UPSC Prelims 2017 · GS Paper I
Question 60: International Relations and Current Affairs
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 contributes 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 ;
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
UN-Habitat is the UN programme for human settlements. The General Assembly mandated it to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities and adequate shelter for all, so Statement 1 is right. It contributes to the UN system's wider aims of reducing poverty and improving access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation, so Statement 3 is right. Its partners are not only governments or local authorities; they also include civil society, the private sector, professional bodies and others, so Statement 2 is wrong.
- 1. The General Assembly mandated it to promote sustainable towns and cities and shelter for all.
- 2. Its partners also include civil society, the private sector and others.
- 3. It contributes to reducing poverty and to water and sanitation goals.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (a) and (c) go: each of them includes 2.
What you needed to know: Its partners also include civil society, the private sector and others.
The red flag in statement 2 is “only”. In UPSC’s papers, statements with “only” were true 27% of the time (82 statements). A hint, not a rule.
- Then, if you were sure statement 3 is correct, (d) goes: it leaves 3 out.
What you needed to know: It contributes to reducing poverty and to water and sanitation goals.
Only (b) is left. You didn’t need statement 1.
Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Wrong: statement 2 is false because partners go beyond governments and local authorities.
- (b) Right: its mandate and its poverty and sanitation contribution are correct.
- (c) Wrong: statement 2 is false, and it leaves out the mandate in statement 1.
- (d) Incomplete: statement 3 is also correct.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2017, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.