Students, aspirants for competitive exams, and people interested in global affairs must understand the United Nations (UNO). In this article, you will learn the 50 key multiple-choice questions (MCQs) on the UNO. The questions include key facts on UN groups, history, functions, and roles. If you are appearing for exams or want to increase your general knowledge, these UNO MCQs, along with answers and explanations, will help you get updated.
Important MCQs about the United Nations
Here are the 50 most important MCQs about the United Nations:
1. When was the United Nations officially founded?
A. 1943
B. 1944
C. 1945
D. 1946
➥ Show Answer
Details: The United Nations was officially established on October 24, 1945, after the end of World War II.
2. How many member states are in the United Nations as of 2024?
A. 191
B. 193
C. 195
D. 197
➥ Show Answer
Details: As of 2024, the UN has 193 member states. The latest to join was South Sudan in 2011.
3. Where is the headquarters of the United Nations located?
A. Geneva
B. Paris
C. New York
D. London
➥ Show Answer
Details: The main headquarters of the UN is located in New York City, USA.
4. Which body of the UN is responsible for maintaining international peace and security?
A. General Assembly
B. Economic and Social Council
C. Security Council
D. Secretariat
➥ Show Answer
Details: The UN Security Council is charged with maintaining peace and security among nations.
5. Who is the current Secretary-General of the United Nations (2024)?
A. António Guterres
B. Ban Ki-moon
C. Kofi Annan
D. Javier Pérez de Cuéllar
➥ Show Answer
Details: António Guterres, from Portugal, has been serving as the UN Secretary-General since January 2017.
6. What is the main deliberative body of the United Nations?
A. Security Council
B. General Assembly
C. International Court of Justice
D. Economic and Social Council
➥ Show Answer
Details: The General Assembly includes all UN member states and serves as the main forum for multilateral discussion.
7. How many permanent members are there in the UN Security Council?
A. 4
B. 5
C. 6
D. 7
➥ Show Answer
Details: The five permanent members are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
8. Which UN body is responsible for promoting international economic and social cooperation?
A. General Assembly
B. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
C. Security Council
D. UNESCO
➥ Show Answer
Details: ECOSOC coordinates the economic, social, and related work of UN agencies and commissions.
9. What is the name of the principal judicial organ of the UN?
A. International Criminal Court
B. International Tribunal
C. International Court of Justice
D. Peace Tribunal
➥ Show Answer
Details: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is based in The Hague and settles legal disputes between states.
10. Which official UN language is not listed below?
A. English
B. Arabic
C. German
D. French
➥ Show Answer
Details: The six official UN languages are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.
11. What is the name of the UN agency responsible for children’s rights?
A. WHO
B. UNICEF
C. UNHCR
D. ILO
➥ Show Answer
Details: UNICEF stands for the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund and works globally for children’s welfare.
12. Which UN agency focuses on global public health?
A. WHO
B. FAO
C. UNDP
D. UNESCO
➥ Show Answer
Details: The World Health Organization (WHO) is responsible for international public health.
13. When is United Nations Day celebrated?
A. October 10
B. October 20
C. October 24
D. October 30
➥ Show Answer
Details: UN Day is observed on October 24, marking the anniversary of the UN Charter coming into force.
14. What does the UNHCR stand for?
A. United Nations Human Council for Rights Council
B. United Nations High Commission for Refugees
C. United Nations Help Center for Refugees
D. United Nations Humanitarian Council for Refugees
➥ Show Answer
Details: UNHCR is the UN agency mandated to protect and support refugees worldwide.
15. Which UN agency is responsible for education, science, and culture?
A. UNDP
B. UNESCO
C. UNHCR
D. UNICEF
➥ Show Answer
Details: UNESCO promotes international collaboration through education, science, and culture.
16. What was the precursor to the United Nations?
A. League of Peoples
B. League of Peace
C. League of Nations
D. League of States
➥ Show Answer
Details: The League of Nations was created after World War I and was later replaced by the United Nations in 1945.
17. What is the term used for the set of sustainable development goals adopted by the UN?
A. Global Goals
B. Future Goals
C. International Targets
D. World Plan
➥ Show Answer
Details: The UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are known as the Global Goals.
18. What is the term of the UN Secretary-General?
A. 3 years
B. 4 years
C. 5 years
D. 6 years
➥ Show Answer
Details: The Secretary-General is appointed for a five-year term, which may be renewed.
19. Which of the following is not a principal organ of the UN?
A. General Assembly
B. Security Council
C. World Bank
D. Secretariat
➥ Show Answer
Details: The World Bank is affiliated with the UN but is not one of its six principal organs.
20. What is the main responsibility of the UN Security Council?
A. Human Rights Protection
B. Conflict Resolution
C. Maintaining International Peace and Security
D. Promoting Education
➥ Show Answer
Details: The Security Council is responsible for peacekeeping operations and enforcing international security.
21. Which organ of the UN handles the administrative functions?
A. General Assembly
B. Secretariat
C. ECOSOC
D. Trusteeship Council
➥ Show Answer
Details: The Secretariat carries out the day-to-day work of the UN as directed by the General Assembly and other principal organs.
22. How many official working languages does the UN have?
A. 5
B. 6
C. 7
D. 8
➥ Show Answer
Details: The six official UN languages are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.
23. What is the UN’s specialized agency for labor issues?
A. WHO
B. ILO
C. UNDP
D. FAO
➥ Show Answer
Details: The International Labour Organization (ILO) deals with labor issues, including international labor standards.
24. Which of the following countries is not a permanent member of the UN Security Council?
A. Russia
B. Germany
C. France
D. China
➥ Show Answer
Details: Germany is not a permanent member. The permanent members are China, France, Russia, the UK, and the USA.
25. What year was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the UN?
A. 1945
B. 1946
C. 1948
D. 1950
➥ Show Answer
Details: The UN adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948.
26. What does UNDP stand for?
A. United Nations Development Programme
B. United Nations Defense Protocol
C. Universal Nations Development Policy
D. United Nations Disaster Program
➥ Show Answer
Details: UNDP works globally to eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities through sustainable development.
27. Where is the International Court of Justice located?
A. Geneva
B. New York
C. Brussels
D. The Hague
➥ Show Answer
Details: The ICJ is located in The Hague, Netherlands, and it is the principal judicial organ of the UN.
28. What type of decisions does the UN General Assembly make?
A. Legally binding
B. Military enforcement
C. Non-binding recommendations
D. Executive orders
➥ Show Answer
Details: General Assembly decisions are recommendations and not legally binding on member states.
29. Which UN body was suspended in 1994?
A. Trusteeship Council
B. Security Council
C. Secretariat
D. ECOSOC
➥ Show Answer
Details: The Trusteeship Council was suspended in 1994 after Palau, the last trust territory, gained independence.
30. Which country hosts the headquarters of the UN Human Rights Council?
A. France
B. USA
C. Switzerland
D. Canada
➥ Show Answer
Details: The UN Human Rights Council is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
31. What is the purpose of the UN Peacekeeping Forces?
A. To invade conflict zones
B. To enforce political decisions
C. To maintain peace and security
D. To provide loans
➥ Show Answer
Details: Peacekeeping forces monitor and observe peace processes in post-conflict areas.
32. How is the UN Secretary-General appointed?
A. Direct elections
B. By Security Council recommendation and General Assembly approval
C. General Assembly vote only
D. By UN member referendum
➥ Show Answer
Details: The Secretary-General is recommended by the Security Council and appointed by the General Assembly.
33. Which program is the UN’s leading agency in fighting hunger?
A. WHO
B. WFP
C. UNDP
D. FAO
➥ Show Answer
Details: The World Food Programme (WFP) delivers food assistance in emergencies and works to improve nutrition.
34. What major global conference was held by the UN in 1992?
A. Kyoto Protocol
B. Earth Summit
C. Human Rights Council
D. UN Global Goals Summit
➥ Show Answer
Details: The Earth Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 to address environmental and sustainable development issues.
35. What does the UN Charter serve as?
A. Global Trade Agreement
B. Constitution of the United Nations
C. Security Treaty
D. Economic Framework
➥ Show Answer
Details: The UN Charter is the foundational treaty of the United Nations.
36. What is the main goal of the UN’s 2030 Agenda?
A. Economic dominance
B. Political reform
C. Sustainable development
D. Cultural heritage
➥ Show Answer
Details: The 2030 Agenda outlines the 17 Sustainable Development Goals to end poverty and protect the planet.
37. What is the budget of the UN mainly funded by?
A. Donations from NGOs
B. UN investments
C. Member state contributions
D. World Bank
➥ Show Answer
Details: Member states contribute assessed and voluntary contributions to fund the UN.
38. What were the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) replaced by?
A. UN Goals 2025
B. SDGs
C. UN Charter Plus
D. Global Reform Plan
➥ Show Answer
Details: The MDGs were succeeded by the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015.
39. What does UNESCO stand for?
A. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
B. United Nations Economic and Social Commission
C. United Nations Environment and Culture Organization
D. United Nations Schooling Commission
➥ Show Answer
Details: UNESCO promotes global peace and security through education, science, and culture.
40. What is the maximum number of terms a Secretary-General can serve?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. Unlimited
➥ Show Answer
Details: Though not legally fixed, Secretaries-General generally serve a maximum of two 5-year terms.
41. What does the UN’s emblem symbolize?
A. Weapons and shield
B. World map and olive branches
C. Globe and star
D. United Nations flags
➥ Show Answer
Details: The olive branches symbolize peace, and the world map represents the UN’s global reach.
42. What is the role of the ECOSOC?
A. Enforcing the law
B. Military protection
C. Economic and social policy coordination
D. Budgeting for UN
➥ Show Answer
Details: ECOSOC promotes international economic and social cooperation and development.
43. Which country hosted the first UN General Assembly meeting?
A. USA
B. UK
C. Switzerland
D. Canada
➥ Show Answer
Details: The first session of the UN General Assembly was held in London in 1946.
44. What is the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC)?
A. A military unit
B. UN military force
C. UN advisory body to prevent conflict
D. Security enforcement group
➥ Show Answer
Details: The PBC supports peace efforts in conflict-affected countries.
45. How many judges serve on the International Court of Justice?
A. 10
B. 12
C. 15
D. 20
➥ Show Answer
Details: The ICJ has 15 judges, elected for nine-year terms by the UN General Assembly and Security Council.
46. Which organ of the UN is responsible for electing non-permanent members of the Security Council?
A. ECOSOC
B. General Assembly
C. Secretariat
D. ICJ
➥ Show Answer
Details: The General Assembly elects the ten non-permanent members of the Security Council.
47. When did South Sudan join the United Nations?
A. 2005
B. 2010
C. 2011
D. 2015
➥ Show Answer
Details: South Sudan became the 193rd member of the UN in July 2011.
48. What is the main publication of the United Nations?
A. UN Daily News
B. UN Monthly Brief
C. UN Chronicle
D. Global News
➥ Show Answer
Details: The UN Chronicle is the flagship magazine of the United Nations.
49. What does FAO stand for?
A. Food and Agriculture Organization
B. Federal Aid Organization
C. Fund for African Outreach
D. Farming and Agricultural Operations
➥ Show Answer
Details: FAO works to eliminate hunger and improve nutrition and food security worldwide.
50. What document serves as the foundation of the UN’s existence?
A. Universal Declaration
B. Peace Agreement
C. UN Charter
D. World Treaty
➥ Show Answer
Details: The UN Charter, signed in 1945, outlines the UN’s structure, powers, and principles.
Relevant Posts: