UNITED NATIONS REVIEWER

100 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q. 1 What are the aims of the United Nations?

Ans. (a) To keep peace throughout the world; (b) to develop friendly relations between nations;
(c) to work together to help people live better lives, to eliminate poverty, disease and illiteracy in
the world, to stop environmental destruction and to encourage respect for each other’s rights and
freedoms and (d) to be a center for helping nations achieve these aims.
Q. 2 What are the principles of the United Nations?
Ans. (a) All Member States have sovereign equality; (b) All Member States must obey the
Charter; (c) Countries must try to settle their differences by peaceful means; (d) Countries must
avoid using force or the threat of force to settle disputes; (e) The UN may not interfere in the
domestic affairs of any country and (f) Countries should try to assist the United Nations.
Q. 3 (a) When did the UN come into existence and (b) Who coined the name “United Nations” ?
Ans. (a) On October 24, 1945. The day is now celebrated each year around the world as United
Nations Day. (b) United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was first used in the
“Declaration by United Nations” of 1 January 1942 during the Second World War, when
representatives of 26 nations pledged their governments to continue fighting together against the
axis powers.
Q. 4 How many Members are there in the UN ?
Ans. 193
Q. 5 What are the six official languages of the UN ?
Ans. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
Q. 6 How many countries signed the Charter at the San Francisco Conference in 1945?
Ans. 50
Q. 7 Name the country which did not sign the Charter at San Francisco but is still considered an
original member.
Ans. Poland - which was not able to send a representative.
Q. 8 What is the opening statement of the UN Charter?
Ans. “We the peoples of the United Nations determined to save succeeding generations from the
scourge of war.” .
Q. 9 What is the United Nations Charter and when and where was it signed?
Ans. The Charter is the constituting instrument of the UN, setting out the rights and obligations
of Member States and establishing the UN organs and procedures. The Charter was signed on
June 26, 1945 at San Francisco, USA.
Q. 10 Name the principal Organs of the UN.
 UNITED NATIONS REVIEWER
100 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Ans. (i) General Assembly; (ii) Security Council; (iii) International Court of Justice; (iv)
Economic and Social Council; and (v) Secretariat.
Q. 11 Who are the members of UN General Assembly?
Ans. The General Assembly is composed of representatives of all Member States each of which
has one vote.
Q. 12 How many countries were represented at the first session of the United Nations General
Assembly?

Ans. 51.The UN General Assembly's first session took place at the Methodist Central Hall in
London, and opened on 10 January 1946.

Q. 13 Every year, the United Nations come up with theme focusing on some concerns. What is
the theme of the United Nations for 2020.
Ans. International Year of Plant Health
Q. 14 What is the intergovernmental organization tasked to promote international cooperation
and to create and maintain international order.
Ans. United Nations
Q. 15 What is the main deliberate policy making and representative organ of the United Nations.
Ans. General assembly
Q. 16 How many representatives can each country have in the General Assembly?
Ans. Not more than five.
Q. 17 Where is the Headquarters of UN and since when?
Ans. New York, USA, since 1952.
Q. 18 Who is eligible to be a Member of the UN?
Ans. The Charter declares that membership of the UN is open to all the peace-loving nations
who accept its obligations. The States are admitted by the General Assembly on the
recommendation of the Security Council.
Q. 19 Does UN Charter provide for the suspension or expulsion of Member States?
Ans. Yes, for violation of the principles of the Charter.
Q. 20 Can the UN Charter be amended?
Ans. Yes, by a vote of two-thirds of the Members of the General Assembly and ratification by
two-thirds of the Members of the United Nations including the five permanent Members of the
Security Council.
 UNITED NATIONS REVIEWER
100 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q. 21 What is the main function of the Security Council ?
Ans. The Security Council has primary responsibility under the Charter, for the maintenance of
International Peace and Security.
Q. 22 Who are the members of the Security Council ?
Ans. The Council has 15 members; five permanent members - China, France, The Russian
Federation, UK and USA - and 10 elected by the General Assembly for 2 year terms.
Q. 23 What is the ‘Veto’ power?
Ans. The power to Veto any decision by a negative vote in the Security Council. It is enjoyed by
4 five permanent members of the Security Council- China, France, Russia, UK and USA.
Q. 24 It refers to a landmark or area which selected by unesco having a cultural, historical,
scientific, or other form of significance, and is legally protected by international treaties.
Ans. World Heritage
Q. 25 Who elects non-permanent members of the Security Council?
Ans. The UN General Assembly.
Q. 26 In order to promote peace and order, the United Nations deploy soldiers from member-
countries. What is referring to this group of soldiers of the United Nations.
Ans. Blue Helmet
Q. 27 Who was the first woman appointed to the post of Deputy-Secretary-General of the
UN?

Ans. Louise Frechette. She was appointed in 1999.

Q. 28 These refers to the eight * goals with measurable targets and clear deadlines for improving
the lives of the world’s poorest people
Ans. Millennium Development Goals
Q. 29 What and where is the International Court of Justice?
Ans. The International Court of Justice is the judicial organ of the United Nations. It only deals
with cases brought by nations, not individuals. It consists of 15 Judges. The court sits in
permanent session at The Hague, Netherlands.
Q. 30 Name of present Secretary-General of the UN and his country.
Ans. Antonio Guterrez since 1 January 201-incumbent from Lisbon,Portugal
Q. 31 Who appoints the UN Secretary-General and what is his diplomatic status?
 UNITED NATIONS REVIEWER
100 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Ans. The General Assembly appoints on the recommendation of the Security Council. He holds
the status of a Head of the State.
Q. 32 What is the tenure of his office?
Ans. 5 Five years, but may be re-appointed.
Q. 33 Who was the first UN Secretary-General and when was he elected?
Ans. Mr. Trygve Lie of Norway. Elected on February 1, 1946.
Q. 34 Name the UN Secretary-General who died in an air-crash?
Ans. Dag Hammarskjold of Sweden, who died on September 18, 1961 during a Congo Mission.
Q. 35 How many Secretary-Generals have so far served the UN ? Name them.
Ans. Eight (9) Mr. Trygve Lie (Norway) Mr. Dag Hammarskjold (Sweden) Mr. U. Thant
(Mayanmar) Mr. Kurt Waldheim (Austria) Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar (Peru) Mr. Boutros
Boutros Ghali (Egypt) Mr. Kofi Annan (Ghana) Mr. Ban Ki Moon (South Korea) Mr. Antonio
Guterrez (Lisbon Portugal)
Q. 36 There is only one UN Secretary-General who resigned before completing his term. Who is
he ?
Ans. Mr. Trygve Lie of Norway, who was re-elected on December 13, 1951 for a three year
mandate, but resigned in November 1952.
Q. 37 Name the UN Secretary-General who later on became the President of his country?
Ans. Mr. Kurt Waldheim of Austria.
Q. 38 Only one Latin American became the UN Secretary-General. Who was he and from
where?
Ans. Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar of Peru.
Q. 39 Name the only UN Secretary-General who was not re-elected for the second term and
why?
Ans. Mr. Boutros Boutros Ghali of Egypt vetoed by USA.
Q. 40 Who was the President of the First Session of General Assembly ?
Ans. Mr. Paul-Henri Spaak of Belgium in 1946.
Q. 41 The first Asian to serve as president of the Un General Assembly (1949).
Ans. Carlos P. Romulo
Q. 42 The official logo of the United Nations was designed by a talented architect and industrial
designer who worked for CIA. What is the name of the logo designer?
 UNITED NATIONS REVIEWER
100 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Ans. Oliver Lincoln Lundquist.
Q. 43 When and where did the first meeting of the UN General Assembly take place?
Ans. On January 10, 1946 in Central Hall, Westminster, London.
Q. 44 When was the first Veto used, by which country and for what?
Ans. On February 4, 1946 by Soviet Union on intervention of British troops in Greece.
Q. 45 China’s first Veto as permanent member of Security Council was applied on August 25,
1972, against what?
Ans. To stop the entry of Bangladesh into the UN as a Member State.
Q.46 Mr. Kurt Waldheim’s re-election for the third term was vetoed in the Security Council.
Who applied the Veto?
Ans. China
Q. 47 What is the significance of the Inter-Allied Declaration?
Ans. Signed in London on June 12, 1941 the Inter-Allied Declaration “to work together, with
other free peoples, both in war and peace” was the first of a series of steps which led to the
establishment of the UN.
Q. 48 Give the date and venue of the first meeting of the Security Council.
Ans. On January 17, 1946 at Westminster, London.
Q. 49 Why and when was the first-Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly called?
Ans. On November 6, 1956 to discuss the Suez Canal Crisis.
Q. 50 Give the date of India’s admission to UN
Ans. October 30, 1945.
Q. 51 Name the UN Secretaries-General who were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Ans. Mr. Dag Hammarskjold of Sweden for his work in helping settle the Congo Crisis. And Mr.
Kofi Annan along with UN in 200l.
Q. 52 The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded nine times to the UN and its organizations.
Name them
Ans. 1950 – Ralph Bunche 1954 – Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees 1961 –
Dag Hammarskjold 7 1965 – UN Childrens Fund 1969 – International Labour Organisation 1981
– Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees 2001 – Kofi Annan 2005 – International
Atomic Energy Agency Mohammad El Baradei 2007 – Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change – Al Gore Jr.
Q. 53 Who pays for the UN and how is the contribution assessed?
 UNITED NATIONS REVIEWER
100 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Ans. The main source of funds for the regular budget of the UN is the contribution of Member
States. Member States are assessed on a scale specified by the Assembly. The fundamental
criterion on which the scale of assessments is based is the real capacity of Member States to pay.
Rich countries pay more and poor countries pay less.
Q. 54 What is the forerunner organization of the United Nations
Ans. League of Nations
Q. 55 Who was elected seventy-sixth President of the Economic and Social Council on 23 July
2020.
Ans. Munir Akram
Q. 56 The Security Council has 15 members, 5 of which are permanent members. Which of the
following is not a permanent member?

Ans. Germany.The Russian Federation and the USA are the other two permanent members. The
10 members that are not permament are elected every two years.

Q. 57 In countries where there has been a war, the UN can send in soldiers to help prevent any
more violence. What do we call these soldiers?

Ans. Peacemaking Troops

Q. 58 A flag containing a map of the world extending from the North Pole to 60 degrees South
Latitude, with five concentric white rings and surrounded by olive branches on a blue
background - this is the flag of which association?

Ans The United Nations.The United Nations flag was adopted on the 7th December 1946,
following the US Secretary of State's - Edward Stettinus, Jr. - suggestion that the symbol used
for the 1945 United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco, could
become the permanent symbol of the United Nations. The original design of the flag is that of
Donal McLaughlin.

Q. 59 When was the Human Rights Declaration adopted?

Ans. On December 10, 1948 by the UN General Assembly. December 10 is observed as Human
Rights Day around the world.
Q. 60 Can individuals complain to the UN for violations of their Human Rights?
Ans. Yes, communications containing complaints of violations of Human Rights are dealt with
under the Economic and Social Council resolution 1503 (XLVIII), commonly known as the 1503
procedure and summarized and sent confidentially to the 53- member commission on Human
Rights. Copies of the complaints are also sent to the named State. The identity of the writers is
not disclosed unless they have consented to disclosure.
 UNITED NATIONS REVIEWER
100 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q. 61 What is UNDP and its role ?
Ans. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the world’s largest multilateral source
of grant funding for development cooperation. It was created in 1965. Its funds come from the
yearly voluntary contributions of Member States of the UN or its affiliated agencies.
Q. 62 Who are the United Nations Volunteers?
Ans. Established by a 1970 resolution of the General Assembly the United Nations Volunteers
(UNV) are the specialists and field-workers who work in development and humanitarian relief
programmes of Governments, assisted by UN agencies.
Q. 63 What is UNEP ?
Ans. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was established as a result of the UN
Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm in 1972. UNEP’s main job is to catalyse
environmental action and awareness worldwide. It has its Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya and is
the world’s leading environmental agency.
Q. 64 Why is the World Environment Day celebrated annually on 5th June?
Ans. To commemorate the anniversary of the opening day of the first UN Conference on the
Human Environment in Stockholm in 1972.
Q. 65 What is the UN Democracy Fund (UNDEF)?
Ans. UN Democracy Fund was established in early 2005 to promote democracy throughout the
world by providing assistance for projects that consolidates and strengthens democratic
governance. However, UNDEF does not promote any sample model of democracy. The fund
officially began its work on March 6, 2006
Q. 66 What is the role of UNICEF?
Ans. United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) was created by the
General Assembly during its first session in 1946 with a mandate for the survival, protection and
development of children. As the only UN agency devoted exclusively to the needs of children,
UNICEF speaks on their behalf and promotes the implementation of the convention on the child,
which became international law in September 1990. UNICEF relies entirely upon voluntary
public and government contribution. UNICEF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1965.
Q.67 What and where is the United Nations University?
Ans. The United Nations University (UNU) is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Established in
1973 UNU works to promote scholarly international and scientific cooperation to help solve
urgent global problems.
Q. 68 In what way is the UNU different from a traditional teaching university?
 UNITED NATIONS REVIEWER
100 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Ans. It has no student of its own, no faculty, no campus. It operates through worldwide
networks of academic and research institutions, including its own research and training centers
and individual scholars, to address problems.
Q. 69 What is the initials W H O stand for and what is the function of this organization?

Ans. The initials W H O stand for World Health Organization. W H O advises member
countries on public health and on the control of diseases.
Q. 70 What is the function of UNESCO?
Ans. The function of UNESCO is to advance education, science and culture in order to promote
human welfare.
Q. 71 What is the largest humanitarian organization in the world.It has been awarded the 2020
Nobel Peace Prize. 
Ans. UN World Food Programme (WFP)
Q. 72 What is the World Bank?
Ans. The World Bank is a group of four institutions; The International Bank for Reconstruction
and Development (IBRD), established in 1945, the International Finance Corporation (IFC),
established in 1956, the International Development Association (IDA), established in 1960, and
the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), established in 1988. The Common
objective of all four institutions is to help raise standards of living in developing countries by
channeling financial resources to those countries from developed countries. 11
Q. 73 What was the Bretten Woods Conference?
Ans. It was a United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference of 44 Governments held in
1944 at Bretten Woods, USA. It led to the establishment of IBRD - the International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development.
Q. 74 What is IMF?
Ans. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) founded in December 1945 is an
intergovernmental organization to : (a) promote cooperation on international monetary issues; (b)
to promote exchange stability; (c) to facilitate balanced growth of international trade; and (d) to
make the general resources of the fund temporarily available to members to permit them to
correct maladjustments in their balance of payments.
Q. 75 Was India among the original 51 Member States of the UN in 1945 ?
Ans. Yes.
Q. 76 A white serpent wound around a wooden staff (the symbol of the ancient Greek god
Asclepius), in front of a map of the world, as seen from the North Pole, extending to 40 degrees
South Latitude, and flanked by two olive branches, on a blue background is a description of the
flag of which UN organization?

Ans. WHO (World Health Organization) The ancient Greek god Asclepius was the god of
 UNITED NATIONS REVIEWER
100 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
medicine and healing, and his symbol is still used as a symbol of medicine today (it is often seen
on pharmacy signs). The WHO was established on the 7th April 1948, with its headquarters in
Geneva. The organization works to provide healthcare on a global scale, with major projects in
immunization, medical education and the provision of essential drugs to developing countries.

Q. 77 Name the first specialised agency of the United Nations?

Ans. ILO - International Labour Organisation. It was established in 1919 as an autonomous

institution associated with the League of Nations. By an agreement approved on December 14,
1946, ILO became the first specialised agency associated with UN. Based at Geneva in
Switzerland ILO works to promote social justice for working people everywhere. In ILO,
workers, employers and Governments representatives have an equal voice in formulating its
policies.
Q. 78 “Since war begins in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of
peace must be constructed.” Where does this well-known quotation come from.
Ans. From the constitution of UNESCO - United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural
Organization - which came into being on November 4, 1946, with Headquarters in Paris, France.
UNESCO is involved in promoting education worldwide, preserving the world’s heritage and
culture, improving accessibility to communication and supporting social scientific research. 12
Q. 79 What is Sustainable Development?
Ans. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) defines sustainable Development as
programmes that would “improve people’s quality of life within the carrying capacity of the
earth’s life-support system”.
Q. 80 Who got the Nobel Peace Prize for his leadership in establishing the UN.
Ans. Mr. Cordel Hull, US Secretary of State in 1945.
Q. 81 What and when was the first resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly.
Ans. On January 24, 1946, UNGA adopts its first resolution and its main focus was peaceful uses
of atomic energy and the elimination of atomic and other weapons of mass destruction.
Q. 82 What do you know about “An Agenda for Peace”? When and by whom was it issued?
Ans. On June 17, 1992, UN Secretary-General Mr. Boutros Boutros Ghali issued, for
submission to the Member States - An Agenda for Peace. It recommends ways to improve the
UN capacity for preventive diplomacy, peace-making and peace-keeping.
Q. 83 What is “An Agenda for Development” ?
Ans. It is a blueprint for improving the human condition. In response to the request of the
General Assembly, the Secretary-General issued this report on May 6, 1994.
Q. 84 What is UN-OHRLLS?
 UNITED NATIONS REVIEWER
100 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Ans. Set up in this century in December 2001, the office of the High Representative for the Least
Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States
was established by the General Assembly to meet the specific needs of these countries. It also
engages in advocacy and promotion of global awareness of these issues in partnership with the
relevent UN bodies, Civil Society, the media, academia and the foundations. It is headed by a
Under Secretary-General.
Q. 85 Name the forerunner organization of the UN and the year of its establishment?
Ans. League of Nations, established in 1919 under the Treaty of Versailles.
Q. 86 Where did the University of Peace get established?
Ans. The General Assembly in 1980 approved the establishment of the University of Peace, in
San Jose, Costa Rica.
Q. 87 Which day of the year is celebrated as International Day of Peace?
Ans. The General Assembly has designated 21 September as the International Day of Peace. 13
Q. 88 What are the Millennium Development Goals adopted at the Millennium Summit in 2000.
Ans. (a) Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger (b) Achieve universal primary education (c)
Promote gender equality and empower women (d) Reduce child mortality (e) Improve maternal
health (f) Combat HIV / AIDS, malaria and other diseases. (g) Ensure environmental
sustainability (h) Develop a global partnership for development.
Q.89 What is UN’s initiative “Alliance of Civilizations”?
Ans. A new initiative – “Alliance of Civilizations” was launched in 2005 in response to concerns
that extremists had been exploiting the sense of a widening gap between Islamic and Western
societies with an objective to build bridges and promote a culture of respect. The alliance was
originally proposed by Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and co-sponsored
by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and both countries continue to act as co-
sponsors.
Q. 90 AIDS kills more than 2 million people each year. Is there any UN programme to tackle this
threat?
Ans. Ten UN agencies have pooled their resources in the UN Programme - called UNAIDS to
combat HIV/AIDS. The participating agencies are UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNHCR,
UNODC, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank. In their Millennium Declaration, world
leaders resolved by 2015 to have halted and begun to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS and to
provide special assistance to children orphaned by the disease.
Q. 91 Why was the Trusteeship Council set-up and why has it suspended its operations?
Ans. Trusteeship Council was set up by the UN to supervise the administration of Trust
Territories and its major goal was to promote self-government or independence. On 1 November
1994 the Council has suspended its operation with the independence of Palau, the last remaining
 UNITED NATIONS REVIEWER
100 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
UN Trust territory. It will now meet as occassions required at the request of General Assembly
or the Security Council
Q. 92 Who are the Messengers of Peace and Goodwill Ambassadors. Who appoints them.
Ans. They are prominent personalities who have lent their names, talents and time to support UN
programmes. Messengers of Peace are appointed by the UN Secretary-General. The Goodwill
Ambassadors are appointed by a cross-section of funds. Indian tennis player Vijay Amritraj was
appointed UN Messenger of Peace on February 2001. 14
Q. 93 What is NPT? Has India signed it, if not why?
Ans. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the most universal of all
multilateral disarmament treaties, was first opened for signature in 1968 and came into force in
1970. The NPT is the cornerstone of the global nuclear nonproliferation regime and the essential
foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament. India is not a signatory to NPT because India
considers it a discriminatory treaty.
Q. 94 What are the special powers granted to Security Council under Chapter VII of the UN
Charter?
Ans. Under Chapter VII of the Charter, the Security Council is empowered to take measures to
enforce its decisions. It can impose embargoes and sanctions or authorise the use of military
force by a coalition of Member States or by a regional organisation or arrangement. But the
Security Council takes such action only as a last resort.
Q. 95 What is role of United Nations in the field of disarmament?
Ans. The UN General Assembly has two subsidiary bodies dealing with disarrnament issues: the
first committee (Disarmament and International Security) and the Disarmament Commission.
The Conference on Disarmament is the international community’s sole multinational negotiating
forum for disarmament agreements. The Conference successfully negotiated both the chemical
weapons convention and the comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban. Treaty (CTBT). Of late the
Conference has been unable to agree on a substantive programme due to lack of consensus.
Q. 96 How does the UN build peace through development?
Ans. While the war is the worst enemy of development, a healthy and balanced development is
the best form of conflict prevention. A central tool of the UN action to consolidate peace is
development assistance. The UN through its various agencies play a role in stimulating economic
recovery and mobilising resources.
Q. 97 What is the role of Department of Public information and name the Indian who headed it?
Ans. UN Department of Public Information (DPI) mission is to strategically communicate
information about the UN’s activities and concerns to the public. It does this to encourage public
support for the achievement of the aims of the world body. Mr. Shashi Tharoor of India, as the
Under-Secretary-General for Communication and Public Information headed DPI from 2003 to
2006. 15
 UNITED NATIONS REVIEWER
100 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q. 98 Name the Indian who contested for the post of UN Secretary - General?
Ans. Ms. Shashi Tharoor of India who was under Secretary-General contested for the post of
UN Secretary-General in 2006 and lost to the present UN Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki - moon
of South Korea.
Q. 99 What is ESCAP, its objectives and place of its Headquarters?
Ans. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) was established in
1947 with a mandate to address the economic and social issues of the region. It is the only inter-
governmental forum for all the countries of Asia and the Pacific. Its 53 Member States and 9
associate member states represent some 60 percent of the world’s population. Headed by an
Executive Secretary, it is headquartered at Bangkok, Thailand.
Q. 100 Who is the Turkish diplomat elected President of historic 75th UN General Assembly.
Ans. Volkan Bozkir (President of the General Assembly)