GS2 2020 Q9 10 marks 150 words International Organizations
UPSC Mains 2020 GS2 Q9 — International Organizations
Critically examine the role of WHO in providing global health security during the Covid-19 pandemic. (Answer in 150 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- Critically examine
- Scope keywords
- role of WHOglobal health securityCovid-19 pandemic
- Implicit sub-parts
- Assess the efficacy of WHO's early warning systems and the declaration of Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
- Evaluate the coordination of global scientific research, data sharing, and COVAX initiative for vaccine equity.
- Analyze systemic constraints including funding dependencies, lack of enforcement powers, and geopolitical pressures (specifically the US-China dynamic).
- Identify necessary institutional reforms for future pandemic preparedness.
- Common pitfalls
- Writing a chronological history of the pandemic rather than evaluating the WHO as an institution.
- Focusing solely on failures without acknowledging technical successes like the Solidarity Trials or standardizing treatment protocols.
- Ignoring the legal limitations of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) which define what the WHO can and cannot do.
- Neglecting the 'equity' dimension—how WHO struggled or succeeded in helping the Global South vs the Global North.
- Dimensions required
- Institutional/Legal (IHR frameworks)Geopolitical (Power dynamics and funding)Socio-Economic (Equity and vaccine distribution)Scientific/Technical (Norm-setting and data dissemination)
- Marks allocation hint
Spend 20 words on the introduction/mandate. Allocate 50 words to the positive contributions (norms, COVAX) and 50 words to the critical gaps (delays, lack of teeth). Use the final 30 words for institutional reforms and a balanced conclusion.
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