Consider the following UN Declarations/Covenants : 1. Universal Declaration of Human Rights 2. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women 3. International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 4. Convention on Refugees Which one of the following is the correct chronological order (starting with the earliest) of the above ?
- (a)1, 4, 3, 2
- (b)1, 2, 3, 4
- (c)1, 3, 2, 4
- (d)4, 1, 2, 3
Correct — A, 1, 4, 3, 2. Ordering the four instruments by the year they were adopted: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (item 1) came first in 1948; the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (item 4) followed in 1951; the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (item 3) was adopted in 1966; and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (item 2) came last in 1979. From earliest to latest that is 1, then 4, then 3, then 2.
- (b)1, 2, 3, 4 — Simply repeats the list's numbering — it is not chronological, since CEDAW (1979) is the latest of the four, not the second.
- (c)1, 3, 2, 4 — Puts ICESCR (1966) ahead of the Refugee Convention (1951) and ends with the Refugee Convention, both wrong on the dates.
- (d)4, 1, 2, 3 — Starts with the Refugee Convention (1951) before the 1948 UDHR — but the UDHR is the earliest of the four.
These are landmark United Nations human-rights instruments. The UDHR (1948) is a non-binding declaration that inspired later binding covenants and conventions; ICESCR (1966) is one of the two International Covenants of 1966, while the Refugee Convention (1951) and CEDAW (1979) are specialised treaties.
Ordering questions reward remembering a few anchor years rather than the order in which the list is printed. Fix the anchors — 1948 for the UDHR, 1951 for refugees, 1966 for the two Covenants, and 1979 for CEDAW — and the sequence follows.
- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948, now observed as Human Rights Day.
- The Convention relating to the Status of Refugees was adopted in 1951; its scope was later broadened by the 1967 Protocol.
- The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was adopted in 1966 alongside the ICCPR, and both entered into force in 1976.
- CEDAW, the women's-rights convention, was adopted by the General Assembly in 1979.
- 1948 — Universal Declaration of Human Rights (item 1)
- 1951 — Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (item 4)
- 1966 — International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (item 3)
- 1979 — CEDAW (item 2)
Earliest to latest — 1948, 1951, 1966, 1979 — gives the order 1, 4, 3, 2.
- Answering in the list's printed order (1, 2, 3, 4) instead of by date.
- Mixing up the two 1966 Covenants — the ICCPR (civil and political rights) and the ICESCR (economic, social and cultural rights).
A classic chronological-ordering item — memorise the anchor adoption years (1948, 1951, 1966, 1979) rather than the sequence printed in the question.
Consider the following: 1. Right to education. 2. Right to equal access to public service. 3. Right to food. Which of the above is/are Human Right/Human Rights under "Universal Declaration of Human Rights"?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 1 and 2 only
- (c) 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer(d) 1, 2 and 3 — the UDHR recognises the right to education, equal access to public service and an adequate standard of living including food.
Tests the contents of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights — the same 1948 instrument that heads the chronology in this NDA question.
Other than the Fundamental Rights, which of the following parts of the Constitution of India reflect/reflects the principles and provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)? 1. Preamble 2. Directive Principles of State Policy 3. Fundamental Duties Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer(d) 1, 2 and 3 — the Preamble, Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties all echo the principles of the 1948 UDHR.
Another UDHR-centred question, linking the 1948 Declaration to Indian constitutional provisions — the same instrument being placed in this NDA chronology item.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The 'International Bill of Human Rights' comprises the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and which two covenants adopted in 1966?
- (a)ICCPR and ICESCR
- (b)CEDAW and CRC
- (c)Refugee Convention and CAT
- (d)ICCPR and CEDAW
Answer(a) ICCPR and ICESCR — the UDHR together with these two 1966 Covenants forms the International Bill of Human Rights.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the UN General Assembly in which year?
- (a)1945
- (b)1948
- (c)1950
- (d)1966
Answer(b) 1948 — adopted on 10 December 1948, the date now observed as Human Rights Day.