The headquarters of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) are situated in which of the following cities?

Introduction / Context:
The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations and plays a central role in settling legal disputes between states and giving advisory opinions on legal questions. Knowing its location is part of basic international organisation awareness, which is frequently tested in competitive examinations. This question asks the candidate to identify the city where the ICJ is headquartered.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The body mentioned is the International Court of Justice, also abbreviated as ICJ.
• Four cities are given as options: Stockholm, Geneva, London, and The Hague.
• Only one of these is the correct headquarters of the ICJ.
• We assume that the student has a general idea of where major international courts are located.

Concept / Approach:
The International Court of Justice is located in The Hague in the Netherlands. The city is known as an international centre for legal institutions, also hosting the International Criminal Court and several other tribunals. Geneva, London, and Stockholm are important cities for diplomacy and governance, but none of them serves as the seat of the ICJ. Recognising the association between The Hague and international justice is the key to answering this question correctly.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the International Court of Justice is often referred to in textbooks as being based in The Hague.Step 2: Check the list of options given in the question and locate The Hague.Step 3: Confirm that none of the other cities is typically associated with the ICJ headquarters.Step 4: Remember that Geneva hosts other UN bodies such as the World Health Organization and the Human Rights Council, but not the ICJ itself.Step 5: Select The Hague as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Another way to verify is to recall images or descriptions of the Peace Palace, which houses the International Court of Justice. The Peace Palace is located in The Hague and is one of the most recognisable symbols of international law. Reference books on international institutions clearly identify The Hague as the legal capital of the world, which further confirms that this city is the headquarters of the ICJ.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, Stockholm, is wrong because it is the capital of Sweden and is not associated with the headquarters of the International Court of Justice.Option B, Geneva, is wrong because although it hosts many international organisations, it does not house the ICJ.Option C, London, is wrong because it is an important global city but not the seat of the International Court of Justice.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often confuse Geneva and The Hague because both cities are strongly associated with the United Nations system. Some may also think that because the UN main headquarters are in New York, major judicial bodies must also be there, which is not the case for the ICJ. To avoid such confusion, it is useful to remember a simple mapping: New York for the UN General Assembly and Security Council, Geneva for several specialised agencies, and The Hague for the principal judicial organ, the International Court of Justice.

Final Answer:
The Hague