Q51 · UPSC Prelims 2016 · Set A · Current Affairs and GK

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'Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres)', often in the news, is

A A division of World Health Organization
B A non-governmental international organization
C An inter-governmental agency sponsored by European Union
D A specialized agency of the United Nations

Correct answer: (b) A non-governmental international organization

Explanation

  1. A

    A division of World Health Organization

    A division of the World Health Organization would be a UN specialised-agency arm, such as a WHO programme or regional office. Médecins Sans Frontières is independent of WHO and is not a WHO division, so this option is not the key.

  2. B

    A non-governmental international organization

    Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF) is a private, independent non-governmental international organisation. It delivers emergency medical aid in conflict, epidemic and disaster settings and is funded mainly by private donations, not by a UN or EU mandate. That NGO character is why (b) is the official key.

  3. C

    An inter-governmental agency sponsored by European Union

    An inter-governmental agency sponsored by the European Union would be created by treaty among governments, such as ECHO as a Commission service. MSF is not an EU inter-governmental body, so this option is wrong.

  4. D

    A specialized agency of the United Nations

    A specialised agency of the United Nations would sit in the UN system (WHO, UNICEF, UNHCR). MSF is not a UN specialised agency; it often works alongside UN agencies but remains a separate NGO. This option is therefore not the key.

Summary. Official key is (b) a non-governmental international organisation. Médecins Sans Frontières is an independent medical NGO, not a WHO division, not an EU inter-governmental agency, and not a UN specialised agency. It is known for emergency field hospitals and for speaking out on humanitarian access. Candidates should not equate a famous health NGO with the UN health architecture. Only (b) states its legal character correctly.