Class | Subject | Book | Chapter | Session | Questions covered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XII | Political Science | Contemporary World Politics (NCERT) | 4 – International Organisations | 2026-27 | 12 of 12 |
Chapter at a glance
Topic | Key point |
|---|---|
United Nations | Founded 24 October 1945 (successor to the League of Nations); 193 members; objective – prevent conflict, maintain peace and security, promote cooperation |
Principal organs | General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, International Court of Justice, Secretariat (Trusteeship Council – suspended) |
Security Council | 5 permanent members (USA, Russia, UK, France, China) with veto + 10 non-permanent members (2-year terms) |
Specialised agencies | IAEA, WHO, UNDP, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNESCO, etc. |
Bretton Woods/others | IMF – global financial system; World Bank – development; WTO (1995, successor to GATT) – free trade |
UN reform | Structures and processes (Security Council expansion, more representation) and issues (peacekeeping, development, terrorism, human rights) |
India’s claim | Founding member, largest democracy, second most populous, peacekeeping contributor, growing economy |
Exercises
Mark correct or wrong against each of the following statements about the veto power. a. Only the permanent members of the Security Council possess the veto power. b. It’s a kind of negative power. c. The Secretary-General uses this power when not satisfied with any decision. d. One veto can stall a Security Council resolution.
Answer
Answer
Statement | Correct/Wrong |
|---|---|
a | Correct |
b | Correct |
c | Wrong – the Secretary-General has no veto |
d | Correct |
a – Correct; b – Correct; c – Wrong; d – Correct.
Mark correct or wrong against each of the following statements about the way the UN functions. a. All security and peace related issues are dealt with in the Security Council. b. Humanitarian policies are implemented by the main organs and specialised agencies spread across the globe. c. Having consensus among the five permanent members on security issues is vital for its implementation. d. The members of the General Assembly are automatically the members of all other principal organs and specialised agencies of the UN.
Answer
Answer
Statement | Correct/Wrong |
|---|---|
a | Wrong – the General Assembly also discusses peace and security issues (e.g. ‘Uniting for Peace’) |
b | Correct |
c | Correct |
d | Wrong – membership of other organs is by election or separate rules |
a – Wrong; b – Correct; c – Correct; d – Wrong.
Which among the following would give more weightage to India’s proposal for permanent membership in the Security Council? a. Nuclear capability b. It has been a member of the UN since its inception c. It is located in Asia d. India’s growing economic power and stable political system
Answer
Answer
(d) India’s growing economic power and stable democratic political system give the most weight to its claim.
- India’s growing economic power and stable political system.
The UN agency concerned with the safety and peaceful use of nuclear technology is: a. The UN Committee on Disarmament b. International Atomic Energy Agency c. UN International Safeguard Committee d. None of the above
Answer
Answer
(b) International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
- International Atomic Energy Agency.
WTO is serving as the successor to which of the following organisations: a. General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs b. General Arrangement on Trade and Tariffs c. World Health Organisation d. UN Development Programme
Answer
Answer
(a) General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT, 1948–1994); the WTO was set up in 1995.
- General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs.
Fill in the blanks. a. The prime objective of the UN is ______. b. The highest functionary of the UN is called ______. c. The UN Security Council has ______ permanent and ______ non-permanent members. d. ______ is the present UN Secretary-General.
Answer
Answer
- maintaining international peace and security (preventing war)
2. the Secretary-General
- five permanent and ten non-permanent members
- António Guterres (Portugal; since 2017)
- maintaining international peace and security; b. Secretary-General; c. 5 and 10; d. António Guterres.
Match the principal organs and agencies of the UN with their functions: 1. Economic and Social Council 2. International Court of Justice 3. International Atomic Energy Agency 4. Security Council 5. UN High Commission for Refugees 6. World Trade Organisation 7. International Monetary Fund 8. General Assembly 9. World Health Organisation 10. Secretariat — a. Oversees the global financial system b. Preservation of international peace and security c. Looks into the economic and social welfare of the member countries d. Safety and peaceful use of nuclear technology e. Resolves disputes between and among member countries f. Provides shelter and medical help during emergencies g. Debates and discusses global issues h. Administration and coordination of UN affairs i. Providing good health for all j. Facilitates free trade among member countries
Answer
Answer
Organ/agency | Function |
|---|---|
1. Economic and Social Council | c |
2. International Court of Justice | e |
3. International Atomic Energy Agency | d |
4. Security Council | b |
5. UN High Commission for Refugees | f |
6. World Trade Organisation | j |
7. International Monetary Fund | a |
8. General Assembly | g |
9. World Health Organisation | i |
10. Secretariat | h |
1–c, 2–e, 3–d, 4–b, 5–f, 6–j, 7–a, 8–g, 9–i, 10–h.
What are the functions of the Security Council?
Answer
Answer
The Security Council is primarily responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security. Its functions:
- Investigating disputes or situations that might lead to international friction and recommending methods of settlement.
- Determining the existence of a threat to peace or act of aggression and recommending action.
- Imposing economic sanctions and other measures (e.g. arms embargoes, travel bans).
- Authorising military action against an aggressor (collective security) and peacekeeping operations.
- Recommending the admission of new members and the appointment of the Secretary-General to the General Assembly.
- Electing, with the General Assembly, the judges of the International Court of Justice.
- Regulating armaments.
Its decisions are binding on all members; permanent members can veto substantive decisions.
The Security Council maintains international peace and security: it investigates disputes, determines threats and aggression, imposes sanctions, authorises military action and peacekeeping, recommends admission of members and the Secretary-General, and with the General Assembly elects ICJ judges; its decisions bind all members.
As a citizen of India, how would you support India’s candidature for the permanent membership of the Security Council? Justify your proposal.
Answer
Answer
- Population – India is the most populous country, about one-sixth of humanity; its inclusion makes the Council more representative.
- Democracy – the world’s largest democracy with a stable, pluralistic political system.
- Economic power – among the fastest-growing major economies (fifth largest; G-20 member).
- UN contribution – a founding member; one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping missions; regular payment of dues.
- Responsible nuclear power – no-first-use policy and commitment to disarmament.
- Leadership of developing countries – role in NAM, G-77, climate and trade negotiations; voice of the Global South.
- Commitment to multilateralism and the UN Charter.
Hence India deserves a permanent seat to make the Security Council more democratic and reflective of present-day realities.
India deserves a permanent seat as the most populous country and largest democracy, a growing economic power, a founding member and leading peacekeeping contributor, a responsible nuclear power and a voice of developing countries – making the Council more representative.
Critically evaluate the difficulties involved in implementing the suggested reforms to reconstruct the UN.
Answer
Answer
Suggested reforms: expansion of the Security Council (more permanent and non-permanent seats), restricting or abolishing the veto, greater representation of Asia, Africa and Latin America, improved peacekeeping, financial reforms, strengthening the General Assembly.
Difficulties
- Amendment requires the consent of the P-5 – any change in the Charter needs a two-thirds majority of the General Assembly and ratification by all five permanent members, who are reluctant to share their privileges.
- No agreement on criteria for new permanent members – economic power, military power, population, democracy, contribution to the UN, regional representation.
- Regional rivalries – Pakistan opposes India; Italy opposes Germany; Argentina/Mexico oppose Brazil; African countries cannot agree on representatives (Uniting for Consensus group).
- Veto question – whether new members should get the veto.
- Fear of a less effective Council – a larger Council may make decisions slower.
- Financial constraints and dependence on major powers for funds.
Evaluation: although almost everyone agrees that the UN needs reform, the conflicting interests of member states make it very difficult; progress has been slow despite decades of debate.
Reforms need P-5 consent, and they resist losing privileges; members disagree on criteria, regional rivals block each other, the veto issue is unresolved, and a bigger Council may be less efficient – so reform, though widely accepted as necessary, remains stalled.
Though the UN has failed in preventing wars and related miseries, nations prefer its continuation. What makes the UN an indispensable organisation?
Answer
Answer
- Forum for dialogue – the only global body where all 193 countries can discuss issues, reduce tensions and negotiate.
- Prevents escalation – it has helped resolve or contain many conflicts and provides peacekeeping (e.g. Cyprus, Lebanon, Congo, South Sudan).
- Humanitarian work – food, health, refugee and disaster relief through UNHCR, WFP, UNICEF, WHO.
- Development and cooperation – UNDP, Sustainable Development Goals, technical assistance to poor countries.
- Global problems – climate change, pandemics, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, human rights can only be tackled collectively.
- International law and norms – human rights conventions, the law of the sea, the ICJ.
- Space for small countries – the General Assembly gives every country a voice; it also provides a forum where US policies can be debated and checked.
- Interdependence – in an interconnected world of over seven billion people, an organisation like the UN is essential.
It is the only universal forum for dialogue, helps contain conflicts through peacekeeping, delivers humanitarian and development assistance, addresses global problems, builds international law and gives small nations a voice – indispensable in an interdependent world.
‘Reforming the UN means restructuring of the Security Council.’ Do you agree with this statement? Give arguments for or against this position.
Answer
Answer
Partly agree.
Arguments for
- The Security Council is the most powerful organ – its decisions are binding; its composition (P-5 of 1945) no longer reflects present realities.
- Veto allows one member to block action, as in Syria and Ukraine.
- Under-representation of Asia, Africa, Latin America; developing countries want a greater voice.
- Expanding membership (e.g. India, Brazil, Germany, Japan, an African country) would increase legitimacy and effectiveness.
Arguments against
- UN reform also means reform of processes and issues – making the General Assembly more effective, strengthening the ECOSOC, improving peacekeeping, and better coordination of agencies.
- Financial reforms – ensuring adequate and fair funding, reducing waste.
- New issues – terrorism, human rights (Human Rights Council), climate change, development (SDGs), Peacebuilding Commission.
- Transparency and accountability of the Secretariat.
Conclusion: restructuring the Security Council is the central part of UN reform, but reform must also cover the UN’s other organs, finances and its ability to deal with new global challenges.
Partly – restructuring the Security Council (its outdated P-5 composition, the veto and under-representation of developing regions) is central to reform, but reform must also strengthen the General Assembly and agencies, finances, peacekeeping and responses to new issues like terrorism, human rights and climate change.
Topic checklist
- ☒ UN organs, veto and functioning (Q 1, 2, 6, 7, 8)
- ☒ Specialised agencies, WTO, IMF (Q 4, 5, 7)
- ☒ UN reform and India’s claim (Q 3, 9, 10, 12)
- ☒ Relevance of the UN (Q 11)