Overview
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization founded on 24 October 1945 to maintain international peace, promote cooperation, and protect human rights.
Total Member States: 193 + 2 observers (Holy See & Palestine).
Headquarters
- Main HQ: New York City, USA
- Other key offices: Geneva (Switzerland), Vienna (Austria), Nairobi (Kenya)
Principal Organs
- General Assembly – All member states deliberate and vote.
- Security Council – Maintains peace and security.
- Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) – Economic & social cooperation.
- International Court of Justice (ICJ) – Judicial organ in The Hague.
- Trusteeship Council – Suspended operations in 1994.
- Secretariat – Administrative body led by the Secretary-General.
Main Functions
- Maintain international peace and security.
- Promote and protect human rights.
- Provide humanitarian aid.
- Support sustainable development and climate action.
- Uphold international law and treaties.
UN Security Council
15 members: 5 permanent (with veto power) and 10 non-permanent elected for two-year terms.
| Permanent Members (P5) | Non-Permanent Members (2025 Rotation) |
|---|---|
|
China France Russia United Kingdom United States |
Algeria (2024–25) Ecuador (2023–25) Guyana (2024–25) Japan (2023–25) Malta (2023–25) Mozambique (2023–25) Republic of Korea (2024–25) Sierra Leone (2024–25) Slovenia (2024–25) Switzerland (2023–25) |
Most Recent Member State
South Sudan joined on 14 July 2011 as the 193rd member.
Current Secretary-General
António Guterres of Portugal (in office since 2017; current term ends 2026).
Specialized Agencies & Programs
Notable agencies include WHO, UNESCO, FAO, IMF, UNICEF, UNDP, and UNHCR.
Practice MCQs on United Nations
1. When was the United Nations officially founded?
A) 1939 B) 1945 C) 1950 D) 1965
B) 19452. Which city hosts the main UN headquarters?
A) Geneva B) Vienna C) New York D) Paris
C) New York3. How many permanent members are in the UN Security Council?
A) 3 B) 5 C) 7 D) 10
B) 54. Name the most recent country to join the UN.
A) Montenegro B) Kosovo C) South Sudan D) East Timor
C) South Sudan5. Which UN organ is the main judicial branch?
A) ECOSOC B) Trusteeship Council C) ICJ D) Secretariat
C) International Court of Justice6. Who is the current UN Secretary-General (2025)?
A) Ban Ki-moon B) António Guterres C) Kofi Annan D) Boutros Boutros-Ghali
B) António Guterres7. Which language is NOT an official UN language?
A) Arabic B) German C) Russian D) Chinese
B) German8. Where is the International Court of Justice located?
A) New York B) The Hague C) Geneva D) Paris
B) The Hague9. Which of the following is a specialized UN agency?
A) WHO B) NATO C) OPEC D) ASEAN
A) World Health Organization10. How many total member states does the UN have?
A) 189 B) 191 C) 193 D) 195
C) 19311. Which body elects the non-permanent members of the Security Council?
A) Secretariat B) General Assembly C) ICJ D) ECOSOC
B) General Assembly12. Which UN day is celebrated on 24 October every year?
A) World Peace Day B) Human Rights Day C) United Nations Day D) World Democracy Day
C) United Nations Day13. Which country was NOT a founding member of the UN?
A) India B) Pakistan C) USA D) China
B) Pakistan14. What is the term of a non-permanent member of the Security Council?
A) 1 year B) 2 years C) 3 years D) 5 years
B) 2 years15. Which UN agency deals with children’s welfare?
A) UNHCR B) UNICEF C) UNDP D) FAO
B) UNICEF16. The Trusteeship Council is currently:
A) Active B) Inactive C) Replaced by ICJ D) None
B) Inactive17. Which UN agency focuses on food and agriculture?
A) ILO B) FAO C) UNESCO D) IMF
B) Food and Agriculture Organization18. The IMF is primarily concerned with:
A) Health B) Monetary cooperation C) Education D) Food distribution
B) Monetary cooperation19. How many official languages does the UN recognize?
A) 4 B) 5 C) 6 D) 7
C) 620. Which country hosts the UN Office at Geneva?
A) Austria B) Switzerland C) France D) Belgium
B) Switzerland
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