UPSC Prelims 2005 Q45: Current Affairs – International Organisations & Groupings

UPSC Prelims 2005, General Studies Paper I · Current Affairs

Consider the following statements: 1. The Charter of the United Nations Organization was adopted at Geneva, Switzerland in June 1945. 2. India was admitted to the United Nations Organization in the year 1945. 3. The Trusteeship Council of the United Nations Organization was established to look after the affairs of territories detached from Japan and Italy after the Second World War or such territories not under the control of a country at that time. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 3 only

Answer: (d) 3 only

Explanation

> Note for students: The factually correct set is statements 2 and 3, but the exam printed no option with '2 and 3'. The circulated key '1 and 3' wrongly includes false statement 1. In the exam, choose (d) 3 only as the nearest correct option, or skip it to avoid the negative mark.

United Nations Charter, India and the Trusteeship Council

Statement	Verdict
1. Charter adopted at Geneva in June 1945	False: adopted at San Francisco, 26 June 1945
2. India admitted to UN in 1945	Loosely worded: India was an original member, joining in October 1945 rather than being admitted later
3. Trusteeship Council territories	True — territories detached from Japan and Italy, and others

Statement 1 is false because the Charter was adopted at San Francisco, not Geneva. Statement 3 is true. Statement 2 is true only in the loose sense that India was an original member of the UN. The printed options do not offer '2 and 3'; the stored key '1 and 3' wrongly includes false statement 1, so the nearest correct choice is 3 only.

Answer: (d) 3 only (nearest option; the factual set is 2 and 3).

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Incorrect. Statement 1 names the wrong city.
(b) Incorrect. It omits statement 3, which is true.
(c) Incorrect. It includes statement 1, which is false.
(d) CORRECT. Statement 3 is true and statement 1 is false; this is the nearest option.

Key point

UN Charter: San Francisco, 26 June 1945; in force 24 October 1945; India an original member.

Remember

The UN Charter was adopted at San Francisco; India is an original member.

Common mistakes

Choosing Geneva, home of the League of Nations.
Believing India joined only after 1947.
Forgetting that trusteeship covered former Axis territories.

Exam tip

San Francisco = UN Charter. Geneva = League of Nations.

Sources

United Nations — Charter of the United Nations (signed at San Francisco, 26 June 1945; in force 24 October 1945)
United Nations — Member States: India, an original Member (30 October 1945)

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