QUESTION 10
GS2
10 marks
What are the main functions of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)? Explain different functional commissions attached to it.
WRITE IN
7 min
150 words
What the examiner wants
State ECOSOC's functions and explain the functional commissions under it.
What + ExplainMake clear how and why it happens: causes, process, and an example for each point.
Demand-wise check
- 1Basis: Chapter X (Articles 61–72) of UN Charter; 54 members elected by the General Assembly for 3 years≈30 words
- 2Functions: coordinate economic, social and environmental work of UN and specialised agencies; studies and recommendations; consultative status to NGOs (Article 71); hosts the High-Level Political Forum on SDGs≈30 words
- 3Functional commissions: Statistical; Population and Development; Social Development; Status of Women; Narcotic Drugs; Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice; Science and Technology for Development; UN Forum on Forests≈30 words
- 4Also five regional commissions (e.g. ESCAP)≈30 words
Open in about 20 words and close in about 20.
Answer plan
Charter basis and compositionFunctionsCommissions with one-line role eachRelevanceConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Confusing functional commissions with specialised agencies (WHO, ILO)
- Missing the second part on commissions
Draw this
- Organogram: ECOSOC → functional and regional commissions
Value addition
- LawMembership was raised from 18 to 27 (1965) and to 54 (1973) by Charter amendments.UN Charter, Article 61
- ExampleThe Commission on the Status of Women (1946) drafted key texts and runs the annual CSW session.UN Women
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 19 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Aditya Srivastava · AIR 1 · Page 19 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
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