UN Agencies – Headquarters, Heads & Founding Years
1. Why UN Agencies Matter in Railway Exams
Every year RRB, RPF & PSUs ask 2-3 questions on:
- Full-forms & headquarters
- Current executive heads (as on 01 Jan 2024)
- Parent body / founding year / Nobel Peace Prize winners
- India-specific membership status & contribution rank
2. Quick-Fire Table (Memory Card)
| Agency | Acronym | Headquarters | Head (2024) | Founded | Parent Treaty / Body |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FAO | Food & Agriculture Org. | Rome, Italy | QU Dongyu (China) | 16 Oct 1945 | UN |
| ILO | International Labour Org. | Geneva, Switzerland | Gilbert F. Houngbo (Togo) | 1919 (League) | UN |
| IMO | International Maritime Org. | London, UK | Arsenio Dominguez (Panama) | 17 Mar 1948 | UN |
| IMF | International Monetary Fund | Washington DC, USA | Kristalina Georgieva (Bulgaria) | 27 Dec 1945 | UN |
| ITU | International Telecom Union | Geneva, Switzerland | Doreen Bogdan-Martin (USA) | 17 May 1865 | UN |
| UNESCO | UN Educational, Scientific & Cultural Org. | Paris, France | Audrey Azoulay (France) | 16 Nov 1945 | UN |
| UNHCR | UN High Commissioner for Refugees | Geneva, Switzerland | Filippo Grandi (Italy) | 14 Dec 1950 | UN |
| UNICEF | UN Children’s Fund | New York, USA | Catherine Russell (USA) | 11 Dec 1946 | UN |
| UNIDO | UN Industrial Development Org. | Vienna, Austria | Gerd Müller (Germany) | 1966 | UN |
| UPU | Universal Postal Union | Bern, Switzerland | Masahiko Metoki (Japan) | 1874 | UN |
| WHO | World Health Org. | Geneva, Switzerland | Dr. Tedros Adhanom (Ethiopia) | 7 Apr 1948 | UN |
| WIPO | World Intellectual Property Org. | Geneva, Switzerland | Daren Tang (Singapore) | 1967 | UN |
| WMO | World Meteorological Org. | Geneva, Switzerland | Prof. Celeste Saulo (Argentina) | 1950 | UN |
| World Bank | IBRD + IDA | Washington DC, USA | Ajay Banga (India) | Jul 1944 | UN |
| ICAO | International Civil Aviation Org. | Montreal, Canada | Juan Carlos Salazar (Colombia) | 4 Apr 1947 | UN |
3. India & UN Agencies – Key Facts
- Founding member of FAO, UNESCO, WHO, IMF, World Bank, ICAO, ILO.
- Largest cumulative borrower from World Bank (IBRD) → USD 45 bn+ (2023).
- 3rd largest contributor to UN peacekeeping (5,900 troops/police, Dec 2023).
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India: 42 (34 cultural, 7 natural, 1 mixed) – 6th highest globally.
- UNICEF National Ambassador (India): Ayushmann Khurrana (since 2020).
- INDIA elected to IMO Council (Category-A) for 2024-25 – continuous membership since 1959.
4. Nobel Peace Prizes won by UN System
| Year | Agency | Motive |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | WFP | Fighting hunger |
| 2005 | IAEA + Mohamed ElBaradei | Nuclear non-proliferation |
| 2001 | UN & Kofi Annan | Peace promotion |
| 1988 | UN Peace-keeping Forces | — |
| 1981 | UNHCR | Refugee protection |
| 1965 | UNICEF | Children welfare |
| 1969 | ILO | Tripartite peace model |
5. One-Liner Rapid Revision
- Oldest UN agency: ITU (1865).
- Newest UN agency: UNIDO (1985 upgraded to specialized agency).
- Only UN agency headquartered in UK: IMO (London).
- UN Day: 24 Oct; FAO Day: 16 Oct (celebrated as World Food Day).
- WHO Constitution came into force on 7 Apr 1948 – observed as World Health Day.
- World Bank Group has 5 arms: IBRD, IDA, IFC, MIGA, ICSID.
- IMF quota review every 5 years; India’s quota 2.75 % (8th largest).
- UPU is the 2nd oldest international organization still in existence.
- ICAO sets standards in Annex-19 (Safety Management).
- UNHCR’s mandate is non-political; governed by 1951 Refugee Convention.
6. Practice MCQs (Railway Pattern)
1. Headquarters of International Maritime Organization (IMO) is located at?
Ans. London, United Kingdom
2. Who is the current Director-General of FAO as on 2024?
Ans. QU Dongyu
3. Which UN agency was created first among the following?
Ans. ITU (1865)
4. World Health Day is celebrated on the foundation day of WHO which is?
Ans. 7 April
5. The Nobel Peace Prize 2021 was awarded to?
Ans. World Food Programme (WFP)
6. India’s rank in IMF quota share is?
Ans. 8th
7. Universal Postal Union (UPU) is headquartered in?
Ans. Bern, Switzerland
8. Which agency is NOT a specialized agency of the UN?
Ans. UNCTAD (it is a UN body, not specialized agency)
9. The current President of the World Bank Group (2024) belongs to which country?
Ans. India (Ajay Banga)
10. ICAO headquarters is situated in?
Ans. Montreal, Canada
11. Which UN agency deals with intellectual property rights?
Ans. WIPO
12. World Meteorological Organization (WMO) originated from which convention?
Ans. International Meteorological Organization (1873) transformed in 1950
13. The executive head of UNICEF officially holds the title of?
Ans. Executive Director
14. UNIDO became a specialized agency in?
Ans. 1985
15. Which of the following pairs is INCORRECT?
Ans. UNESCO – New York (Correct: Paris)
16. ILO unique feature – it follows?
Ans. Tripartite structure (Govt., Employers, Workers)
17. The official symbol of UNHCR is?
Ans. A pair of protecting hands / blue & white logo
18. India is a member of how many UN specialized agencies?
Ans. All 15 (founding/signatory member)
Happy revising—keep this page handy for last-day glances before the CBT!
BETA
