United Nations and Security Council Notes for UPSC

The United Nations (UN) is the largest international organisation in the world, created to maintain peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, promote human rights and encourage economic and social progress. India was a founding member and has been among the strongest supporters of the UN, while demanding reform of its decision-making bodies, especially the Security Council. For the UPSC Civil Services Examination, the UN is a regular topic: Prelims asks about organs, agencies, headquarters and elections, and Mains asks about UN reforms, peacekeeping and India's bid for a permanent seat. This note explains the topic in simple language.

Origin of the United Nations

The League of Nations, formed after the First World War, failed to stop the Second World War. During the war, leaders of the Allied powers discussed a new body. The name "United Nations" was first used in the Declaration by United Nations in 1942. The UN Charter was signed in San Francisco on 26 June 1945 by 50 countries (Poland signed later to make 51 original members) and came into force on 24 October 1945, which is celebrated as United Nations Day. India was among the original members, even before independence. The UN now has 193 member states, and South Sudan, which joined in 2011, is the newest. Its headquarters is in New York, on land donated by the Rockefeller family. The official languages are six: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

Principal Organs of the UN

The Security Council (UNSC)

The UNSC has 15 members: five permanent members (P5) with veto power, which are the USA, UK, France, Russia and China, and ten non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms, with no veto and no immediate re-election. Non-permanent seats are divided by region: five for Africa and Asia, one for Eastern Europe, two for Latin America and the Caribbean, and two for Western Europe and others. The Council's decisions on important matters need nine affirmative votes, including the concurring votes of all the five permanent members; a "no" vote by any permanent member is a veto. The presidency rotates monthly in the English alphabetical order. Under Chapter VI of the Charter, the Council recommends peaceful settlement of disputes, and under Chapter VII it can authorise sanctions and the use of force. The UNSC also recommends the appointment of the Secretary-General and the admission of new members.

UN Specialised Agencies and Bodies

Agencies include the WHO (Geneva), FAO (Rome), UNESCO (Paris), ILO (Geneva), IMF and World Bank (Washington D.C.), UNICEF (New York), UNDP (New York), UNEP (Nairobi), UNHCR (Geneva), WIPO (Geneva) and IAEA (Vienna). The WTO is outside the UN system but is closely linked. The Human Rights Council (Geneva) has 47 members and India was re-elected many times. The UN Women, the World Food Programme and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (Bonn) work on specific issues. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 17 goals for 2030, were adopted by the UN in 2015.

UN Peacekeeping and India's Role

UN peacekeepers, called "Blue Helmets", help countries move from conflict to peace; they work with the consent of the parties, use force only in self-defence and remain neutral. India is one of the largest troop contributors to UN peacekeeping missions, having served in more than 50 missions, in places such as Congo, South Sudan, Lebanon and Golan Heights. India also contributed the first all-women police unit to a UN mission, in Liberia in 2007. India supports the UN also through contributions to its budget, help in development projects and leadership in matters like the International Day of Yoga, which was declared by the UN in 2014, and the International Year of Millets in 2023.

Why UN Security Council Reform?

The UNSC reflects the world of 1945. Africa and Latin America have no permanent seat, and India, the world's most populous country and fifth largest economy, is outside the permanent group. The veto has often blocked action on crises like Syria, Ukraine and Gaza. India, together with Brazil, Germany and Japan, forms the G4 group that supports each other's claim to a permanent seat. The Uniting for Consensus group (led by Pakistan, Italy and others) opposes new permanent seats and wants more elected seats. The L.69 group of developing countries and the African Union's Ezulwini Consensus demand more representation for the developing world. Talks happen in the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) process of the General Assembly, but progress is slow, because any change in the Charter needs the approval of two-thirds of the members, including all P5.

India's Claim to a Permanent Seat

India argues for a permanent seat on the following grounds: it has the largest population and one of the largest economies, it is a nuclear power with a good record, it has a very large contribution to peacekeeping, it is a stable democracy, and it speaks for the developing world. India has served as a non-permanent member for eight terms, the latest being 2021-22. Most P5 members, including the USA, UK, France and Russia, have in principle supported India's claim, while China has been non-committal and Pakistan strongly opposes it. A permanent seat with veto, or at least a permanent seat without immediate veto, remains India's goal.

Challenges Facing the UN

The UN faces a shortage of funds, since some big contributors delay their payments; criticism over weak response to crises; the misuse of the veto; the rise of unilateral actions; and the changing nature of threats, like cyber attacks, pandemics and climate change. Its budget depends mainly on assessed contributions, where the USA and China are the top payers. Reform of working methods, better financing, strong partnership with regional bodies and respect for international law are major needs. India supports "reformed multilateralism", in which the voice of the Global South is given real weight.

Important UN Declarations and Treaties

The UN has created many documents that shape international law. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), adopted on 10 December, which is celebrated as Human Rights Day, is the base of modern human rights law, and India's Fundamental Rights were influenced by it. The two covenants of 1966, on civil and political rights and on economic, social and cultural rights, give it legal force. Other major treaties include the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS, 1982), which defines the territorial sea, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. The UN also leads the global response on climate through the UNFCCC and on trade-related health issues through the WHO. These are very useful for answers that combine polity, rights and international law.

Role of the Secretary-General and the General Assembly

The Secretary-General is the chief administrative officer and the public face of the UN. The person is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council, so the P5 effectively decide who gets the job. The Secretary-General can bring to the Council's attention any matter that threatens peace. The General Assembly, in contrast, cannot force decisions on states; its resolutions are recommendations, though they carry moral and political weight. In emergencies, when the Security Council is blocked by a veto, the Assembly can use the Uniting for Peace resolution of 1950 to discuss the issue and recommend collective measures. Recent events in Ukraine and Gaza have seen this tool used again, and it often appears in discussions of UN reform.

Quick Revision

• UN founded: 24 October 1945; 193 members; headquarters in New York.
• UNSC: 15 members (5 permanent with veto, 10 non-permanent for 2 years); nine votes needed.
• ICJ at The Hague; 15 judges. Trusteeship Council suspended in 1994.
• G4: India, Brazil, Germany and Japan; Uniting for Consensus opposes new permanent seats.

Learn the organs and agencies in a table with their headquarters, keep the UNSC rules in mind, and prepare arguments for and against India's claim and for reform of the UN. These will help you in both Prelims and Mains.

Related Notes to Read Next

Continue your preparation with these related notes from the same subject:

• India-USA Relations Notes for UPSC
• India and West Asia Notes for UPSC
• India-Russia Relations Notes for UPSC
• All International Relations notes

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When was the United Nations established?

The UN came into existence on 24 October 1945, after the UN Charter was ratified by the majority of its original members.

How many members does the United Nations have?

The UN has 193 member states, with South Sudan as the newest member.

Where is the headquarters of the United Nations?

The headquarters of the UN is in New York City, USA.

What are the principal organs of the UN?

The six principal organs are the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice and the Secretariat.

How many members are there in the UN Security Council?

There are 15 members: five permanent members with veto power and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.

Who are the permanent members of the UNSC?

The five permanent members are the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia and China.

What is the veto power?

Veto is the power of a permanent member of the Security Council to block any substantive resolution by voting against it.

Where is the International Court of Justice located?

The ICJ is located in The Hague in the Netherlands and is the only principal organ of the UN that is not in New York.

What is the G4 group?

The G4 is a group of four countries, India, Brazil, Germany and Japan, that support each other’s bids for permanent membership of the UN Security Council.

Why does India want a permanent seat in the UNSC?

India wants it because of its large population, economic weight, contribution to peacekeeping and need to make the Security Council more representative of the present world.

How many times has India been a non-permanent member of the UNSC?

India has served eight times as a non-permanent member, most recently in 2021-22.

What are UN peacekeeping forces?

They are international military and civilian personnel sent by the UN, called Blue Helmets, to help maintain peace and security in conflict-affected areas.