UPSC Prelims 2026 Q71: UN Peacekeeping Missions and Their Periods
Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists:
List I (UN Peacekeeping Operation) — List II (Period of Operation)
A. UNMIL
B. MINURCAT
C. MINUSTAH
D. UNMISET
List II: 1. 2007-2010 2. 2002-2005 3. 2003-2018 4. 2004-2017
- A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2
- A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
- A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
- A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
Answer: (b) A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
Statement-wise explanation
- A: correct — UNMIL is the United Nations Mission in Liberia. The UN's list of past operations dates it from September 2003 to March 2018, which is period 3 (2003-2018). India sent the world's first all-female Formed Police Unit to UNMIL in January 2007.
- B: correct — MINURCAT is the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad. Security Council Resolution 1778 set it up on 25 September 2007. Resolution 1923 ended it on 31 December 2010, after Chad asked to take over the protection of civilians itself. That is period 1 (2007-2010).
- C: correct — MINUSTAH is the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti. It ran from June 2004 to October 2017, which is period 4 (2004-2017). India sent Formed Police Units to Haiti for almost that whole time.
- D: correct — UNMISET is the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor. It ran from May 2002 to May 2005, which is period 2 (2002-2005). It took over when UNTAET, the transitional administration of 1999-2002, ended at East Timor's independence.
How to eliminate
The options pair the rows in a fixed way. A and D always share periods 2 and 3, and B and C always share periods 1 and 4. So the question is really two either-or choices. First pair: UNMISET was the 'support' mission for East Timor, set up when the country became independent in May 2002. That makes it the short 2002-2005 mission, so UNMIL must take the long 2003-2018 period. This one fact narrows four options to two. Second pair: MINURCAT was a short mission in Chad and the Central African Republic that Chad asked to wind up. MINUSTAH was Haiti's long-running mission, begun in 2004. So MINURCAT gets 2007-2010 and MINUSTAH gets 2004-2017. Words like 'only' or 'always' give no help here. To answer, you need two facts: UNMISET is the 2002-2005 East Timor mission, and MINURCAT is the short 2007-2010 mission.
Know more
UN peacekeeping missions: how to read the names
Mission names are acronyms. English names usually start with UNM- (United Nations Mission). French-derived names start with MINU- (Mission des Nations Unies). The last letters usually point to the country: -IL for Liberia, -STAH for Haiti (Stabilisation en Haïti), -ISET for East Timor, -RCAT for République Centrafricaine and Tchad.
The Security Council creates each mission by resolution, renews its mandate, and ends it. Successor missions often take over, so the dates follow on from each other:
| Mission | Country | Period (UN) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNTAET | East Timor | Oct 1999 – May 2002 | Transitional administration before independence |
| UNMISET | East Timor | May 2002 – May 2005 | Support after independence |
| UNMIT | Timor-Leste | Aug 2006 – Dec 2012 | Integrated mission after the 2006 crisis |
| UNMIL | Liberia | Sep 2003 – Mar 2018 | Post-civil-war stabilisation |
| MINUSTAH | Haiti | Jun 2004 – Oct 2017 | Stabilisation mission |
| MINURCAT | CAR and Chad | Sep 2007 – Dec 2010 | Protection of civilians; ended at Chad's request (Res. 1923) |
India's link. India is one of the largest troop contributors in UN peacekeeping history. It sent Formed Police Units (FPUs) to both Liberia and Haiti. An FPU is a self-contained unit of about 120-140 officers from one country. The all-women Indian FPU in Liberia arrived in January 2007 and served for about 10 years. According to the UN, women made up 17% of Liberia's security sector by 2016, up from 6% before the Indian contingent arrived.
Pattern to remember. A mission named 'support' or 'transitional' is usually short. A 'stabilization' mission in a post-conflict state usually runs for more than a decade.