United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is an international organization founded in 1945, comprising 193 member states. Its primary objectives are to maintain international peace and security, promote human rights, foster social and economic development, and coordinate international cooperation.
🏛️ Principal Organs of the United Nations
1. General Assembly (GA)
Function: Serves as the main deliberative, policymaking, and representative body. All 193 member states have equal representation.
Headquarters: New York City, USA.Current President: Dennis Francis (Trinidad and Tobago) – 78th President (2023–24).
Key Roles:
Discusses and makes recommendations on international issues.
Approves the UN budget.Elects non-permanent members of the Security Council and other bodies.
Admits new members and oversees the UN system.
2. Security Council (SC)
Function: Responsible for maintaining international peace and security.
Composition: 15 members – 5 permanent (China, France, Russia, UK, USA) with veto power, and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.Headquarters: New York City, USA.
Current President: The presidency rotates monthly among members.
3. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
Function: Coordinates the economic, social, and related work of 15 UN specialized agencies.
Composition: 54 members elected by the General Assembly for three-year terms.Headquarters: New York City, USA.
Key Roles:
Promotes international economic and social cooperation.
Holds annual sessions to discuss global issues.Provides policy recommendations to member states.
4. International Court of Justice (ICJ)
Function: The principal judicial organ of the UN, settling legal disputes between states and providing advisory opinions.
Location: The Hague, Netherlands.Current President: Yuji Iwasawa (Japan) – took office on March 3, 2025.
Key Roles:
Resolves disputes submitted by states.
Issues advisory opinions on legal questions referred by UN organs or agencies.5. Secretariat
Function: Carries out the day-to-day work of the UN.
Headquarters: New York City, USA.Current Secretary-General: António Guterres (Portugal) – serving since January 1, 2017.
Key Roles:
Implements decisions made by other UN organs.
Provides studies, information, and facilities needed by UN bodies.Manages peacekeeping operations and humanitarian efforts.
6. Trusteeship Council
Function: Established to oversee the administration of trust territories and ensure that their inhabitants were prepared for self-government.
Status: Inactive since November 1, 1994, following the independence of Palau, the last remaining UN trust territory.📌 Important Points to Remember
The General Assembly is the only UN organ where all member states have equal representation.
The Security Council has the authority to make binding decisions on member states.The Economic and Social Council coordinates the work of specialized agencies like WHO, UNESCO, and IMF.
The International Court of Justice is the only international court that adjudicates general disputes between countries.
The Secretariat is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the UN.
The Trusteeship Council has completed its mission and is no longer active.
❓ Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
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Which of the following is a permanent member of the UN Security Council?
a) India
b) Germany
c) China
d) Brazil
Answer: c) China -
Where is the headquarters of the United Nations located?
a) Geneva
b) Paris
c) New York City
d) Vienna
Answer: c) New York City -
Who is the current President of the United Nations General Assembly (as of 2023–24)?
a) Volkan Bozkir
b) Dennis Francis
c) Tijjani Muhammad-Bande
d) Miroslav Lajčák
Answer: b) Dennis Francis -
Which organ of the UN is responsible for maintaining international peace and security?
a) General Assembly
b) Security Council
c) Economic and Social Council
d) Trusteeship Council
Answer: b) Security Council -
The International Court of Justice is located in which city?
a) Paris
b) London
c) The Hague
d) New York City
Answer: c) The Hague
United Nations – MCQs
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Who is the current Secretary-General of the UN?
a) Ban Ki-moon
b) António Guterres
c) Kofi Annan
d) Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Answer: b) António Guterres -
Where is the headquarters of the UN Secretariat located?
a) Geneva
b) Vienna
c) New York City
d) Paris
Answer: c) New York City -
Which organ of the UN is the main deliberative body where all member states have equal representation?
a) Security Council
b) General Assembly
c) Economic and Social Council
d) Secretariat
Answer: b) General Assembly -
Who is the current President of the UN General Assembly (2023–24)?
a) Volkan Bozkir
b) Dennis Francis
c) Tijjani Muhammad-Bande
d) Miroslav Lajčák
Answer: b) Dennis Francis -
The UN Security Council consists of how many members?
a) 10
b) 15
c) 20
d) 25
Answer: b) 15 -
Which of the following organs of the UN has veto power for permanent members?
a) General Assembly
b) Security Council
c) Economic and Social Council
d) Secretariat
Answer: b) Security Council -
Where is the International Court of Justice located?
a) Geneva
b) The Hague
c) New York
d) Vienna
Answer: b) The Hague -
Who is the current President of the International Court of Justice?
a) Abdulqawi Yusuf
b) Yuji Iwasawa
c) Joan Donoghue
d) Ronny Abraham
Answer: b) Yuji Iwasawa -
Which UN organ coordinates economic, social, and related work of 15 specialized agencies?
a) Secretariat
b) General Assembly
c) Economic and Social Council
d) Security Council
Answer: c) Economic and Social Council -
The Trusteeship Council of the UN is currently:
a) Active in supervising territories
b) Inactive since 1994
c) Responsible for peacekeeping
d) Leading the UN budget
Answer: b) Inactive since 1994 -
Which Article of the UN Charter establishes the Security Council?
a) Article 7
b) Article 23
c) Article 43
d) Article 50
Answer: b) Article 23 -
The presidency of the UN Security Council rotates:
a) Annually
b) Every month
c) Every two years
d) Every six months
Answer: b) Every month -
Which of the following is NOT a permanent member of the Security Council?
a) France
b) Germany
c) UK
d) Russia
Answer: b) Germany -
The UN General Assembly approves:
a) International court decisions
b) UN budget
c) Security Council vetoes
d) Treaty ratifications
Answer: b) UN budget -
The Secretariat’s main role is to:
a) Make binding resolutions
b) Conduct judicial proceedings
c) Carry out day-to-day operations of the UN
d) Elect member states
Answer: c) Carry out day-to-day operations of the UN