Why in the news?

  • At the IBSA meet  Indian Prime Minister called for UNSC reforms stating that it is ‘  no longer an option but a necessity’

United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

  • Formation: The Security Council was established by the UN Charter in 1945.
  • Aim: Its primary responsibility is to work to maintain international peace and security.
  • Headquarters: New York, USA
  • Membership:
    • The council has 15 members, the five permanent members and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.
    • Permanent members are the United States, the Russian Federation, France, China and the United Kingdom.
    • The ten non-permanent seats are distributed on a regional basis.
    • The council’s presidency is a capacity that rotates every month among its 15 members.

UN Security Council Reforms

  • Need of Reforms:
    • Change in World Order: The global order has seen massive changes from US hegemony to multilateralism. The UNSC does not reflect these changes.
    • Emergence of the Developing Nations: Developing nations, including India, now play a larger role in both the international economy and politics. But in UNSC all critical decisions are still being taken by the veto-wielding permanent members.
    • Geopolitical Rivalry Among Permanent Members: This reduced the role of UNSC in tackling global problems and crises. Eg: conflicting stands in Ukraine- Russia war.
    • Tackling Global Problems: Like terrorism, poverty and development, climate change requires a collective effort.
    • To Reduce the Democratic Deficit: By increasing the participation from the various regions of the world.
  • Proposed Reforms: Encompasses five issues-
    • Categories of membership.
    • The question of the veto held by the five permanent members.
    • Regional representation.
    • The size of an enlarged Council and its working methods.
    • The Security Council-General Assembly relationship.
  • India’s Demand for a Permanent Membership:
    • India is the world’s largest democracy and Asia’s third largest economy.
    • India is among the founding members of the UN.
    • The Indian Army is the largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping mission since the inception of the mission (India has over 8000 peacekeepers, which is more than twice that of the P5 group). 
    • India’s foreign policy has historically been aligned with world peace, and not with conflicts. 
    • It will be able to play a larger role concerning pressing international issues.
    • India has consistently supported the purposes and principles of the UN and has made significant contributions towards implementing the goals of the UN Charter.
  • Roadblocks:
    • Russia, China and the US are opposed to any major restructuring.
    • China’s motive to reduce the significance of India in the Asian region.
    • Any reform of the Security Council requires the agreement of at least two-thirds of UN member states and that of all the permanent members of the UNSC enjoying the veto right.
  • Way Ahead:
    • The UNSC must be open to the demands from the developing countries for permanent membership.
    • The G4 nations should continue their efforts to attain reforms in the council.

Source: The Hindu