World Organisations : Practice Questions and Answers

As of October 2019, 11 Indian biosphere reserves were part of UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR), with Khangchendzonga being the most recently added in 2018. The 11 sites include Nilgiri, Gulf of Mannar, Sundarbans, Nanda Devi, Nokrek, Pachmarhi, Similipal, Great Nicobar, Achanakmar-Amarkantak, Agasthyamala, and Khangchendzonga.

In December 2018, ECOSOC elected former Indian diplomat Preeti Saran unopposed to the Asia Pacific seat on the 18-member Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), which monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). She received 188 votes in the 193-member UN General Assembly — the highest among all contestants — and later became the first Indian to serve as Chair of CESCR.