Create a custom practice set
Pick category, difficulty, number of questions, and time limit. Start instantly with your own quiz.
Generate QuizMCQ – GK Questions
Free practice for SSC, UPSC, Banking & Railway exams. No login required.
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1989 on the initiative of which group?
- UN Security Council
- G7
- BRICS
- Commonwealth
Answer: G7
FATF was established in 1989 by the G7 to develop policies to combat money laundering. Its mandate was expanded in 2001 to include terrorist financing. It sets international standards and promotes effective implementation of legal, regulatory, and operational measures.
Which international organization, established in 2011, promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy?
- IEA
- IRENA
- UNEP
- WMO
Answer: IRENA
IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency) was established in 2011 and is headquartered in Abu Dhabi, UAE. It supports countries in their transition to sustainable energy futures through policy advice, capacity building, and knowledge sharing.
Where is the headquarters of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) located?
- Singapore
- Manila, Philippines
- Tokyo, Japan
- Seoul, South Korea
Answer: Manila, Philippines
ADB was established in 1966 and is headquartered in Manila, Philippines. It promotes social and economic development in Asia and the Pacific through loans, technical assistance, grants, and equity investments.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) was established by which treaty?
- Geneva Conventions
- Rome Statute
- Vienna Convention
- Paris Agreement
Answer: Rome Statute
The ICC was established by the Rome Statute, adopted in 1998 and entered into force in 2002. It is the first permanent international court with jurisdiction over genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and aggression.
Which UN specialized agency is responsible for promoting international cooperation in atmospheric science, climatology, hydrology, and geophysics?
- UNEP
- WMO
- UNESCO
- FAO
Answer: WMO
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), established in 1950 and headquartered in Geneva, coordinates global weather observation, forecasting, and climate research, and facilitates international data exchange.
Which treaty established the European Union in its current form?
- Treaty of Rome
- Maastricht Treaty
- Treaty of Lisbon
- Schengen Agreement
Answer: Maastricht Treaty
The Maastricht Treaty (Treaty on European Union), signed in 1992 and effective from 1993, formally established the European Union, creating the three-pillar structure and paving the way for the euro currency.
Which international organization sets global standards for aviation safety, security, efficiency, and environmental protection?
- IATA
- ICAO
- FAA
- EASA
Answer: ICAO
ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization), a UN specialized agency established in 1944, sets international standards and regulations for civil aviation. IATA is an industry trade association, not a regulatory body.
Which of the following countries is a founding member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)?
- India
- Pakistan
- Kazakhstan
- Iran
Answer: Kazakhstan
SCO was founded in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan joined as full members in 2017; Iran joined in 2023.
Which of the following is NOT a member of the G20?
- Argentina
- Saudi Arabia
- Nigeria
- South Korea
Answer: Nigeria
Nigeria is not a G20 member. The G20 comprises 19 countries plus the EU: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, UK, USA, and the EU.
Which country was the last to join the original BRIC group, forming BRICS?
- Brazil
- Russia
- India
- South Africa
Answer: South Africa
South Africa joined the BRIC group (Brazil, Russia, India, China) in 2010, forming BRICS. The first BRICS summit with South Africa was held in Sanya, China, in 2011.
Where is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), located?
- New York, USA
- Geneva, Switzerland
- The Hague, Netherlands
- Vienna, Austria
Answer: The Hague, Netherlands
The ICJ, also known as the World Court, is located in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands. It is the only principal UN organ not located in New York.
Which of the following is NOT part of the World Bank Group?
- International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
- International Development Association (IDA)
- International Finance Corporation (IFC)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Answer: International Monetary Fund (IMF)
The IMF is a separate international organization. The World Bank Group consists of five institutions: IBRD, IDA, IFC, MIGA, and ICSID.
Which unique tripartite structure characterizes the International Labour Organization (ILO)?
- Government, Military, Civil Society
- Government, Employers, Workers
- UN, NGOs, Private Sector
- Developed Nations, Developing Nations, LDCs
Answer: Government, Employers, Workers
The ILO is the only UN agency with a tripartite structure where government representatives, employers, and workers jointly participate in decision-making processes.
Which of the following agreements led to the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO)?
- Havana Charter
- Marrakesh Agreement
- Geneva Protocol
- Doha Declaration
Answer: Marrakesh Agreement
The WTO was established on January 1, 1995, following the Marrakesh Agreement signed in April 1994, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).
In which year was the United Nations officially established?
- 1942
- 1945
- 1948
- 1950
Answer: 1945
The United Nations was officially established on October 24, 1945, after the ratification of the UN Charter by the majority of signatories including the five permanent members of the Security Council.
Which of the following is a strategy for enhancing 'Environmental Democracy'?
- Restricting public access to environmental information
- Ensuring access to information, public participation in decision-making, and access to justice in environmental matters
- Excluding civil society from policy processes
- Limiting judicial review of environmental decisions
Answer: Ensuring access to information, public participation in decision-making, and access to justice in environmental matters
Environmental democracy, embodied in principles like the Aarhus Convention and India's EIA public consultation, empowers citizens to engage meaningfully in protecting the environment.
Which of the following is a key principle of 'Adaptive Management' in environmental governance?
- Rigid adherence to initial plans regardless of outcomes
- Learning by doing, monitoring results, and adjusting strategies based on new information
- Avoiding stakeholder consultation
- Ignoring scientific evidence
Answer: Learning by doing, monitoring results, and adjusting strategies based on new information
Adaptive management acknowledges uncertainty in complex socio-ecological systems, using iterative decision-making to improve policies and practices over time.
Which of the following is a role of 'Panchayati Raj Institutions' in environmental governance at the local level?
- Ignoring local environmental issues
- Implementing watershed development, waste management, and afforestation programs
- Focusing only on revenue collection
- Excluding community participation
Answer: Implementing watershed development, waste management, and afforestation programs
PRIs, empowered by the 73rd Amendment, play a crucial role in decentralized natural resource management, leveraging local knowledge and ensuring community ownership.
Which of the following is a challenge in 'Multi-level Environmental Governance' in India?
- Excessive coordination between central, state, and local bodies
- Jurisdictional overlaps, capacity gaps at local levels, and conflicting priorities across scales
- Too many environmental clearances granted
- Lack of any environmental laws
Answer: Jurisdictional overlaps, capacity gaps at local levels, and conflicting priorities across scales
Effective environmental governance requires clarifying roles, building institutional capacity, and fostering collaboration among national, state, and local authorities.
Which of the following is a key function of the 'National Biodiversity Authority' (NBA) in India?
- Granting mining leases
- Regulating access to biological resources and ensuring equitable benefit-sharing under the Biological Diversity Act
- Managing stock markets
- Overseeing railway operations
Answer: Regulating access to biological resources and ensuring equitable benefit-sharing under the Biological Diversity Act
NBA, headquartered in Chennai, approves applications for biological resource use by foreign entities and advises the government on biodiversity conservation and sustainable use.