Which country took over the Chair of the Group of 77 (G 77) for the year 2019?

Introduction / Context:
This current affairs question concerns international groupings and their leadership. The Group of 77, commonly written as G 77, is a coalition of developing countries within the United Nations system that aims to promote their collective economic interests and enhance joint negotiating capacity. The chair of the group rotates each year among member states. The question asks which country assumed the chairmanship for the year 2019.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The organisation is the Group of 77 (G 77) plus China, a large coalition of developing nations.
• The focus year is 2019.
• The options include Palestine, Australia, Iran, and Iraq.
• We assume awareness of major headlines about leadership changes in international forums during that period.

Concept / Approach:
Although called the Group of 77, the coalition has grown to include more than 130 member countries. The chairmanship is symbolic and practical, as the chair leads meetings and represents the group in key negotiations. In 2019, news reports highlighted that the State of Palestine took over the chairmanship of the G 77, marking an important diplomatic moment for Palestine at the United Nations. Australia is not a member of this developing country coalition, and while Iran and Iraq are members of various regional groups, they were not the chair of G 77 in that particular year.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that G 77 is composed mainly of developing countries from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and that the chair rotates. Step 2: Remember specific news that in 2019, the State of Palestine assumed the chair, which was widely discussed as a milestone in its international recognition efforts. Step 3: Examine the options. Australia is a developed country and a member of groups such as OECD and G20, not the G 77 chair. Step 4: Iran and Iraq are developing countries but there were no major headlines stating that they chaired the G 77 in 2019. Step 5: Based on this, select Palestine as the country that took over the chair of G 77 for 2019.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by remembering that international media and many exam oriented magazines emphasised that Palestine, by chairing G 77, would speak on behalf of a very large group of developing nations at the United Nations in 2019. This event was seen as strengthening Palestines diplomatic profile. No similar coverage highlighted Australia, Iran, or Iraq as chairs for that period, which confirms the correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B, Australia, is a developed country and not a natural candidate for chairing a coalition of developing states like G 77. Option C, Iran, although active in various regional organisations, did not hold the G 77 chair in 2019. Option D, Iraq, is also a developing country but was not reported as chair for that year. These options are distractors intended to test whether you remember the specific country linked with this significant diplomatic development.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes guess a country that appears frequently in international news, such as Iran, without recalling the exact context. Others may not clearly distinguish between different groups like G20, G7, and G 77. It helps to remember that G 77 is a coalition of developing nations, that its chair rotates annually, and that Palestine chairing it in 2019 was widely described as a noteworthy event in international diplomacy.

Final Answer:
The country that took over the Chair of the Group of 77 for 2019 was Palestine.