Which of the following international financial institutions is often referred to as the “World Bank” in common usage?

Introduction / Context:
This question is about international financial institutions and their common names. Students preparing for competitive exams must know the basic roles and full forms of organisations like the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, World Trade Organization, and others. The term “World Bank” in strict sense refers primarily to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, though in broader usage it may include other affiliated institutions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks which institution is also called the “World Bank”.
• Options include IMF, IBRD, WTO, and IDA.
• We assume that the question follows standard textbook usage, where IBRD is identified as the World Bank.
• No calculation is needed; this is purely a conceptual recall question.

Concept / Approach:
The World Bank Group is a family of institutions, with the two main ones being the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). In common and exam-oriented usage, IBRD is specifically referred to as the World Bank. It provides loans and technical assistance to middle income and creditworthy low income countries for development projects. This distinguishes it from the IMF, which focuses on balance of payments support, and the WTO, which deals with trade rules.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the World Bank Group includes IBRD and IDA, among others. Step 2: In most textbooks, the term “World Bank” is associated primarily with IBRD. Step 3: Look at the options: IMF deals with monetary cooperation; WTO handles international trade; IDA is part of the World Bank Group but is usually described separately. Step 4: Therefore, select International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) as the correct answer.
Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify by recalling standard definitions: IBRD is the main lending arm of the World Bank for middle income countries. Exam prep material typically lists “IBRD – popularly known as the World Bank” in introductory chapters on international organisations. This repeated wording reinforces the association and makes it easy to confirm the answer in memory.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• International Monetary Fund (IMF): Concerned with monetary cooperation, exchange rate stability, and short term balance of payments support, not commonly referred to as the World Bank.
• World Trade Organization (WTO): Deals with global trade rules and dispute settlement, not with long term development lending.
• International Development Association (IDA): A concessional lending arm of the World Bank Group for the poorest countries, but in exam GK the term “World Bank” is linked directly to IBRD.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes confuse the World Bank with the World Bank Group as a whole, leading them to choose IDA or think that any development lending institution could be the answer. Others mistakenly pick IMF because it is widely mentioned in the news, even though its role is different. To avoid such mistakes, it is important to remember the specific full forms and core functions of each institution.

Final Answer:
The institution commonly referred to as the “World Bank” is the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).