International Organisations and Headquarters Notes for SSC Exams

"Where is the headquarters of WHO?" is the type of question that is asked every year in SSC exams. The international organisations and headquarters list is long, but it can be learned by groups. These international organisations and headquarters notes for SSC list the UN agencies, the financial bodies, the regional groups and the sports bodies with their headquarters and founding years.

United Nations and Its Agencies

Financial and Trade Bodies

Regional Groups

Other Important Organisations

Tips to Remember

• Geneva has most of the specialised agencies: WHO, ILO, WTO, UNHCR, UNCTAD and WMO.
• Washington DC has the IMF and the World Bank.
• Vienna has IAEA and OPEC.
• Brussels has NATO and the European Union, and Kathmandu has SAARC.
• The G20 and BRICS do not have a permanent headquarters.

Quick Tips

• Learn the headquarters by city: Geneva, New York, Washington DC, Vienna, Paris and Rome.
• Learn the founding year along with the headquarters.
• Remember SAARC in Kathmandu and ASEAN in Jakarta.
• Remember that the G20 and BRICS have no permanent headquarters.

Quick Revision Points

• The UN is headquartered in New York.
• WHO, ILO and WTO are headquartered in Geneva.
• The IMF and the World Bank are headquartered in Washington DC.
• IAEA and OPEC are headquartered in Vienna.
• The International Solar Alliance is headquartered in Gurugram, India.

Practice Questions With Answers

1. Where is the headquarters of WHO?
   Answer: Geneva
2. Where is the headquarters of UNESCO?
   Answer: Paris
3. Where is the headquarters of the IMF?
   Answer: Washington DC
4. Where is the headquarters of the WTO?
   Answer: Geneva
5. Where is the headquarters of SAARC?
   Answer: Kathmandu
6. Where is the headquarters of ASEAN?
   Answer: Jakarta
7. Where is the headquarters of OPEC?
   Answer: Vienna
8. Where is the headquarters of the International Court of Justice?
   Answer: The Hague
9. Where is the headquarters of the International Solar Alliance?
   Answer: Gurugram, India
10. Where is the headquarters of UNEP?
    Answer: Nairobi

How to Practise This Chapter

Revise the tables every week and then test yourself with our practice papers and the previous year papers page. See all topics on the General Knowledge notes page, and also read the General Awareness notes and Current Affairs notes. Read the previous topic, Largest, Longest and Highest in India, and the Summits 2026: G20, BRICS and SCO for the current events of these groups.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the headquarters of the United Nations?

The United Nations is headquartered in New York, USA.

Where is the headquarters of WHO?

WHO is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

Where are the IMF and the World Bank headquartered?

Both are headquartered in Washington DC, USA.

Where is the WTO headquartered?

The WTO is headquartered in Geneva.

Where is SAARC headquartered?

SAARC is headquartered in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Where is ASEAN headquartered?

ASEAN is headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Where is OPEC headquartered?

OPEC is headquartered in Vienna, Austria.

Where is UNESCO headquartered?

UNESCO is headquartered in Paris, France.

Does BRICS have a headquarters?

BRICS has no permanent headquarters, but its New Development Bank is in Shanghai.

Where is the International Solar Alliance headquartered?

It is headquartered in Gurugram, India.

Is this topic asked in SSC exams?

Yes. Questions on international organisations are asked often in SSC General Awareness papers.

How many questions come from this topic in SSC exams?

Usually one question, but the number changes from year to year.