UPSC Prelims 2026Question 71International Relations

Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists: — List I (UNPeacekeeping Operation) — List II (Period of Operation); A. — UNMIL — 1. — 2007-2010; B. — MINURCAT — 2. — 2002-2005; C. — MINUSTAH — 3. — 2003-2018; D. — UNMISET — 4. — 2004-2017 Code:

Options

(a)3 — 4 — 1 — 2
(b)3 — 1 — 4 — 2
(c)2 — 1 — 4 — 3
(d)2 — 4 — 1 — 3

Correct answer: b

Explanation

Correct Answer

(b) A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2

Explanation of the Correct Answer

The correct matching is:

UN Peacekeeping Operation	Full Form	Area / Country	Period of Operation
UNMIL	United Nations Mission in Liberia	Liberia	2003–2018
MINURCAT	United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad	Chad and Central African Republic	2007–2010
MINUSTAH	United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti	Haiti	2004–2017
UNMISET	United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor	East Timor / Timor-Leste	2002–2005

Therefore:

A. UNMIL → 3. 2003–2018
B. MINURCAT → 1. 2007–2010
C. MINUSTAH → 4. 2004–2017
D. UNMISET → 2. 2002–2005

Hence, the correct answer is (b). UNMIL was established in 2003 and completed its mandate on 30 March 2018; MINURCAT ended on 31 December 2010; MINUSTAH was established in 2004; and UNMISET was created in 2002. (unmil.unmissions.org)

Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Option	Matching Given	Verdict	Reason
(a)	A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2	Incorrect	UNMIL and UNMISET are correctly matched, but MINURCAT was 2007–2010, not 2004–2017; MINUSTAH was 2004–2017, not 2007–2010.
(b)	A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2	Correct	All four peacekeeping operations are correctly matched with their periods.
(c)	A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3	Incorrect	MINURCAT and MINUSTAH are correct, but UNMIL was 2003–2018, not 2002–2005; UNMISET was 2002–2005, not 2003–2018.
(d)	A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3	Incorrect	All four are incorrectly matched.

Relevant Supplementary Information

Important UN Peacekeeping Missions and Their Locations

Mission	Full Name	Region / Country	Period	Purpose / Context
UNMIL	United Nations Mission in Liberia	Liberia, West Africa	2003–2018	Supported ceasefire, peace process, rule of law, and post-civil war stabilization.
MINURCAT	United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad	Chad and CAR	2007–2010	Protected refugees and civilians affected by the Darfur conflict spillover.
MINUSTAH	United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti	Haiti, Caribbean	2004–2017	Helped restore stability after political unrest and armed conflict.
UNMISET	United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor	Timor-Leste, Southeast Asia	2002–2005	Supported newly independent Timor-Leste in administration, security, and governance.
UNMISS	United Nations Mission in South Sudan	South Sudan	2011–present	Civilian protection and peace support after South Sudan’s independence.
MONUSCO	UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DR Congo	Democratic Republic of Congo	2010–present	Protection of civilians and stabilization in eastern DRC.

Key Takeaways from the Table

UNMIL = Liberia = 2003–2018
MINURCAT = Chad and Central African Republic = 2007–2010
MINUSTAH = Haiti = 2004–2017
UNMISET = East Timor / Timor-Leste = 2002–2005
The suffix “STAH” in MINUSTAH can help recall Haiti.
UNMISET is linked to East Timor’s transition after independence.

Context and Current Relevance

UN peacekeeping missions are deployed mainly in conflict-affected regions to support ceasefires, civilian protection, institution-building, and post-conflict reconstruction.
India has historically been one of the major troop-contributing countries to UN peacekeeping operations.
Such missions reflect the UN Security Council’s role in maintaining international peace and security.

UN peacekeeping missions are authorized mainly to support ceasefires, protect civilians, assist political transitions, and stabilize post-conflict regions.
India remains strongly associated with UN peacekeeping through troop contribution and historical participation.
Current missions are concentrated mainly in Africa and West Asia, reflecting continuing conflict and state-building challenges in these regions.

Table: Important UN Peacekeeping Operations and Their Periods

Mission	Full Form	Country / Region	Period of Operation	Broad Purpose / Context
UNMIL	United Nations Mission in Liberia	Liberia	2003–2018	Post-civil war stabilization, disarmament, security sector reform, and democratic transition.
MINURCAT	United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad	Chad and Central African Republic	2007–2010	Protection of refugees, displaced persons, and civilians affected by the Darfur conflict spillover.
MINUSTAH	United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti	Haiti	2004–2017	Stabilization after political unrest and armed conflict in Haiti.
UNMISET	United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor	East Timor / Timor-Leste	2002–2005	Supported newly independent Timor-Leste in administration, governance, and security.
UNOCI	United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire	Côte d’Ivoire	2004–2017	Supported peace process after civil conflict and helped stabilize the country.
UNMIS	United Nations Mission in the Sudan	Sudan	2005–2011	Supported implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between North and South Sudan.
UNAMID	African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur	Darfur, Sudan	2007–2020	Protection of civilians and support for peace efforts in Darfur.
UNAMSIL	United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone	Sierra Leone	1999–2005	Helped end civil war and supported disarmament, demobilization, and elections.
UNTAET	United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor	East Timor / Timor-Leste	1999–2002	Transitional administration before Timor-Leste’s independence.
UNMEE	United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea	Ethiopia and Eritrea	2000–2008	Monitored ceasefire after the Ethiopia-Eritrea war.
UNMIT	United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste	Timor-Leste	2006–2012	Restored stability after internal political and security crisis.
ONUB	United Nations Operation in Burundi	Burundi	2004–2006	Supported peace agreement and transition after civil war.

The official UN Peacekeeping page lists UNMIL as Sep 2003–Mar 2018, MINURCAT as Sep 2007–Dec 2010, and other past operations by country and period. (UN Peacekeeping)

Table: Current UN Peacekeeping Operations

Mission	Full Form / Area	Region	Status
MINURSO	UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara	Western Sahara	Current
MINUSCA	UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic	Central African Republic	Current
MONUSCO	UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo	D.R. Congo	Current
UNDOF	UN Disengagement Observer Force	Golan Heights	Current
UNFICYP	UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus	Cyprus	Current
UNIFIL	UN Interim Force in Lebanon	Lebanon	Current
UNISFA	UN Interim Security Force for Abyei	Abyei	Current
UNMIK	UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo	Kosovo	Current
UNMISS	UN Mission in South Sudan	South Sudan	Current
UNMOGIP	UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan	India and Pakistan	Current
UNTSO	UN Truce Supervision Organization	Middle East	Current

As of the UN Peacekeeping page updated on 15 May 2026, there are 11 current UN peacekeeping operations listed. (UN Peacekeeping)

Key Takeaways from the Tables

Pattern	How to Remember
UNMIL	“MIL” can be linked with Liberia; it ran from 2003–2018.
MINURCAT	“CAT” helps recall Central African Republic and Chad; it ran from 2007–2010.
MINUSTAH	“STAH” is linked with Haiti; it ran from 2004–2017.
UNMISET	Linked to East Timor / Timor-Leste after independence; it ran from 2002–2005.
UNTAET and UNMISET	Both are connected with East Timor / Timor-Leste, but UNTAET came before independence and UNMISET came after independence.
UNMISS and UNMIS	UNMIS was for Sudan before South Sudan’s independence; UNMISS is for South Sudan after independence.

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