UPSC Prelims 2017 · Question 10 of 99

UPSC Prelims 2017 question on UN Habitat Mandate

With reference to the role of UN-Habitat in the United Nations Programme working towards a better urban future, which of the statements is/are correct?

1. UN-Habitat has been mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities to provide adequate shelter for all.

2. Its partners are either governments or local urban authorities only.

3. UN-Habitat contributed to the overall objective of the United Nations system to reduce poverty and to promote access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. 1, 2 and 3
  2. 1 and 3 only
  3. 2 and 3 only
  4. 1 only
Show answer

Answer: B. 1 and 3 only

Verdict

The answer is 1 and 3 only. UN-Habitat has the mandate described and contributes to poverty reduction and water and sanitation access, but its partners are not confined to governments and local authorities.

Analysis

Statement 1 is CORRECT. UN-Habitat is the United Nations programme for a better urban future, mandated to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements and adequate shelter for all. Statement 3 is CORRECT. It contributes to the wider United Nations objective of reducing poverty and promoting access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. Statement 2 is INCORRECT. Its partners include non governmental organisations, trade unions, professionals, academics, indigenous peoples, the private sector, foundations and financial institutions as well as governments and local authorities.

Source

The Hindu report on India being elected President of UN-Habitat.

How to crack it

The word only in statement 2 is the pressure point, and a single non governmental partner destroys it. More generally, United Nations programmes work through broad multi stakeholder coalitions by design, so any claim restricting their partners to official bodies is structurally implausible. Rejecting statement 2 alone removes three of the four options here, so the exclusivity claim is where to look first.

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