UPSC Prelims 2025Question 80International Relations

Consider the following pairs:
In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched? Region — Country; I. Mallorca — Italy; II. Normandy — Spain; III. Sardinia — France

Options

(a)Only one
(b)Only two
(c)All the three
(d)None

Correct answer: d

Decision rule

An island or region belongs to the country of its archipelago, not its nearest coast: Balearics Spanish, Sardinia and Sicily Italian, Corsica French.

Explanation

Correct Answer:

(d) None

Explanation of the Correct Answer

Let’s analyze each pair carefully to check if the region is correctly matched with the country:

Statement-wise Analysis

I. Mallorca – Italy

Incorrect
Mallorca is the largest island in the Balearic Islands archipelago, which belongs to Spain, not Italy.

II. Normandy – Spain

Incorrect
Normandy is a region in northern France, famous for the D-Day landings during World War II. It is not part of Spain.

III. Sardinia – France

Incorrect
Sardinia is a large island in the Mediterranean Sea and is part of Italy, not France.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect

(a) Only one – Incorrect: None of the pairs are correctly matched.
(b) Only two – Incorrect: None are correctly matched.
(c) All the three – Incorrect: All are incorrectly matched.
(d) None – Correct: All pairs are mismatched.

Relevant Supplementary Information

Table: Correct Matches of Regions and Countries

Region	Correct Country	Additional Notes
Mallorca	Spain	Part of the Balearic Islands, Mediterranean Sea.
Normandy	France	Northern France, known for historic WWII sites.
Sardinia	Italy	Large Mediterranean island, autonomous region of Italy.

Related Concepts or Facts

Concept / Term	Explanation
Balearic Islands	Spanish archipelago in the western Mediterranean including Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza.
Normandy	French region with rich history, including the Normandy Landings in WWII.
Sardinia	Second-largest island in the Mediterranean; culturally and historically Italian.
Mediterranean Geography	Regions and islands distributed among Spain, France, Italy, Greece, and others.

Current Relevance

These regions are important tourist destinations with significant historical and cultural importance in Europe.
Understanding the correct country-region association is important for geography, history, and current affairs.

Table: Related Concepts and Terms – Regions and Their Countries

Concept / Term	Explanation / Relevance
Mallorca	Largest island of the Balearic Islands, which belong to Spain in the Mediterranean Sea. Major tourist destination.
Balearic Islands	Spanish archipelago in the western Mediterranean, including Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza.
Normandy	Region in northern France, known for its historical significance in WWII (D-Day landings).
D-Day Landings	Allied invasion of Normandy in 1944, a turning point in WWII in Europe.
Sardinia	Large island in the Mediterranean, part of Italy; autonomous region with distinct culture and history.
Mediterranean Sea	Sea bordering southern Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia, home to many islands and peninsulas.
Island Autonomy	Many Mediterranean islands like Sardinia have special autonomous status within their countries.
European Regional Geography	Study of cultural, historical, and political geography of European regions and islands.

Table: Major Mediterranean Islands and Their Countries

Island	Country	Location / Region	Key Features / Notes
Mallorca	Spain	Balearic Islands, Western Mediterranean	Largest Balearic island; major tourist destination.
Menorca	Spain	Balearic Islands	Known for beaches, quieter than Mallorca.
Ibiza	Spain	Balearic Islands	Famous for nightlife and tourism.
Corsica	France	Western Mediterranean	French island with rugged terrain; birthplace of Napoleon.
Sardinia	Italy	Central Mediterranean	Second-largest Mediterranean island; autonomous region.
Sicily	Italy	Southern tip of Italy	Largest Mediterranean island; rich history and culture.
Crete	Greece	Eastern Mediterranean	Largest Greek island; known for Minoan civilization ruins.
Cyprus	Divided between Greece and Turkey (Republic of Cyprus recognized internationally)	Eastern Mediterranean	Politically divided; rich in cultural heritage.
Rhodes	Greece	Dodecanese Islands	Famous for medieval history and tourism.
Malta	Malta (Independent)	Central Mediterranean	Small island nation; strategic location historically.
Lesbos	Greece	Northeastern Aegean Sea	Known for natural beauty and refugee routes.
Gozo	Malta	Maltese Archipelago	Smaller island near Malta; rural and historic.
Elba	Italy	Tuscan Archipelago	Known as Napoleon’s place of exile.

Notes:

Many islands have unique cultural identities and autonomous administrative statuses.
Islands vary greatly in size, population, economic focus (tourism, agriculture, industry), and historical importance.
Mediterranean islands have historically been strategic maritime hubs.

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Consider the following pairs:In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched? Region — Country; I. Mallorca — Italy; II. Normandy — Spain; III. Sardinia — France