General Knowledge MCQs
Topic Notes: General Knowledge
MCQs and preparation resources for competitive exams, covering important concepts, past papers, and detailed explanations.
Plato
- Biography: Ancient Greek philosopher (427–347 BCE), student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, founder of the Academy in Athens.
- Important Ideas:
- Theory of Forms
- Philosopher-King
- Ideal State
1
UN-Habitat’s strategic plan is focused on the transformative shift from **Rapid Urbanization** to:
Answer:
Planned and well-managed sustainable urbanization.
The goal is to harness the potential of urbanization while mitigating its negative consequences through effective planning and policies.
2
The **Global Land Tool Network (GLTN)**, supported by UN-Habitat, works to address which challenge?
Answer:
Insecure land tenure and lack of adequate land administration systems.
Insecure land rights are a major barrier to poverty reduction and investment in housing and services, especially for the poor.
3
What is the primary focus of UN-Habitat's advocacy for **Urban Mobility**?
Answer:
Promoting safe, efficient, and accessible public transport and non-motorized transport (walking and cycling).
Sustainable urban mobility is crucial for reducing emissions and ensuring equitable access to opportunities.
4
UN-Habitat’s work on **Urban Safety and Security** prioritizes reducing crime and violence by focusing on:
Answer:
Improving urban design, public spaces, and community participation in crime prevention.
The approach links safety directly to inclusive urban planning and governance.
5
The **City Prosperity Initiative (CPI)** is a tool developed by UN-Habitat to help cities:
Answer:
Measure their performance across five dimensions of prosperity (Productivity, Infrastructure, Quality of Life, Equity, and Environmental Sustainability).
CPI provides a holistic measure of urban well-being beyond simple economic metrics.
6
UN-Habitat’s strategy on **Waste Management** emphasizes:
Answer:
Integrated solid waste management and promoting the transition to a circular economy.
Poor waste management is a major environmental and health risk in rapidly growing cities.
7
What is the primary target group for UN-Habitat’s technical cooperation and policy advice?
Answer:
National, regional, and municipal governments, and local authorities.
UN-Habitat works directly with local authorities, as cities are the main actors in implementing the New Urban Agenda.
8
The **International Guidelines on Urban and Territorial Planning** (IG-UTP), promoted by UN-Habitat, advocate for:
Answer:
Coordinated planning across different levels of government (national, regional, local).
IG-UTP provides a comprehensive framework for governments to formulate and implement effective planning policies.
9
UN-Habitat’s work on **Urban Resilience** aims to strengthen a city’s capacity to:
Answer:
Absorb, recover from, and prepare for future shocks and stresses (e.g., climate change, epidemics, disasters).
Urban resilience is a key component of sustainable urbanization, focusing on planning and infrastructure.
10
The **World Habitat Day** is celebrated annually on which day?
Answer:
The first Monday of October
World Habitat Day is designated by the UN to reflect on the state of human settlements and the basic right to adequate shelter.