What are the main functions of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)? Explain different functional commissions attached to it.
Approach · directive: “what... explain”
What it asks · Give ECOSOC's mandate under the UN Charter (5 marks), then name and describe its functional commissions and what each does (5 marks).
It asks 2 things — answer each
- State the main functions of ECOSOC under the UN Charter
- Explain the functional commissions attached to it and what each does
Open with · ECOSOC, set up under Chapter X of the UN Charter, is the UN's principal organ for economic and social cooperation; Article 61 gives it 54 members, 18 elected each year.
Cover
- Studies and recommendations (Article 62): economic, social, cultural, educational and health matters, to the General Assembly, members and specialised agencies.
- Rights and conferences (Article 62): promotes human rights, prepares draft conventions and calls international conferences.
- Coordination (Article 63): agreements bring specialised agencies into relationship with the UN; it reviews their work.
- Civil society (Article 71): consultative arrangements with non-governmental organisations.
- Commissions (Article 68): eight functional commissions, from the Statistical Commission to the UN Forum on Forests.
- Related bodies: five regional commissions and the High-level Political Forum, which replaced the Commission on Sustainable Development.
Close with · ECOSOC now anchors the 2030 Agenda: India presented its Voluntary National Review at the High-level Political Forum in July 2017; its strength remains coordination and consensus.
Add value (verified)
- Article 68 of the UN Charter obliges ECOSOC to set up commissions in economic and social fields and for human rights, the legal basis of its functional commissions.United Nations Charter, Chapter X: The Economic and Social Council — un.org ↗“The Economic and Social Council shall set up commissions in economic and social fields and for the promotion of human rights, and such other commissions as may be required for the performance of its functions”
- Article 61 of the UN Charter: ECOSOC consists of fifty-four members elected by the General Assembly.United Nations Charter, Chapter X: The Economic and Social Council - un.org ↗“The Economic and Social Council shall consist of fifty-four Members of the United Nations elected by the General Assembly.”
- Article 63: ECOSOC may enter into agreements bringing specialised agencies into relationship with the UN.United Nations Charter, Chapter X: The Economic and Social Council - un.org ↗“The Economic and Social Council may enter into agreements with any of the agencies referred to in Article 57, defining the terms on which the agency concerned shall be brought into relationship with”
- Article 71: ECOSOC may make arrangements for consultation with non-governmental organisations.United Nations Charter, Chapter X: The Economic and Social Council - un.org ↗“The Economic and Social Council may make suitable arrangements for consultation with non-governmental organizations which are concerned with matters within its competence.”
- The UN system chart lists ECOSOC's eight functional commissions, from the Statistical Commission to the UN Forum on Forests.The United Nations System chart (12.2021) - un.org ECOSOC coordination ↗“FUNCTIONAL COMMISSIONS Statistical Commission Commission on Population and Development Commission for Social Development Commission on the Status of Women Commission on Narcotic Drugs”
- India's Voluntary National Review on SDG implementation was presented to the High-Level Political Forum in New York in July 2017.India Voluntary National Review Report on Implementation of SDGs, HLPF 2017 - NITI Aayog ↗“be presented to The High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, New York/July 2017 India Voluntary National Review Report on Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2017, GS Paper II — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 3 Oct 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer· 224words · Minimalist IAS
ECOSOC, set up under Chapter X of the UN Charter, is the UN's principal organ for economic and social cooperation; under Article 61, the General Assembly elects its fifty-four members, eighteen each year.
Main functions of ECOSOC
- Studies and recommendations (Article 62): on economic, social, cultural, educational and health matters, with recommendations to the General Assembly and agencies.
- Rights and conferences: promotes human rights, drafts conventions and calls international conferences.
- Coordination (Article 63): agreements bring specialised agencies into relationship with the UN.
- Civil society (Article 71): consultative status for non-governmental organisations.
- Subsidiary machinery (Article 68): commissions in economic and social fields and for human rights.
Functional commissions attached to it
Eight functional commissions: Statistics; Population; Social Development; Status of Women; Drugs and Crime; Science, Technology and Forests
- Statistical Commission: global statistical standards.
- Population and Development: population trends and policy.
- Social Development: poverty, ageing and disability.
- Status of Women: gender equality and women's rights.
- Narcotic Drugs; Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice: drug control and criminal-justice cooperation.
- Science and Technology for Development; UN Forum on Forests: technology and forest policy.
- Related bodies: five regional commissions and the High-level Political Forum, which replaced the Commission on Sustainable Development.
ECOSOC now anchors the 2030 Agenda, India presenting its Voluntary National Review at the High-level Political Forum in July 2017; its strength is coordination and consensus, not binding authority.
Prepared by Minimalist IAS to the answer standard of Shivam Singh (mentor, 7 years) · facts checked against official sources (how we verify) · updated 3 Oct 2026. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.
