Specialised and Technical Organisations

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

1. Q1.The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was founded in which year?

   • A.1960✓ Correct Answer
   • B.1965
   • C.1970
   • D.1975

   Explanation: OPEC was founded in Baghdad in September 1960 by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.

2. Q2.The headquarters of OPEC is located in which city?

   • A.Geneva
   • B.Riyadh
   • C.Baghdad
   • D.Vienna✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: OPEC moved its headquarters from Geneva to Vienna, Austria in 1965.

3. Q3.The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was adopted in which year?

   • A.1973✓ Correct Answer
   • B.1970
   • C.1976
   • D.1982

   Explanation: CITES was adopted in Washington, D.C. in March 1973 and entered into force in 1975.

4. Q4.The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is a specialised agency of which organisation?

   • A.WTO
   • B.OECD
   • C.IMF
   • D.United Nations✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: WIPO became a specialised agency of the United Nations in 1974 and is headquartered in Geneva.

5. Q5.Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) was established in which year?

   • A.1985
   • B.1989✓ Correct Answer
   • C.1992
   • D.1997

   Explanation: APEC was established in 1989 in Canberra, Australia, and India is not a member.

6. Q6.The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) was established in which year?

   • A.1945
   • B.1955
   • C.1950✓ Correct Answer
   • D.1960

   Explanation: The WMO Convention entered into force in 1950, and WMO became a UN specialised agency in 1951. It is headquartered in Geneva.

7. Q7.The Universal Postal Union (UPU) was established in which year?

   • A.1865
   • B.1874✓ Correct Answer
   • C.1894
   • D.1920

   Explanation: The UPU was founded in Bern in 1874 and became a UN specialised agency in 1948.

8. Q8.The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) is concerned mainly with which field?

   • A.Nautical charts and hydrographic surveying✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Freshwater management
   • C.Groundwater research
   • D.Underwater geology

   Explanation: The IHO, based in Monaco, coordinates hydrographic surveying and the standards for nautical charts used for safe navigation.

9. Q9.The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is responsible for coordinating which area?

   • A.Maritime shipping
   • B.Global telecommunications and radio spectrum✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Air traffic control
   • D.Postal services

   Explanation: The ITU, founded in 1865 and based in Geneva, allocates global radio spectrum and sets telecommunication standards.

10. Q10.The Ramsar Convention is concerned with the conservation of which type of ecosystem?

    • A.Forests
    • B.Wetlands✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Deserts
    • D.Mountains

    Explanation: The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands was signed in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar and came into force in 1975.

11. Q11.The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty designed to protect which of the following?

    • A.Amazon rainforest
    • B.Coral reefs
    • C.The ozone layer✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Mangrove swamps

    Explanation: The Montreal Protocol (1987) phases out substances that deplete the ozone layer. World Ozone Day is observed on 16 September.

12. Q12.The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is headquartered in which city?

    • A.Geneva
    • B.Rome
    • C.Montreal
    • D.London✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: The IMO is headquartered in London, United Kingdom.

13. Q13.The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) develops standards for which areas?

    • A.Almost all industries and sectors✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Only manufacturing
    • C.Only agriculture
    • D.Only banking

    Explanation: ISO publishes voluntary international standards covering technology, manufacturing, services, management systems and more.

14. Q14.The Kyoto Protocol (1997) was aimed at reducing which of the following?

    • A.Greenhouse gas emissions✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Water pollution
    • C.Plastic waste
    • D.Deforestation

    Explanation: The Kyoto Protocol set binding emission reduction targets for developed countries under the UNFCCC.

15. Q15.The Paris Agreement on climate change was adopted at which Conference of the Parties (COP)?

    • A.COP15
    • B.COP19
    • C.COP26
    • D.COP21✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: The Paris Agreement was adopted at COP21 in December 2015 and came into force in November 2016.

16. Q16.The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has its headquarters in which city?

    • A.Paris
    • B.Vienna
    • C.Geneva✓ Correct Answer
    • D.London

    Explanation: ISO was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

17. Q17.The Cartagena Protocol, adopted under the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2000, regulates which subject?

    • A.Trade in endangered species
    • B.Conservation of wetlands
    • C.Biosafety of living modified organisms✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Ozone-depleting substances

    Explanation: The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety governs the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) and entered into force in 2003.

18. Q18.The Stockholm Convention (2001) aims to eliminate or restrict which group of pollutants?

    • A.Ozone-depleting substances
    • B.Greenhouse gases
    • C.Persistent organic pollutants✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Hazardous wastes

    Explanation: The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) was adopted in 2001 and entered into force in 2004.

19. Q19.Which convention controls the transboundary movement and disposal of hazardous wastes?

    • A.Kyoto Protocol
    • B.Basel Convention✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Montreal Protocol
    • D.Paris Agreement

    Explanation: The Basel Convention (1989) regulates the transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal.

20. Q20.The Minamata Convention is an international treaty to protect human health and the environment from which pollutant?

    • A.Lead
    • B.Arsenic
    • C.Cadmium
    • D.Mercury✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: The Minamata Convention on Mercury was adopted in 2013 and entered into force in 2017. India ratified it in 2018.