International Organisations and Agencies Abbreviations

Attempt the quiz above first, then review every question with its correct answer and a short explanation below.

1. Q1.What is the full form of WHO?

   • A.World Humanitarian Organization
   • B.World Health Organization✓ Correct Answer
   • C.World Hygiene Office
   • D.Worldwide Health Operation

   Explanation: The WHO, headquartered in Geneva, is the UN agency for international public health.

2. Q2.What is the full form of IMF?

   • A.International Market Federation
   • B.International Monetary Fund✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Indian Monetary Fund
   • D.International Money Forum

   Explanation: The IMF, headquartered in Washington, D.C., was created at the 1944 Bretton Woods Conference.

3. Q3.What is the full form of WTO?

   • A.World Trade Organization✓ Correct Answer
   • B.World Tariff Organization
   • C.World Treaty Order
   • D.Western Trade Organization

   Explanation: The WTO replaced GATT on 1 January 1995 and is headquartered in Geneva.

4. Q4.What is the full form of UNESCO?

   • A.United Nations Economic, Social and Cultural Organization
   • B.United Nations Education, Science and Culture Office
   • C.United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Universal Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

   Explanation: UNESCO, founded in 1945 and based in Paris, designates World Heritage Sites.

5. Q5.What is the full form of FAO?

   • A.Farm and Agriculture Office
   • B.Food and Agriculture Organization✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Food and Aid Organization
   • D.Federation of Agricultural Organizations

   Explanation: The FAO, based in Rome, leads international efforts to defeat hunger.

6. Q6.What is the full form of UNICEF as originally named?

   • A.United Nations International Child Education Fund
   • B.Universal Network for International Children's Education and Food
   • C.United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund✓ Correct Answer
   • D.United Nations Institute for Children's Education and Family

   Explanation: UNICEF was created in 1946; it is now formally the United Nations Children's Fund but keeps the acronym.

7. Q7.What is the full form of NATO?

   • A.North Allied Treaty Organization
   • B.National Atlantic Treaty Order
   • C.Northern Atlantic Trade Organization
   • D.North Atlantic Treaty Organization✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: NATO was founded in 1949 by the North Atlantic (Washington) Treaty as a collective defence alliance.

8. Q8.What is the full form of ASEAN?

   • A.Association of Southeast Asian Nations✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Alliance of South East Asian Nations
   • C.Association of Southern Asian Economies
   • D.Asian Southeast Alliance Network

   Explanation: ASEAN was founded in Bangkok in 1967 and has its secretariat in Jakarta.

9. Q9.What is the full form of SAARC?

   • A.South Asian Alliance for Regional Cooperation
   • B.Southern Asian Association for Regional Commerce
   • C.South Asia Association for Rural Cooperation
   • D.South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: SAARC was founded in Dhaka in 1985; its secretariat is in Kathmandu.

10. Q10.What is the full form of OPEC?

    • A.Organization of Petroleum Energy Companies
    • B.Organization of Producing and Exporting Countries
    • C.Oil and Petroleum Export Council
    • D.Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: OPEC was founded in Baghdad in 1960 and is headquartered in Vienna.

11. Q11.What is the full form of ILO?

    • A.International Law Organization
    • B.Industrial Labour Office
    • C.International Labour Organization✓ Correct Answer
    • D.International Livelihood Organization

    Explanation: The ILO was founded in 1919 and became a UN specialised agency in 1946; it is based in Geneva.

12. Q12.What is the full form of IAEA?

    • A.International Atomic Export Association
    • B.International Atomic Energy Agency✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Indian Atomic Energy Authority
    • D.International Alliance for Energy and Atoms

    Explanation: The IAEA, founded in 1957 and based in Vienna, promotes peaceful use of nuclear energy.

13. Q13.What is the full form of ICJ?

    • A.International Criminal Judiciary
    • B.International Court of Justice✓ Correct Answer
    • C.International Council of Jurists
    • D.Indian Court of Justice

    Explanation: The ICJ, at The Hague, is the principal judicial organ of the UN.

14. Q14.What is the full form of UNEP?

    • A.United Nations Energy Programme
    • B.Universal Network for Environmental Protection
    • C.United Nations Environment Programme✓ Correct Answer
    • D.United Nations Ecology and Planning

    Explanation: UNEP was established in 1972 after the Stockholm Conference and is headquartered in Nairobi.

15. Q15.What is the full form of SCO, of which India became a full member in 2017?

    • A.Southern Cooperation Organisation
    • B.Shanghai Commerce Organisation
    • C.Security and Cooperation Order
    • D.Shanghai Cooperation Organisation✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: The SCO was founded in 2001; India and Pakistan became full members in 2017.

16. Q16.What does the "B" stand for in BRICS?

    • A.Bangladesh
    • B.Bhutan
    • C.Belarus
    • D.Brazil✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: BRICS originally stood for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

17. Q17.What is the full form of BIMSTEC?

    • A.Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Trade and Economic Cooperation
    • C.Bengal and India Multi-Sector Technical and Economic Council
    • D.Bay of Bengal Initiative for Maritime Security and Technical Cooperation

    Explanation: BIMSTEC, formed in 1997, links South Asia and Southeast Asia around the Bay of Bengal.

18. Q18.What is the full form of APEC?

    • A.Asian Pacific Environmental Council
    • B.Association of Pacific Economies and Commerce
    • C.Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Asia-Pacific Energy Conference

    Explanation: APEC, founded in 1989, promotes free trade among Asia-Pacific economies; India is not a member.

19. Q19.What is the full form of OECD?

    • A.Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Organisation of Emerging Capital and Development
    • C.Organisation for Environmental Cooperation and Development
    • D.Office for Economic Control and Development

    Explanation: The OECD, headquartered in Paris, was formed in 1961 and has mostly developed-economy members.

20. Q20.What is the full form of CITES, the treaty on wildlife trade?

    • A.Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife and Forests
    • C.Council for International Trade and Endangered Species
    • D.Convention on International Treaties for Ecosystem Sustainability

    Explanation: CITES was signed in 1973 and came into force in 1975; it regulates international trade in listed species.