The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the UN's six main organs, with responsibilities that include safeguarding international peace and security, recommending new UN members to the General Assembly and approving any UN Charter modifications. The UNSC consists of 15 members. China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States are the permanent members of the Security Council. In the context of the IAS Exam, this article will go over the UNSC's activities and role in world affairs in greater detail.

UNSC: An overview

• In 1945, the United Nations Charter established the Security Council. It is one of the United Nations' six primary organs.
• Its major responsibility is to work to keep the world safe and secure.
• The headquarters of the Council is located in New York.
• It is the only UN body with the capacity to provide member nations with binding resolutions.
• On the 17th of January 1947, the United Nations Council conducted its first session in London.

Members of UNSC

• There are 15 members on the council: five permanent members and ten non-permanent members who are elected for two-year terms.
• The five permanent members are the United States, Russia, France, China, and the United Kingdom.
• The United Nations General Assembly elects non-permanent members.
• In 2022, the non-permanent members are:
  • Estonia
  • India
  • Ireland
  • Kenya
  • Mexico
  • Niger
  • Norway
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Tunisia
  • Vietnam
• India joined the UNSC as a non-permanent member for the eighth time last year (2021) and will serve on the council for two years, from 2021 to 2022.
• Every year, five members of the UNSC are replaced.

Voting Powers

• Each Security Council member gets one vote. The Security Council makes decisions based on an affirmative vote of nine members, including the permanent members' concurring votes.
• The five permanent members are granted 'great power unanimity,' often known as the veto power, which implies that if any of these countries veto a resolution, it will not pass even if it receives the required 9 votes.
• Any member of the United Nations who is not a member of the Security Council may participate in the discussion of any subject presented before the Security Council without voting if the latter believes that his or her interests are particularly affected.

Role of UNSC

• The UNSC's role in international collective security is defined by the UN Charter,
  • which empowers the Security Council to investigate any situation that threatens international peace;
  • advise procedures for peaceful resolution of a dispute;
  • and call on other member nations to completely or partially disrupt economic relations, as well as sea, air, postal, and radio communications.
• The Security Council can also deploy UN peacekeeping missions and impose sanctions on states in addition to maintaining peace.
• If necessary, the UNSC can cut diplomatic relations, impose financial restrictions and penalties, blockades, and even collective military action.

India at UNSC

• In 1947-48, India actively participated in the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and spoke out strongly against racial injustice in South Africa.
• It has made significant contributions to the United Nations, particularly in the area of international peace and security.
• India has participated in 43 UN peacekeeping deployments, contributing over 160,000 troops and a large number of police officers.
• For the two-year term 2021-22, India is chosen as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. The United Nations General Assembly conducted the election, and India was elected with 184 votes out of a total of 193 votes.
• India is the only candidate for the year 2021-22 from the Asia- Pacific Region.
• This is India's eighth participation in the UN Security Council. India was a member from 1950 to 1951, 1967 to 1968, 1972 to 1973, 1977 to 1978, 1984 to 1985, 1991 to 1992, and 2011 to 2012.
• With its 5-S approach, India has pledged to promote world peace and security. The 5-S stands for

1. Samman – Respect
2. Samvad – Dialogue
3. Sahyog – Cooperation
4. Shanti – Peace
5. Samriddhi – Prosperity

• India has attempted but failed to gain admission to the United Nations Security Council's permanent membership list. Despite having a large population, a booming economy, and nuclear weapons, India is not a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
• India is a member of the G4 (India, Germany, Japan, and Brazil), which offers it an advantage in becoming one of the UNSC's permanent members.
• The claims made by India to ensure a seat of permanent membership in the UNSC is as follows:

1. India has the world's fastest-growing economy.
2. India was recently designated as a nuclear weapons state.
3. India has the world's second-biggest population and the world's largest liberal democracy.
4. In terms of purchasing power parity, the country is a major contributor to UN peacekeeping missions.

• Apart from obtaining the minimum requisite votes from other UN members, India would need to mend its ways with all UN countries in order to obtain the required votes.
• Despite the fact that it appears to be a simple procedure, it is complicated by the concerns of a few permanent members of the Security Council. China, in particular, has obstructed India's bid for permanent membership on the UN Security Council. China argues that awarding India a permanent seat on the UN Security Council will result in Indian interests taking precedence in subcontinent geopolitics, a sentiment shared by Pakistan.

Issues in the UNSC

• Transparency: The UNSC debates are exempt from the ordinary UN rules, and no recordings of its meetings are retained.
• Veto: In this day and age, the UNSC's five permanent members' veto rights are an anachronism.
• Membership: Because the UN's membership is deeply polarised, decisions are either not taken or ignored.
  • The absence of India, Germany, Brazil, and South Africa from the UN Security Council is a cause for concern.
• UNSC P5 differences: Frequently occurring divisions among the UNSC P5 (permanent 5 members) result in critical decisions being stalled.

Need for Reforms in UNSC

• Expansion of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC): The modern needs of global governance for international peace and security are considerably different, and the UNSC's governance processes require considerable adjustments.
  • The extension of permanent and non-permanent seats on the Security Council is "indispensable" in order for the UN organ to properly cope with the "ever-complex and growing challenges" to international peace and security.
• Democratization of the UNSC: Power inequalities between the P5 and the rest of the world must be addressed immediately.
  • This is required to make the UNSC more democratic and legitimate in its governance, as well as to ensure that the values of international peace, security, and order are generally upheld.
• Equitable Representation: Decentralizing the UNSC's governing power and control over nations requires equitable representation of all regions.
  • This transition would provide nations from all regions with an equal opportunity to express their concerns about issues affecting peace and democratic stability in their individual country.
  • The UNSC's decision-making processes will be decentralized, allowing it to become a more representative and participative body.
• The Importance of India's Non-Permanent Membership: India, as one of the UNSC's non-permanent members, might begin by writing a resolution offering a comprehensive set of ideas for UNSC reform.
  • It can then approach other like-minded countries (such as the G4: India, Germany, Japan, and Brazil) and expand its circle of support until a sufficient number of countries have banded together to approach the entire UNGA and offer a resolution that has a realistic possibility of passing.
  • By addressing their peace and security concerns at the UNSC, India can revitalize its engagement with its traditional friends in the "global south."
    • The small Island States and Africa, two sub-groups of the global south, should be of particular relevance in this context.

Conclusion

The power inequalities between the P5 and the rest of the world must be addressed immediately. In addition, the UN Security Council has to be reformed by increasing the number of permanent and non-permanent seats so that it can better cope with the "ever-complex and growing challenges" to international peace and security.

FAQs

Question. What is the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)?

Question. What are the primary functions of the UNSC?

Question. How many members are there in the UNSC?

Question. What powers do the permanent members of the UNSC hold?

Question. What are the major criticisms of the UNSC?

MCQs

1. How many permanent members are there in the United Nations Security Council?

A) 10

B) 5

C) 15

D) 20

2. What is the primary responsibility of the United Nations Security Council?

A) Economic development

B) Human rights enforcement

C) Maintaining international peace and security

D) International trade negotiations

3. Which of the following is a right granted to the permanent members of the UNSC?

A) Right to veto

B) Right to vote on every resolution

C) Right to approve new members of the UN

D) Right to impose sanctions

4. How are non-permanent members of the UNSC selected?

A) Appointed by the UN Secretary-General

B) Elected by the General Assembly

C) Selected by the P5 members

D) Chosen by the regional blocs for a 5-year term

5. Which of the following is NOT a function of the United Nations Security Council?

A) Approving the admission of new UN members

B) Imposing international sanctions

C) Overseeing UN peacekeeping operations

D) Deciding on matters of international trade

GS Mains Questions and Model Answer

Q1: Examine the role of the United Nations Security Council in global peacekeeping and conflict resolution.

Answer: The UNSC plays a pivotal role in global peacekeeping by authorizing peacekeeping missions, imposing sanctions, and sometimes using military force to address conflicts. It oversees the resolution of global conflicts by promoting diplomacy and cooperation among nations. Its decisions can prevent the escalation of conflicts, as seen in various cases where it authorized peacekeeping missions (e.g., in the Democratic Republic of Congo). However, its effectiveness is often hampered by the veto power of the permanent members, which can block critical decisions. Despite these challenges, the UNSC remains an essential body in international relations, maintaining global peace and security through multilateral cooperation.

Q2: Analyze the criticisms of the United Nations Security Council and suggest possible reforms.

Answer: The UNSC has faced criticism due to its veto system, which gives disproportionate power to the P5 members, preventing collective decision-making. Additionally, the UNSC's composition reflects the power dynamics of the post-World War II era, with many arguing that it no longer accurately represents global political realities. Countries like India, Brazil, and African nations have advocated for reforms, including increasing the number of permanent members to ensure better representation. The lack of accountability for inaction in crises, like in Syria, has also drawn criticism. Suggested reforms include a more representative and democratic system for electing members and revising or abolishing the veto power.

Q3: How does the veto power of the permanent members affect the functioning of the United Nations Security Council?

Answer: The veto power of the permanent members allows any of the P5 nations to block substantive decisions of the UNSC, even if a majority of members agree. This undermines the effectiveness of the UNSC, as it can prevent timely interventions in conflicts and crises, as seen in cases like the Syrian Civil War and Rwandan Genocide. The veto system often leads to deadlock in situations where global consensus on peace and security is necessary, leaving the UNSC unable to act in the face of humanitarian crises. While the veto is intended to maintain the balance of power and ensure the involvement of the major powers in decision-making, it has also led to criticism for its role in inaction.

Previous Year Questions on  UN Security Council

1. UPSC CSE 2020

Question: What are the functions of the United Nations Security Council and how does it contribute to the maintenance of global peace?

Answer: This question requires an analysis of the UNSC's role in maintaining global peace and security. The answer should cover the UNSC's peacekeeping mandates, conflict resolution activities, and its use of sanctions and military interventions to uphold international order.

2. UPSC CSE 2019

Question: Discuss the impact of the veto power on the decision-making process of the United Nations Security Council.

Answer: This question focuses on the impact of the veto power held by the permanent members of the UNSC. The answer should evaluate how the veto system has both enabled and hindered global cooperation, particularly in conflict resolution and peacekeeping efforts. The response should also discuss potential reforms to address this issue.