International Institutions — Practice Questions
UPSC Prelims-pattern practice questions on international institutions — UN organs, ICJ, Geneva agencies, UNCTAD reports and AIIB — with full explanations and a Mains question.
Questions
These are original UPSC-pattern practice questions. Attempt each one before revealing the answer.
Which one of the following principal organs of the United Nations suspended its operations in 1994?
Solution
The Trusteeship Council suspended operations in November 1994 after Palau, the last trust territory, became independent. The other organs continue to function.
Answer: B
The World Investment Report is published by:
Solution
UNCTAD publishes the World Investment Report. The World Bank publishes the World Development Report; UNDP the Human Development Report; the World Economic Forum the Global Competitiveness and Global Gender Gap reports.
Answer: A
With reference to the International Court of Justice, consider the following statements:
- It consists of fifteen judges elected for nine-year terms.
- Its judges are elected by the UN General Assembly and the Security Council.
- It tries individuals accused of war crimes and genocide.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Solution
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong — the ICJ settles disputes between States and gives advisory opinions; individuals are tried by the International Criminal Court, a separate body under the Rome Statute.
Answer: C
How many of the following organisations have their headquarters in Geneva?
- International Labour Organization
- World Health Organization
- World Intellectual Property Organization
- World Meteorological Organization
Solution
All four are in Geneva, along with ITU, UNHCR, UNCTAD and the WTO.
Answer: D
With reference to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), consider the following statements:
- It is headquartered in Beijing.
- India is a founding member.
- India is its largest shareholder.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Solution
Statements 1 and 2 are correct — the AIIB began operations in 2016 with its headquarters in Beijing, and India is a founding member. Statement 3 is wrong — China is the largest shareholder; India is the second-largest.
Answer: B
The paralysis of the WTO’s dispute settlement system threatens the rules-based trading order. Discuss its implications for India.
Solution
Introduction: The WTO’s two-tier dispute settlement — panels and an Appellate Body — was the “crown jewel” of the 1995 system. Since December 2019 the Appellate Body has been unable to hear appeals because appointments have been blocked.
Body:
- Why it matters: a losing party can appeal “into the void”, leaving rulings unenforced; trade disputes shift to unilateral tariffs and bilateral bargaining.
- Implications for India: developing countries depend on rules more than on power; India’s own cases can remain unresolved; pressure grows to settle through bilateral deals; disciplines on subsidies and agriculture become harder to defend or enforce.
- Mixed effects: it also lets India avoid final adverse rulings in some disputes.
- Way forward: restore a two-tier system through WTO reform; preserve special and differential treatment; use interim options; strengthen trade diplomacy and FTAs as a hedge.
Conclusion: A rules-based system protects middle powers like India. India should lead efforts to restore binding dispute settlement while keeping policy space for development.