Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: International Development Association (IDA)
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
The term World Bank Group refers not to a single institution but to a family of related organisations that provide finance and advice for development. Many general knowledge questions ask which institution is or is not part of the World Bank Group. Knowing the exact composition of this group is essential for scoring correctly in such questions.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The World Bank Group is composed of five institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Development Association, the International Finance Corporation, the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes. Among the options, only the International Development Association appears in that list. The other organisations are separate UN agencies or international bodies but not members of the World Bank Group.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the five World Bank Group institutions: IBRD, IDA, IFC, MIGA and ICSID.
Step 2: Compare each option with this list. IMF is not listed; it is a separate international financial institution.
Step 3: Note that the International Development Association, IDA, is explicitly one of the five institutions.
Step 4: Recognise that the International Labour Organisation and the International Telecommunication Union are specialised agencies of the UN, not part of the World Bank Group.
Step 5: WHO is also a UN specialised agency dealing with health. Therefore, the only correct choice is IDA.
Verification / Alternative check:
A quick verification technique is to remember that the World Bank Group focuses on development finance and investment. Institutions whose names explicitly mention development, finance, reconstruction or investment are more likely to be part of this group. IDA fits this pattern and is often mentioned together with IBRD when discussing World Bank lending. Official World Bank documents always list IDA as part of the group, confirming that it is a correct answer.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, IMF, is wrong because although it often works alongside the World Bank, it is a separate organisation responsible for global monetary cooperation and exchange rate stability.
Option C, ILO, is wrong because the International Labour Organisation is a UN specialised agency that sets labour standards and does not serve as a World Bank lending institution.
Option D, ITU, is wrong since the International Telecommunication Union regulates global telecommunications and radio spectrum, again as a UN specialised agency.
Option E, WHO, is wrong because the World Health Organisation is dedicated to public health and is not part of the World Bank Group.
Common Pitfalls:
Students often confuse all financial institutions with the World Bank Group and think that IMF must be included automatically. Others assume that any organisation with the word International in its name might be part of the World Bank. To avoid this, simply memorise the five member institutions of the World Bank Group and treat IMF as a separate but related body.
Final Answer:
One of the five institutions that form the World Bank Group is the International Development Association (IDA).
Discussion & Comments