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Awards & HonoursEasy

The headquarters of UNESCO is located in which city?

  1. A.Geneva
  2. B.Paris
  3. C.New York
  4. D.Vienna

Correct answer

B. Paris

Explanation

The correct answer is B, Paris. UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, has its headquarters at Place de Fontenoy in Paris, France. Its Constitution was signed in London in November 1945 and came into force in November 1946, and India was among the founding members. Option A is wrong because Geneva hosts the World Health Organization, the International Labour Organization and the office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, but not UNESCO. Option C is wrong because New York is the seat of the United Nations headquarters itself, with the General Assembly and the Security Council, as well as of UNICEF. Option D is wrong because Vienna houses the International Atomic Energy Agency and the office on drugs and crime. Keep the four cities apart, because papers list them together in a single question.

Read the full article: UNESCO and United Nations Awards: Prizes and Dates

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Q1.Awards & HonoursMedium

The UNESCO Kalinga Prize is awarded for outstanding work in which field?

  1. A.Popularisation of science
  2. B.Promotion of peace
  3. C.Protection of heritage sites
  4. D.Literacy among women
Show answer

Correct answer: A. Popularisation of science

Explanation

The correct answer is A, popularisation of science. The Kalinga Prize honours writers, editors, lecturers, film makers and broadcasters who explain science, research and technology to the general public, and it is awarded by UNESCO. The fund for it was endowed in 1951 and the first prize was given in 1952 to the French physicist Louis de Broglie. Option B is wrong because peace work is recognised by the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Peace Prize of UNESCO, created in 1989. Option C is wrong because heritage sites are protected under the World Heritage Convention of 1972, which is a listing system and not a prize. Option D is wrong because literacy is rewarded by the King Sejong Literacy Prize and the Confucius Prize for Literacy, presented on International Literacy Day.

Q2.Awards & HonoursHard

The endowment for the UNESCO Kalinga Prize was given by which Indian?

  1. A.Biju Patnaik
  2. B.Madanjeet Singh
  3. C.J R D Tata
  4. D.Homi Bhabha
Show answer

Correct answer: A. Biju Patnaik

Explanation

The correct answer is A, Biju Patnaik. Biju Patnaik, the aviator and industrialist who later became Chief Minister of Odisha, gave the endowment in 1951 that allowed UNESCO to create the prize, and it was named after the ancient kingdom of Kalinga in that region, where the Mauryan emperor Ashoka fought the war that changed him. Option B is wrong because Madanjeet Singh, the Indian artist, writer and diplomat, endowed the separate UNESCO prize for the promotion of tolerance and non-violence, created in 1995. Option C is wrong because J R D Tata, the aviation pioneer and industrialist, is connected with the United Nations Population Award, which he received in 1992. Option D is wrong because Homi Bhabha built India's atomic energy programme and endowed no UNESCO prize.

Q3.Awards & HonoursEasy

What does the abbreviation UNESCO stand for?

  1. A.United Nations Economic and Social Cooperation Organization
  2. B.United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
  3. C.United Nations Environment and Sustainable Cooperation Organization
  4. D.Union of Nations for Education, Science and Culture
Show answer

Correct answer: B. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Explanation

The correct answer is B, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. UNESCO is the specialised agency of the United Nations for education, the sciences, culture, communication and information, with its headquarters at Paris. Its Constitution declares that since wars begin in the minds of men, the defences of peace must be built in the minds of men. Option A is wrong because economic and social matters are handled by the Economic and Social Council, one of the principal organs of the United Nations. Option C is wrong because the environment is the responsibility of the United Nations Environment Programme, which has its headquarters at Nairobi in Kenya. Option D is wrong because it is simply a rearranged form that does not match the agency's real name, and such near-miss expansions are the usual distractors.

Q4.Awards & HonoursMedium

The UNESCO Guillermo Cano Prize is associated with which cause?

  1. A.Press freedom
  2. B.Child welfare
  3. C.Disaster relief
  4. D.Wildlife conservation
Show answer

Correct answer: A. Press freedom

Explanation

The correct answer is A, press freedom. The UNESCO Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize was instituted in 1997 and honours a person or an organisation that has defended freedom of the press, often at great personal risk. It is named after a Colombian journalist who was killed for his reporting, and it is presented every year on World Press Freedom Day, which falls on 3 May. Option B is wrong because child welfare is the work of UNICEF, which gives the Maurice Pate Award. Option C is wrong because disaster risk reduction is recognised by the Sasakawa Award of the United Nations disaster risk office. Option D is wrong because conservation work is recognised through Champions of the Earth, the environmental honour of the United Nations Environment Programme. Fix the date 3 May with this prize.

Q5.Awards & HonoursMedium

The UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Prize is given for the promotion of:

  1. A.Tolerance and non-violence
  2. B.Adult literacy
  3. C.Scientific research
  4. D.Freedom of information
Show answer

Correct answer: A. Tolerance and non-violence

Explanation

The correct answer is A, tolerance and non-violence. The prize was created in 1995, a year that marked both the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations and the hundred and twenty fifth birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, and it is named after Madanjeet Singh, the Indian artist, writer and diplomat who endowed it. It is awarded every two years on 16 November, the International Day for Tolerance. Option B is wrong because adult literacy is rewarded by the King Sejong and Confucius literacy prizes. Option C is wrong because scientific research as such is not the subject; UNESCO's science prizes reward the popularisation of science and ethics in science. Option D is wrong because freedom of information belongs with the Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, given on 3 May.