Contemporary World Politics MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Contemporary World Politics - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is Trygve Lie.

Key Points

• Trygve Halvdan Lie was elected the first Secretary-General of the United Nations on February 1, 1946.
• On February 2, 1946, the General Assembly formally inaugurated him at its 22nd meeting. Mr. Lie was re-elected by the General Assembly on November 1, 1950, for a third term beginning February 1, 1951.
• In November 1952, he resigned as Secretary-General of the United Nations.
• The United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG or SG) is the UN's highest administrative officer and heads the UN Secretariat, one of the UN's six main institutions.
• Chapter XV (Articles 97 to 101) of the United Nations Charter defines the secretary and general's secretariat's roles. 

Important Points

• Carl Hammarskjöld was a Swedish economist and diplomat who served as the UN's second Secretary-General from April 1953 until September 1961, when he died in a plane crash.
• U Thant was a Burmese diplomat who served as the UN's third Secretary-General from 1961 to 1971, the first non-Scandinavian to do so.
• Kofi Atta Annan was a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the United Nations' seventh Secretary-General from 1997 to 2006. 

The correct answer is United Nations Environment ProgrammeKey Points

• The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is responsible for coordinating responses to environmental issues within the United Nations system.
• It was established by Maurice Strong, its first director, after the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm in June 1972
• Its mandate is to provide leadership, deliver science and develop solutions on a wide range of issues, including climate change, the management of marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and green economic development.
• The organization also develops international environmental agreements; publishes and promotes environmental science and helps national governments achieve environmental targets.

Additional Information

 World Organization and Headquarters

The correct answer is 1979.

Key Points

• The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 18 December 1979.
• CEDAW is often described as the international bill of rights for women.
• The treaty came into force on 3 September 1981 after being ratified by 20 countries.
• CEDAW focuses on ensuring gender equality and eliminating discrimination against women in all forms, including political, economic, social, cultural, and civil spheres.
• As of now, nearly 189 countries are parties to CEDAW, making it one of the most widely ratified international treaties.

Additional Information

• CEDAW Key Provisions:
  • It requires signatory nations to eliminate discrimination against women in laws, policies, and practices.
  • Countries are obligated to submit regular reports to the CEDAW Committee, detailing their progress in implementing the treaty.
• Optional Protocol:
  • Adopted in 1999, it allows individuals or groups to submit complaints about violations of CEDAW directly to the Committee.
  • It also permits the Committee to initiate inquiries into grave or systematic violations.
• UN General Assembly:
  • The UN General Assembly is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations.
  • It is responsible for adopting international treaties and conventions, such as CEDAW.
• Challenges to CEDAW Implementation:
  • Many countries have entered reservations to some provisions of CEDAW, limiting its full implementation.
  • Social and cultural barriers often hinder progress toward achieving gender equality.

The correct answer is Mrs. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit.

Key Points

• Mrs. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, an eminent Indian diplomat and politician, became the first Indian to be elected as the President of the United Nations General Assembly in 1953.
• She served as the 8th President of the UNGA, presiding over its seventh session.
• Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit was the first woman to hold this prestigious position in the history of the United Nations.
• She represented India as a permanent delegate to the United Nations between 1946 and 1968.
• As the sister of Jawaharlal Nehru, she played a significant role in shaping India's foreign policy during her tenure as a diplomat.

Additional Information

• United Nations General Assembly (UNGA):
  • The UNGA is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, responsible for deliberating on international issues and making recommendations.
  • It consists of representatives from all 193 member states, each having one vote.
  • The presidency of the UNGA rotates annually among five regional groups: Africa, Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Western Europe and Others.
• Role of the UNGA President:
  • The President of the UNGA acts as a moderator during sessions and ensures the smooth functioning of the assembly's proceedings.
  • The position is largely ceremonial but holds significant diplomatic importance.
• Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit's Legacy:
  • She was a pioneer for women's representation in international diplomacy.
  • She also served as India's ambassador to the Soviet Union, the United States, Mexico, and Ireland.
  • Her contributions to India's independence movement and global diplomacy remain unparalleled.
• Related Facts:
  • Mrs. Pandit was an advocate for decolonization and championed the rights of oppressed nations during her tenure at the UN.
  • Her election as UNGA President symbolized India's growing influence in global affairs post-independence.

The correct answer is 1979.

Key Points

• The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) was adopted on 18 December 1979 by the United Nations General Assembly.
• It is often described as an international bill of rights for women and focuses on ensuring gender equality and women’s empowerment globally.
• CEDAW entered into force as an international treaty on 3 September 1981, after the 20th ratification.
• As of 2023, 189 countries have ratified or acceded to CEDAW, making it a widely accepted international treaty.
• India ratified the CEDAW treaty on 9 July 1993, committing to eliminate gender-based discrimination in all forms.

Additional Information

• Key Provisions of CEDAW:
  • CEDAW emphasizes the elimination of discrimination against women in political, economic, social, cultural, and civil spheres.
  • It obligates member states to take legislative and administrative measures to ensure women’s equality.
  • It advocates for the elimination of stereotypes and harmful practices that perpetuate gender inequality.
• CEDAW Committee:
  • The implementation of CEDAW is monitored by the CEDAW Committee, which is composed of 23 experts on women's rights.
  • Member states are required to submit periodic reports to the committee on their progress in implementing the treaty.
• Optional Protocol to CEDAW:
  • An Optional Protocol to CEDAW was adopted in 1999, providing a mechanism for individual complaints and inquiries into systematic violations of women's rights.
  • It allows women or groups to file complaints directly with the CEDAW Committee if their rights under the Convention are violated.
• Global Impact:
  • CEDAW has played a critical role in shaping national policies and laws that promote gender equality and combat discrimination globally.
  • It has inspired movements and initiatives advocating for women's rights in areas like education, employment, health, and political participation.

The correct answer is United Nations Environment ProgrammeKey Points

• The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is responsible for coordinating responses to environmental issues within the United Nations system.
• It was established by Maurice Strong, its first director, after the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm in June 1972
• Its mandate is to provide leadership, deliver science and develop solutions on a wide range of issues, including climate change, the management of marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and green economic development.
• The organization also develops international environmental agreements; publishes and promotes environmental science and helps national governments achieve environmental targets.

Additional Information

 World Organization and Headquarters

The correct answer is Human Rights Council.

Key Points

• In 2006, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) underwent a significant change by being renamed as the Human Rights Council (HRC).
• This move aimed to address concerns and criticisms about the UNCHR's effectiveness in promoting and protecting human rights globally.

Why the renaming mattered:

• Criticisms of the UNCHR: The UNCHR had faced criticism for various factors, including alleged political bias, inefficacy in addressing human rights violations by member states, and lack of transparency in its procedures.
• Objectives of the change: Renaming the entity as the Human Rights Council aimed to signify a fresh start and renew its commitment to upholding human rights globally.
• Changes implemented: Alongside the name change, the council underwent structural and procedural reforms, including reducing its membership, establishing a peer review mechanism, and introducing the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The UPR is a process where the human rights records of all UN member states are reviewed regularly.

Additional Information

Current status of the Human Rights Council:

• The Human Rights Council remains a key body within the United Nations system, responsible for promoting and protecting human rights globally.

The correct answer is New York.

Key Points

• United Nations Organisation:
  • The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945.
  • Currently, it is made up of 193 Member States,
  • The most recent state to join is South Sudan, which was recognized as an independent nation in 2011.
  • The United Nations is neither a supra-State nor a government of governments. It does not have an army and it imposes no taxes.
  • It depends on the political will of its Member States to have its decisions put into action and relies on the contributions of its Members to carry out its activities.
  • The United Nations (UN) has six main organs.
  • Five of them — the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, and the Secretariat — are based at UN Headquarters in New York.
  • The sixth, the International Court of Justice, is located at The Hague in the Netherlands.

The correct answer is 50.Key Points

• The correct answer is is 50 litres per person per day.
• This amount of water is recommended by the United Nations for basic needs such as drinking, cooking, washing, and maintaining proper hygiene.
• It is important to note that the recommended amount may vary depending on the climate, culture, and other factors.
• It is also important to understand that the recommended amount is for basic needs and does not include water usage for agriculture, industry, or other purposes.​

Additional Information

• The United Nations recommends a minimum of 50 litres per person per day, but this amount may vary depending on the climate, culture, and other factors.
• It is important to note that this recommended amount is for basic needs and does not include water usage for agriculture, industry, or other purposes.

The correct answer is 1948.

Key Points

• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the UN General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948.
• UDHR is a milestone document in the history of human rights.
• It was drafted by representatives from different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world.
• It includes fundamental human rights to be universally protected.
• It is widely recognized as having inspired and paved the way for, the adoption of more than seventy human rights treatises, applied on a permanent basis at global and regional levels.

 Thus, we can say that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was passed in the year 1948.

The correct answer is General Assembly.

Key Points

• United Nations is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purpose is to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation and be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
• The main bodies of the United Nations are:
  • the General Assembly
  • the Security Council
  • the Economic and Social Council
  • the Trusteeship Council
  • the International Court of Justice
  • the UN Secretariat
• The General Assembly is a body of the UN composed of all member states.
• It is the main policy-making organ of the Organization.
• Each of the 193 member states has an equal vote.

 Thus, we can say that the General Assembly is a body of the United Nations comprised of all member states.

The correct answer is 1945.

Key Points

• The United Nations Organisation is an international organisation founded in 1945.
• It was established on 24 October 1945.
• It was founded after the Second World War by 51 countries committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights.
• The UN has four main purposes:
  • To keep  peace throughout the world
  • To develop friendly relations among nations
  • To help nations work together to improve the lives of poor people, conquer hunger, disease and literacy, and to encourage respect for each other's rights and freedoms
  • To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations to achieve these goals.

 Thus, we can say that the United Nations Organization was established in the year 1945.

Harold D. Lasswell authored the book 'Psychopathology and Politics.Important Points

• Lasswell was a well-known political scientist who made significant contributions to modern behavioural political science in addition to his groundbreaking research on power dynamics, personality, and politics.
• Because power is a necessary component of distribution, power dynamics were the main focus of Lasswell's work because he saw political science as the study of changes in societal value distribution patterns. He conceived of political power as the capacity to have the desired effects on other people. He defined values as desired goals and power as the capacity to participate in decisions.
• His 1930 book Psychopathology and Politics, which aims to find ways to use the urge for dominance for constructive objectives, is one of his works on political psychology.
• His books Psychopathology and Politics (1930) and Power and Personality (1948) combined power-related ideas with Freudian psychological concepts.
• Lasswell, for instance, believed that while "normal" people had no compulsion for political position, politicians were unbalanced individuals with an excessive need for power.

Thus we know that Harold D. Lasswell authored the book 'Psychopathology and Politics.

The correct option is ' B only'.

Key Points

•  UNSC is the most powerful organ of the United Nation, and hence different countries want the structure of the UNSC to be more democratic and representative.
  • This statement is correct.
  • The UN Security Council (UNSC) is indeed the most powerful organ of the United Nations, with the responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.
  • However, some countries argue that the current structure of the UNSC does not adequately represent the geopolitical realities of the world today and that it should be more democratic and representative.
•  G 4 Group which includes India, Germany, Australia, and Russia raising the demand for Permanent membership in UNSC.
  • This statement is incorrect.
  • The G4 group includes India, Germany, Brazil, and Japan, not Australia and Russia. These countries have been advocating for reforms to the UNSC to better reflect the current global balance of power.
  • One of the key demands of the G4 countries is the expansion of the UNSC with the addition of more permanent members.
• To decentralise UNSC governing power and authority over nations, it is essential that all regions are represented equally in the UNSC.
  • This statement is correct.
  • Some countries argue that the UNSC should be reformed to decentralize power and authority over nations and that all regions should be equally represented on the council.
  • This would involve increasing the number of permanent and non-permanent members of the council and ensuring that they are elected on a more representative basis.