With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements:
- 1.The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-member States.
- 2.Inter-governmental organisations can seek observer status in the UN General Assembly.
- 3.Permanent Observers in the UN General Assembly can maintain missions at the UN headquarters.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
All three statements are correct. The General Assembly, by its own decisions, lets non-member States and inter-governmental organisations take part as observers, and Permanent Observers keep missions at UN Headquarters in New York.
- ✓ 1. The Holy See and the State of Palestine are non-member observer States. In 2012 (resolution 67/19) the Assembly gave Palestine that status.
- ✓ 2. Many inter-governmental organisations, such as the African Union and the OECD, hold a standing invitation to take part as observers in the Assembly's sessions and work.
- ✓ 3. Non-member States with a standing invitation, and some inter-governmental organisations, maintain Permanent Observer Missions or offices at Headquarters.
Remember · Observers at the UN General Assembly: non-member States (Holy See, Palestine) and inter-governmental organisations. Both can keep permanent missions or offices at UN Headquarters.
Sources
- United Nations, Non-Member States ↗ “Non-Member States having received a standing invitation to participate as Observers in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly and maintaining Permanent Observer Missions at Headquarters … By resolution A/RES/67/19 of 29 November 2012, the General Assembly accorded non-Member Observer State status to Palestine.”
- United Nations, Intergovernmental and Other Organizations ↗ “Intergovernmental Organizations having received a standing invitation to participate as Observers in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly and maintaining Permanent Offices at Headquarters”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2022, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·