source of international human rights law?
Correct Option
Option D
Explanation
Adopted in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights serves as the foundational document for international human rights standards.
13
What is the 'Lotus Principle' in international law?
Correct Option
Option C
Explanation
Derived from the 1927 SS Lotus case, the principle holds that restrictions upon the independence of states cannot be presumed, allowing freedom of action unless prohibited.
14
Which international organization was the predecessor to the United Nations?
Correct Option
Option D
Explanation
The League of Nations was established in 1920 following World War I and served as the first worldwide intergovernmental organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace.
15
What is the legal effect of a 'reservation' to a treaty?
Correct Option
Option A
Explanation
Under Article 2(1)(d) of the Vienna Convention, a reservation is a unilateral statement made by a state when signing or ratifying a treaty to exclude or modify the legal effect of certain provisions.
16
Which principle suggests that international law is supreme over domestic law?
Correct Option
Option C
Explanation
Monism asserts that international and domestic law form a single legal system, with international law occupying a higher hierarchical position.