UPSC Mains 2019 GS Paper 2 Q10: model answer
‘Too little cash, too much politics, leaves UNESCO fighting for life.’ Discuss the statement in the light of US’ withdrawal and its accusation of the cultural body as being ‘anti-Israel bias’.
What the question wants
Discuss UNESCO's financial and political crisis in the light of the US withdrawal and its charge of anti-Israel bias.
How to structure it
Discuss in the light of: the crisis, causes, India's view.
- The crisis
- Why the US left
- Effects
- Later developments
How to think it through
The US cut funding after Palestine was admitted in 2011, about 22% of the budget. It left in 2018, rejoined in 2023, and announced another withdrawal in 2025. Show the money and the politics.
Model answer
In 2011 UNESCO admitted Palestine as a full member. Under US law, Washington stopped paying its dues, about 22% of UNESCO's budget. The agency has been short of money and caught in politics ever since.
Why the US left
- Resolutions on Jerusalem's Old City and Hebron sites, which the US and Israel called anti-Israel.
- Unpaid dues of over $500 million.
- The US left at the end of 2018, as did Israel.
Effects
- Budget cuts, frozen posts and fewer programmes in education and science.
- Greater influence of other funders, including China.
- Doubts about UNESCO's neutrality and its heritage listing process.
Later developments
The US rejoined in 2023 and pledged to clear its dues, then announced in 2025 that it would leave again, with effect from the end of 2026.
India's view
India supports UNESCO's role in heritage, education and science, and backs reform through dialogue rather than exit.
The statement is fair: specialised agencies survive on trust and money, and politics drains both. UNESCO's future depends on broadening its funding and keeping its focus on education, science and culture.
Draw: A UNESCO building with a funding tank draining from a pipe labelled 'politics'.
Keywords, cases and data to drop in
Palestine admission 2011, US funding cut (22%), withdrawal 2018, rejoining 2023, 2025 withdrawal announcement, World Heritage politicisation, assessed vs voluntary contributions.
Where most answers lose marks
- Ignoring the 'too little cash' half.
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Question text as printed in the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) question paper. The model answer is original Battle IAS work; use it to learn structure, not to memorise.
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