UPSC Prelims 2026Question 76International Relations

Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists: — List I (INTERPOL Notice) — List II (Description); A. — Silver Notice — 1. — To seek in formation on unidentified bodies; B. — Blue Notice — 2. — To collect additional information about a person’s identity, location, or activities in relation to a criminal investigation; C. — Black Notice — 3. — To provide warning about a person’s criminal activities, where the person is considered to be a possible threat to public safety; D. — Green Notice — 4. — To identify and trace criminal assets Code:

Options

(a)3 — 1 — 2 — 4
(b)3 — 2 — 1 — 4
(c)4 — 2 — 1 — 3
(d)4 — 1 — 2 — 3

Correct answer: c

Decision rule

Red locates a wanted person, Blue gathers information on one, Green warns about one, Black identifies bodies, Yellow finds the missing, Silver traces assets.

Explanation

Correct Answer

(c) A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3

Explanation of the Correct Answer

The correct matching is:

INTERPOL Notice	Correct Description
A. Silver Notice	4. To identify and trace criminal assets
B. Blue Notice	2. To collect additional information about a person’s identity, location, or activities in relation to a criminal investigation
C. Black Notice	1. To seek information on unidentified bodies
D. Green Notice	3. To provide warning about a person’s criminal activities, where the person is considered to be a possible threat to public safety

Therefore:

A → 4
B → 2
C → 1
D → 3

Hence, the correct answer is (c).

INTERPOL officially describes Black Notice as seeking information on unidentified bodies, Green Notice as warning about a person’s criminal activities if the person may be a public safety threat, and Silver Notice as identifying and tracing criminal assets. (Interpol)

Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Option	Matching Given	Verdict	Reason
(a)	A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4	Incorrect	Silver Notice is not for warning about criminal activities; Blue Notice is not for unidentified bodies; Black Notice is not for additional information about a person; Green Notice is not for tracing criminal assets.
(b)	A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4	Incorrect	Blue and Black are correct, but Silver and Green are interchanged.
(c)	A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3	Correct	All four notices are correctly matched.
(d)	A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3	Incorrect	Silver and Green are correct, but Blue and Black are interchanged.

Relevant Supplementary Information

Table: INTERPOL Notices and Their Purpose

Notice Type	Purpose	Broad Use
Red Notice	To seek location and arrest of a wanted person pending extradition or similar legal action	Wanted persons
Blue Notice	To collect additional information about a person’s identity, location or activities in relation to a criminal investigation	Persons of interest
Green Notice	To warn about a person’s criminal activities when the person may be a threat to public safety	Criminal warning
Yellow Notice	To help locate missing persons or identify persons unable to identify themselves	Missing persons
Black Notice	To seek information on unidentified bodies	Unidentified dead bodies
Orange Notice	To warn of an event, person, object or process representing a serious and imminent threat to public safety	Immediate threats
Purple Notice	To seek or provide information on modus operandi, objects, devices and concealment methods used by criminals	Criminal methods
Silver Notice	To identify and trace criminal assets	Criminal assets and proceeds of crime
INTERPOL–UN Security Council Special Notice	To alert member countries about individuals or entities subject to UN Security Council sanctions	UN sanctions

Key Takeaways from the Table

Silver Notice = criminal assets
Blue Notice = additional information about a person
Black Notice = unidentified bodies
Green Notice = warning about criminal activities
Red Notice is not an international arrest warrant, but a request to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending legal process.
Purple Notice relates to criminal methods, while Orange Notice relates to serious and imminent threats.

Context and Current Relevance

Silver Notice is the newest INTERPOL notice category and is aimed at tracing assets linked to crime, corruption and money laundering.
The first Silver Notice was published by INTERPOL in January 2025 as part of a pilot phase targeting criminal assets. (Interpol)
Such notices help police forces across countries share alerts and investigation-related information quickly.

Silver Notice has become important because of global cooperation against money laundering, corruption, cybercrime and organized crime assets.
INTERPOL Notices help police agencies in member countries share alerts, warnings and investigation-related information.
For exam purposes, the main trap is confusing Red, Blue, Green, Black and Silver Notices.

Table: INTERPOL Notices and Their Meanings

INTERPOL Notice	Colour / Type	Purpose	Simple Memory Cue
Red Notice	Red	To seek the location and arrest of a wanted person pending extradition, surrender or similar legal action	Red = wanted person
Blue Notice	Blue	To collect additional information about a person’s identity, location or activities in relation to a criminal investigation	Blue = background information
Green Notice	Green	To provide warning about a person’s criminal activities when the person is considered a possible threat to public safety	Green = warning about criminal behaviour
Yellow Notice	Yellow	To help locate missing persons or identify persons unable to identify themselves	Yellow = missing person alert
Black Notice	Black	To seek information on unidentified bodies	Black = unidentified dead body
Orange Notice	Orange	To warn of an event, person, object or process representing a serious and imminent threat to public safety	Orange = urgent threat warning
Purple Notice	Purple	To seek or provide information on criminals’ modus operandi, objects, devices and concealment methods	Purple = pattern or method of crime
Silver Notice	Silver	To identify and trace criminal assets	Silver = money/assets
INTERPOL–UN Security Council Special Notice	Special Notice	To alert member countries about individuals or entities subject to UN Security Council sanctions	UN sanctions notice

Table: Commonly Confused INTERPOL Notices

Notice	Do Not Confuse With	Difference
Red Notice	Arrest warrant	It is not an international arrest warrant; it is a request to locate and provisionally arrest a wanted person.
Blue Notice	Red Notice	Blue seeks information about a person; Red seeks location and arrest of a wanted person.
Green Notice	Orange Notice	Green warns about a criminal person; Orange warns about a serious and imminent public safety threat.
Black Notice	Yellow Notice	Black deals with unidentified dead bodies; Yellow deals with missing or unidentified living persons.
Purple Notice	Blue Notice	Purple is about criminal methods; Blue is about information on a person.
Silver Notice	Green Notice	Silver traces criminal assets; Green warns about dangerous criminal activity.

Table: INTERPOL Notice Questions — Quick Revision Format

If the Question Says	Answer Should Be
Wanted person for extradition	Red Notice
Additional information about identity, location or activities	Blue Notice
Warning about criminal activities of a person	Green Notice
Missing person	Yellow Notice
Unidentified bodies	Black Notice
Serious and imminent threat to public safety	Orange Notice
Criminal methods, devices or concealment methods	Purple Notice
Criminal assets / proceeds of crime	Silver Notice
UN Security Council sanctions	INTERPOL–UN Security Council Special Notice

Key Takeaways from the Tables

Key Point	Explanation
Silver Notice = criminal assets	This is the newest and most likely-to-be-tested notice type.
Blue Notice = information about a person	It does not seek arrest; it collects investigation-related information.
Black Notice = unidentified bodies	It is used for information on dead bodies whose identity is unknown.
Green Notice = warning about criminal activities	It warns countries about persons who may be a threat to public safety.
Red Notice is not an arrest warrant	It is an international request, not a binding global arrest order.
Yellow Notice is humanitarian in nature	It helps locate missing persons or identify people who cannot identify themselves.

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