2017 · GS Paper 2 · Q10 · 10 marks
What are the main functions of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)? Explain different functional commissions attached to it.
In short
ECOSOC, created under Chapter X of the UN Charter, studies economic and social issues, drafts conventions, coordinates specialised agencies and reviews the SDGs. Its eight functional commissions, from the Commission on the Status of Women to the Statistical Commission, turn these functions into norms and data.
Model answer
Ghissu Editorial · Verified 4 Oct 2026 · 284 words
Study and recommend
Under Article 62 it studies economic, social, cultural, educational and health matters and recommends action to the General Assembly, member states and specialised agencies.
Rights and norm-making
It promotes human rights, drafts conventions and convenes international conferences.
Coordinating the UN family
Under Articles 63 and 64 it ties agencies such as the WHO, ILO and FAO to the UN and coordinates their work.
Civil society and SDGs
It grants consultative status to over 6,000 NGOs and hosts the High-Level Political Forum, where India presented Voluntary National Reviews in 2017 and 2020.
Social commissions
The Commissions for Social Development and on Population and Development (1946) track poverty and the Cairo ICPD agenda.
Status of Women
The CSW (1946) monitors the Beijing Platform for Action of 1995.
Drugs and crime
The Commission on Narcotic Drugs (1946) and the Crime Prevention Commission (1992) govern UNODC and the drug conventions.
Statistics, science, forests
The Statistical Commission, which India rejoined in 2024, built the SDG indicator framework; the science-for-development commission and the UN Forum on Forests complete the eight.
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Question from the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2017 paper. Answer written by Ghissu's engine and checked against our editorial standards. Found an error? Tell us and we correct it within 48 hours.