Financial Bodies & International Organizations MCQs
115+ solved MCQs on SEATO, African Union, Development Banks, Red Cross, INTERPOL, IPU & key international organizations for PPSC, FPSC, NTS, CSS & PMS.
SEATO = South-East Asia Treaty Organization.
SEATO was founded in 1955.
SEATO was founded by the Manila Pact.
The 8th founding SEATO member was the USA.
Bangkok, Thailand was SEATO’s headquarters.
SEATO was dissolved in 1977.
SEATO’s main purpose was collective defence & SE Asian economic cooperation.
Pakistan withdrew from SEATO in 1973.
The African Union is headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The African Union was founded on 26 May 2001.
The AU replaced the Organization of African Unity (OAU).
The African Union is modelled on the European Union for African unity.
The AU recognises Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish & Swahili as working languages.
AU HQ is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The African Dev Bank promotes economic & social development across Africa.
The African Dev Bank has 53 regional members.
The African Dev Bank has 25 non-regional members.
The African Dev Bank’s official languages are English and French.
The African Dev Bank is headquartered in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The Bank of Central African States was formed in 1973.
BEAC’s official language is French.
BEAC has 5 original member states (CEMAC core).
BEAC originals: Cameroon, CAR, Chad, Rep. of Congo & Gabon.
France is the guarantor of the Bank of Central African States.
France provides the currency framework for BEAC (CFA franc → Euro peg).
The East African Dev Bank was established in 1967.
EADB was established under the Treaty for East African Cooperation, 1967.
The East African Dev Bank is headquartered in Uganda (Kampala).
EADB’s official language is English.
The West African Dev Bank was formed in November 1973.
The West African Dev Bank’s official language is French.
BCEAO (Central Bank of West African States) was formed in 1962-63.
BCEAO’s official language is French.
BCEAO HQ: Avenue Abdoulaye Fadiga, Dakar, Senegal.
African Export & Import Bank was established in 1978.
Afreximbank operates in English, French, Arabic & Portuguese.
Afreximbank HQ is in Cairo, Egypt.
ECCAS was established in 1983.
ECOWAS was established in 1975 (Treaty of Lagos).
ECOWAS uses English, French & Portuguese as official languages.
WAEMU (West African Economic & Monetary Union) was founded in 1994.
COMESA was formed in 1995.
COMESA historical membership = 28 states (modern figure: 21).
COMESA’s working language (per source) is French.
SADC was founded with 9 original member states.
SADC’s official languages are English, French & Portuguese.
Lake Chad Basin Commission was founded on 22 May 1964.
The Niger Basin Authority was established in 1980.
The EAC (revived) was formed on 30 November 1998 (per source).
EAC founding members: Kenya, Uganda & Tanzania.
IGAD came into existence on 21 March 1996.
International Organization for Migration was founded in Brussels, 1951.
IOM’s official languages are English & French (and Spanish).
The Red Cross is based in Geneva, Switzerland.
ICRC was established in Geneva in February 1863.
ICRC HQ is in Switzerland (Geneva).
The Red Cross / Red Crescent network has 190+ National Societies.
World Red Cross Day (8 May) marks the birthday of Henri Dunant.
The Red Cross was established by Henri Dunant in 1864.
The Red Cross flag is the reverse of the Swiss flag.
The Red Cross motto is ‘Service in War’.
Transparency International was founded in May 1993.
Transparency International HQ is in Berlin, Germany.
Amnesty International was founded in July 1961.
Amnesty International HQ is in London, UK.
Amnesty International won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977.
Peter Benenson founded Amnesty International (1961).
Amnesty International works on protection of human rights.
The IPU was founded in 1889 — world’s oldest international political organization.
William Randal Cremer founded the IPU (with Frédéric Passy).
Incorrect pair: SAARC — New Delhi (SAARC HQ is Kathmandu, Nepal).
IPU HQ is in Switzerland (Geneva).
IsDB’s official languages are Arabic, English & French.
Islamic Development Bank HQ is in Saudi Arabia (Jeddah).
INTERPOL was founded in 1923.
INTERPOL HQ is in Lyon (Leon), France.
INTERPOL uses English, French, Spanish & Arabic.
INTERPOL obtained UN GA observer status on 15 Oct 1996.
INTERPOL is headquartered in France.
The International Mobile Satellite Organization was set up in 1979.
Per source, 153 countries coordinate with INTERPOL (modern figure ~196).
WFTU was founded in 1945.
WFTU has regional offices in New Delhi, Havana, Dhaka, Damascus & Moscow.
WFTU HQ (per source) was in Czech Republic (Prague); now Athens.
The Inter-American Dev Bank was established in 1959.
IADB serves Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Inter-American Dev Bank has 48 member countries.
IADB uses English, French, Portuguese & Spanish.
IADB HQ is in the USA (Washington D.C.).
CARICOM = Caribbean Community.
CARICOM HQ is in Georgetown, Guyana.
ACS was formed on 24 July 1994.
CARICOM came into force on 1 August 1973.
CARICOM’s official language is English.
The Caribbean Development Bank was established in 1969.
The Caribbean Development Bank has 16 regional members.
CDB non-regional members include Italy, UK, Canada, China & Germany.
Caribbean Development Bank HQ is in Barbados.
The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank was established in 1983.
ECCB’s official language is English.
ECCB HQ is in St. Kitts and Nevis (Basseterre).
The Asian Development Bank was established in 1966.
ADB’s official language is English.
ADB HQ is in Manila, Philippines.
The WTO Director-General is Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Nigeria).
The IMF Managing Director is Kristalina Georgieva (Bulgaria).
The World Bank President is Ajay Banga.
The BRICS / New Development Bank President is Dilma Rousseff.
The African Development Bank President is Sidi Ould Tah.
The ADB President is Masato Kanda (Japan).
The EBRD President is Odile Renaud-Basso (France).
The Inter-American Development Bank President is Ilan Goldfajn (Brazil).
The Islamic Development Bank President is Muhammed Al-Jasser.
Amnesty International (founded by Peter Benenson) won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977.
The Red Cross emblem is the reverse of the Swiss flag.
What do the initials SEATO stand for?
SEATO = South-East Asia Treaty Organization — founded by the Manila Pact 1955 to contain communism in SE Asia.
SEATO was formally founded in:
SEATO was formally founded in 1955 via the Manila Pact (signed 8 Sep 1954, in force 19 Feb 1955).
SEATO was founded by which pact?
The Manila Pact (signed in the Philippines on 8 September 1954) established SEATO.
SEATO was founded by Australia, France, NZ, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, Britain and:
The 8 founding SEATO members included the United States.
SEATO's headquarters were in:
SEATO was headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand.
SEATO was dissolved in:
SEATO was formally dissolved in 1977 after losing relevance post Vietnam War.
What was the main purpose of SEATO?
SEATO's primary purpose was collective defence (containment of communism) and enhanced economic cooperation in SE Asia.
When did Pakistan withdraw from SEATO?
Pakistan withdrew from SEATO in 1973 — following SEATO's failure to support Pakistan in the 1971 war with India.
Where is the seat of the African Union?
The African Union is headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
When did the African Union come into existence?
The African Union was launched on 26 May 2001, replacing the OAU.
Which African organization was dissolved when the African Union was formed?
The Organization of African Unity (OAU, 1963) was dissolved and replaced by the African Union in 2001-02.
What are the aims of the African Union?
The AU aims to unite African member states politically/socially/economically and is broadly modelled on the European Union.
What is the official language of the African Union?
The AU's working languages include Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Swahili and other African languages.
Where is the headquarters of the African Union?
The AU is headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
What is the aim of the African Development Bank?
The AfDB aims to promote economic and social development across the African region.
How many regional members does the African Development Bank have?
The AfDB has 53 regional African members.
How many non-regional members does the African Development Bank have?
The AfDB has 25 non-regional members (mainly OECD donors).
What is the official language of the African Development Bank?
The AfDB's two official working languages are English and French.
Where is the headquarters of the African Development Bank?
The AfDB is headquartered in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
When was the Bank of Central African States formed?
The Bank of Central African States (BEAC) was formed in 1973.
Which is the official language of the Bank of Central African States?
BEAC operates in French — the lingua franca of its francophone member states.
What is the original number of member states in the Bank of Central African States?
Five original members: Cameroon, CAR, Chad, Republic of Congo and Gabon.
Who are the original members of the Bank of Central African States?
Original members: Cameroon, CAR, Chad, Republic of Congo and Gabon.
Which European country is the guarantor of the Bank of Central African States?
France guarantees the BEAC's CFA franc (Central African) currency.
Which European country provides its currency framework for the Bank of Central African States?
France backed the CFA franc, BEAC's regional currency — now pegged to the Euro.
When did the East African Development Bank come into force?
The East African Development Bank was established in 1967 under the Treaty for East African Cooperation.
Through which treaty was the East African Development Bank originally established?
Established under the Treaty for East African Cooperation, 1967.
Where is the headquarters of the East African Development Bank?
EADB is headquartered in Kampala, Uganda.
Which is the official language of the East African Development Bank?
EADB's official working language is English.
When was the West African Development Bank formed?
The West African Development Bank was formed in November 1973.
Which is the official language of the West African Development Bank?
The West African Dev Bank operates in French.
When was the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) formed?
BCEAO (Central Bank of West African States) was formed in 1962-1963 (commonly cited 1963).
Which is the official language of the Central Bank of West African States?
BCEAO operates in French — the official language of its 8 WAEMU members.
Where is the headquarters of the Central Bank of West African States?
BCEAO is headquartered at Avenue Abdoulaye Fadiga in Dakar, Senegal.
In which year was the African Export and Import Bank (Afreximbank) established?
Afreximbank was established in 1978 (commonly cited; established formally 1993 — using source's answer key).
What is the official language of the African Export and Import Bank?
Afreximbank operates in English, French, Arabic and Portuguese.
Where is the headquarters of the African Export and Import Bank?
Afreximbank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.
When did the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) come into existence?
ECCAS was established in 1983 — covering 11 Central African states.
In which year did the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) come into existence?
ECOWAS was established by the Treaty of Lagos on 28 May 1975.
Which is the official language of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)?
ECOWAS uses English, French and Portuguese as official languages.
When was the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU/UEMOA) founded?
WAEMU/UEMOA was founded in 1994.
When was the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) formed?
COMESA was formed in 1994 (often cited 1995) — replacing the PTA.
How many member states are in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)?
COMESA has had varying membership — historically given as 28 in older sources (modern figure is 21).
Which is the official language of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)?
Per the original answer key, COMESA's working language is given as French (though English is also widely used).
How many member countries were founders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC)?
SADC was founded in 1992 with 9 original member states.
Which is the official language of the Southern African Development Community (SADC)?
SADC uses English, French and Portuguese as official languages.
When was the Lake Chad Basin Commission founded?
The Lake Chad Basin Commission was founded on 22 May 1964.
When was the Niger Basin Authority established?
The Niger Basin Authority was established in 1980.
When was the East African Community (EAC, revived) formed?
The revived East African Community treaty was signed on 30 November 1999 (some sources cite 1998 for declaration).
Who are the members of the East African Community?
The 3 founding members of the revived EAC were Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
When did the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) come into existence?
IGAD was established on 21 March 1996.
When was the International Organization for Migration (IOM) formed?
IOM was founded as PICMME in Brussels in 1951.
What is the official language of the International Organization for Migration (IOM)?
IOM works in English, French and Spanish.
In which city is the Red Cross based?
The International Committee of the Red Cross is based in Geneva, Switzerland.
When and where was the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) established?
The ICRC was established in Geneva in February 1863 (founded by Henri Dunant).
Where is the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross?
ICRC HQ is in Geneva, Switzerland.
How many National Societies are there in the International Federation of Red Cross / Red Crescent?
Per the older answer key the figure is 190 (currently 192).
Why is World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day celebrated each year on 8 May?
8 May was the birthday of Jean-Henri Dunant, founder of the Red Cross.
When was the Red Cross established by Jean-Henri Dunant?
The Red Cross movement was established in 1864 (the Geneva Convention; founding committee 1863).
The Red Cross flag is the reverse of the flag of which country?
The Red Cross emblem is a red cross on white — the reverse of the Swiss flag, honouring its Swiss founder.
What is the motto of the Red Cross?
The Red Cross motto is 'Service in War' (Inter arma caritas — 'Charity in war').
When was Transparency International founded?
Transparency International was founded in May 1993 by Peter Eigen.
Where is the headquarters of Transparency International?
Transparency International is headquartered in Berlin, Germany.
When was Amnesty International founded?
Amnesty International was founded in July 1961 by British lawyer Peter Benenson.
Where is the headquarters of Amnesty International?
Amnesty International is headquartered in London, UK.
When did Amnesty International get the Nobel Peace Prize?
Amnesty International received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977.
Who founded Amnesty International?
Amnesty International was founded by British lawyer Peter Benenson in 1961.
Amnesty International is associated with which field?
Amnesty International campaigns globally for the protection of human rights.
When was the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) founded?
The IPU was founded in 1889 — the world's oldest international political organization.
Who founded the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)?
Per the source's answer key, William Randal Cremer founded the IPU (alongside Frédéric Passy).
Which of the following pairs is NOT correct?
SAARC's HQ is in Kathmandu, Nepal — NOT New Delhi. The other pairs are correct.
Where is the headquarters of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)?
The IPU is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
Which is the official language of the Islamic Development Bank?
The Islamic Development Bank operates in Arabic, English and French.
Where is the headquarters of the Islamic Development Bank?
The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) is headquartered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
When did the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) come into existence?
INTERPOL was founded in 1923 in Vienna.
Where is the headquarters of INTERPOL?
INTERPOL is headquartered in Lyon, France.
What are the official languages of INTERPOL?
INTERPOL uses 4 official languages: English, French, Spanish and Arabic.
When did INTERPOL obtain observer status at the UN General Assembly?
INTERPOL obtained observer status at the UN General Assembly on 15 October 1996.
In which country is INTERPOL headquartered?
INTERPOL is headquartered in France (Lyon).
When was the International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO) set up?
The International Mobile Satellite Organization (then INMARSAT) was set up in 1979.
How many countries coordinate with INTERPOL (per source)?
Per the original answer key, 153 countries (modern figure is ~196).
When was the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) founded?
WFTU was founded in 1945, immediately after WWII.
Where are the regional offices of the World Federation of Trade Unions?
WFTU has regional offices in New Delhi, Havana, Dhaka, Damascus and Moscow.
Where is the headquarters of the World Federation of Trade Unions?
Per the original source, WFTU HQ was in Prague (Czech Republic). It later moved to Athens.
When was the Inter-American Development Bank established?
The IADB was established in 1959.
The Inter-American Development Bank was formed to accelerate economic and social development of:
The IADB serves both Latin America and the Caribbean.
How many member countries are there in the Inter-American Development Bank?
The IADB has 48 member countries.
Which is the official language of the Inter-American Development Bank?
IADB operates in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.
Where is the headquarters of the Inter-American Development Bank?
IADB is headquartered in Washington D.C., USA.
CARICOM is an organization related to Caribbean islands. What is its full form?
CARICOM = Caribbean Community.
CARICOM was established on 1 August 1973. Its headquarters are at:
CARICOM is headquartered in Georgetown, Guyana.
When was the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) formed?
The Association of Caribbean States was formed on 24 July 1994.
When did the Caribbean Community come into force?
CARICOM came into force on 1 August 1973 (Treaty of Chaguaramas).
Which is the official language of the Caribbean Community?
CARICOM's working language is English.
When was the Caribbean Development Bank established?
The Caribbean Development Bank was established in 1969.
How many regional members does the Caribbean Development Bank have?
The CDB has 16 regional members.
Which are the non-regional countries of the Caribbean Development Bank?
The CDB's non-regional members include Italy, UK, Canada, China and Germany.
Where is the headquarters of the Caribbean Development Bank?
CDB is headquartered in Barbados.
When was the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank established?
The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank was established in 1983.
Which is the official language of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank?
ECCB operates in English.
Where is the headquarters of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank?
ECCB is headquartered in Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis.
When was the Asian Development Bank (ADB) established?
The ADB was established in 1966.
What is the official language of the Asian Development Bank?
ADB's working language is English.
Where is the headquarters of the Asian Development Bank?
ADB is headquartered in Manila, Philippines.
Who is the current Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO)?
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria has been WTO Director-General since March 2021 — the first African and first woman.
Who is the current Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)?
Kristalina Georgieva of Bulgaria has been IMF Managing Director since October 2019.
Who is the current President of the World Bank?
Ajay Banga (Indian-American) has been World Bank President since June 2023.
Who is the current President of the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB)?
Former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has been NDB President since March 2023.
Who is the current President of the African Development Bank (AfDB)?
Sidi Ould Tah (Mauritania) succeeded Akinwumi Adesina as AfDB President.
Who is the current President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB)?
Masato Kanda of Japan became ADB President in 2025.
Who is the current President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)?
Odile Renaud-Basso of France has been EBRD President since November 2020.
Who is the current President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)?
Ilan Goldfajn of Brazil has been IADB President since December 2022.
Who is the current President of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB)?
Dr. Muhammed Al-Jasser of Saudi Arabia is the current IsDB President.
Which Nobel-laureate (1977) international organization for human rights was founded by Peter Benenson?
Amnesty International, founded by Peter Benenson in 1961, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977.
The Red Cross emblem (red cross on white) was inspired by which flag?
The Red Cross emblem is the reverse of the Swiss national flag — honouring Swiss founder Henri Dunant.
Financial Bodies & International Organizations — Complete Reference
Financial bodies and international organizations make up a heavy section of PPSC, FPSC, NTS, CSS, PMS, OTS, SPSC general-knowledge and current-affairs papers. This page covers 115 MCQs on every important body — SEATO, African Union, African & Asian Development Banks, Inter-American Development Bank, Caribbean Community, Red Cross, INTERPOL, IPU, Islamic Development Bank, Transparency International, Amnesty International and more, with answers, founders, HQs and current heads. For broader UN-related practice, also try our UNO & Other International Organizations and the full General Knowledge MCQs Hub.
Quick Reference — Founding, HQ & Key Facts
| Organization | Founded | HQ / Key Fact |
|---|---|---|
| SEATO | 1955 (Manila Pact) | HQ Bangkok; dissolved 1977; Pakistan left 1973 |
| African Union (AU) | 26 May 2001 | HQ Addis Ababa; replaced OAU |
| African Dev Bank (AfDB) | 1964 | HQ Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire; 53 regional members |
| Bank of Central African States | 1973 | French official language; guaranteed by France |
| East African Dev Bank | 1967 | HQ Uganda; under EAC Treaty 1967 |
| West African Dev Bank | Nov 1973 | French official language |
| African Export & Import Bank | 1978 | HQ Cairo, Egypt |
| COMESA | 1995 | 21 member states (modern figure) |
| East African Community | 30 Nov 1998 (revived) | Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania (originals) |
| Red Cross (ICRC) | 1863-64 (Henri Dunant) | HQ Geneva; flag = reverse of Swiss flag |
| Transparency International | May 1993 | HQ Berlin, Germany |
| Amnesty International | July 1961 (Peter Benenson) | HQ London; Nobel Peace Prize 1977 |
| Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) | 1889 | HQ Geneva, Switzerland |
| Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) | 1975 | HQ Jeddah, Saudi Arabia |
| INTERPOL | 1923 | HQ Lyon (Leon), France; 4 languages |
| World Federation of Trade Unions | 1945 | HQ Athens (formerly Prague, Czech Republic) |
| Inter-American Dev Bank (IADB) | 1959 | HQ Washington D.C.; 48 members |
| CARICOM | 1 Aug 1973 | HQ Georgetown, Guyana |
| Caribbean Dev Bank (CDB) | 1969 | HQ Barbados; 16 regional members |
| Eastern Caribbean Central Bank | 1983 | HQ St. Kitts and Nevis |
| Asian Development Bank (ADB) | 1966 | HQ Manila, Philippines; English official |
Current Heads of Major Financial Bodies
| Organization | Head / Title |
|---|---|
| World Trade Organization (WTO) | Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala |
| International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva (Bulgaria) |
| World Bank | President Ajay Banga |
| BRICS / New Development Bank (NDB) | President Dilma Rousseff |
| African Development Bank (AfDB) | President Sidi Ould Tah |
| Asian Development Bank (ADB) | President Masato Kanda |
| European Bank for Reconstruction & Development | President Odile Renaud-Basso |
| Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) | President Ilan Goldfajn |
| Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) | President Muhammed Al-Jasser |
For authoritative reading, see Wikipedia’s SEATO and African Union articles, and the official Asian Development Bank website.
Practice More MCQs on Related Topics
Keep your prep momentum going — explore these related topics that frequently appear alongside Financial Bodies in PPSC, FPSC, NTS, CSS & PMS papers: