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a) Correct

Explanation- it is only the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council i.e. USA, Russia, United Kingdom, France and china, that possess the veto power.

b) Correct.

Explanation- veto is a kind of negative power because, while voting in the proceedings of the Security Council, all members have one vote. Any of the permanent members can vote in a negative manner in such a way that even if all other permanent and non-permanent members vote in favour, one member’s negative vote can stall the decision.

c) Incorrect

Explanation- The Secretary General is only the chief administrative officer of the Security Council. His job entails a wide range of administrative, managerial and substantive tasks and serves as representative and spokesperson of the Security Council. He has no power whatsoever regarding then decision making process.

d) Correct.

Explanation- using the power of negative vote i.e. the veto power, any of the permanent members can stall a Security Council resolution.

(a) - Correct

Explanation- security and peace related issues are dealt with in the Security Council. The Security Council establishes a peacekeeping operation by adopting a Security Council Resolution.

(b) - Correct

Explanation- specialised agencies like UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation), UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), WHO (World Health Organisation), UNDP (United Nations Development Program), UNHRC (United Nations Human Rights Commission) are one of the few agencies spread across the globe for implementation of humanitarian policies.

(c) - Correct

Explanation- Consensus among the five permanent members on security issues is vital for its implementation as veto power can be used by any of them to cast a negative vote in the Security Council which can stall decisions on such issues.

(d) - Incorrect

Explanation- the members of general assembly are not automatically the members of all other principle organs and specialised agencies of UN. They have their own separate membership.

(d) - India’s growing economic power and stable political system.

Explanation- India is one of the largest democracies of the world. India is also one of the most populous countries containing approximately 1/5^th population of the world. India has participated in virtually in all of the initiatives of the UN. It has persistent and substantial efforts in the peacekeeping role of the UN. India has also made regular financial contributions to the UN and made its payments within time. All these are few of the major preconditions required for becoming a permanent member in the Security Council and India posses them, therefore, despite the other options also carrying some weightage, Option D would give more weightage to India’s proposal for permanent membership in the UN Security Council.

Option (b) - IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) is an international body established in 1957 that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and discourage its usage for military purposes.

The UN Committee on Disarmament is concerned with promoting disarmament among nations of the world and establish peace.

The UN International Safeguard Committee aims at overall security and safety of the nations.

Option (a)

Explanation- WTO is an international organisation that sets the rules and regulations for world trade. It was a successor to the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs created after the Second World War.

Option (a)

Explanation- WTO is an international organisation that sets the rules and regulations for world trade. It was a successor to the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs created after the Second World War.

1) Economic and social council- C) Looks into the economic and social welfare of the member countries

ECOSOC i.e. the Economic and social council is UN’s principal platform for debates and discussion over various economic and social issues and sustainable development.

2) International Court of Justice- E) Resolves disputes between and among member countries

It is the primary judicial branch of the UN for solving disputes between various states.

3) International Atomic Energy Agency- D) Safety and peaceful use of nuclear technology

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons.

4) Security Council- B) Preservation of international peace and security

The United Nations Security Council is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, charged with the maintenance of international peace and security.

5) UN High Commission for Refugees- F) Provides shelter and medical help during emergencies

UNHCR is a United Nations programme mandated to protect and support refugees.

6) World Trade Organisation- J) Facilitates free trade among member countries

The WTO is an international organisation set up in 1995 to frame rules for world trade.

7) International Monetary Fund- A) Oversees the global financial system

IMF is an international body that looks after those financial institutions and regulations that act at international level.

8) General Assembly- G) Debates and discusses global issues

The general assembly is an assembly of all the member nations of the UN and debates and discussions regarding worldly issues are discussed here.

9) World Health Organisation- I) Providing good health for all

The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that is concerned with international public health.

10) Secretariat- H) Administration and coordination of UN affairs

It is one of the 6 major organs of the UN and is the executive arm of the UN.

The functions of the Security Council are-

a) The Security Council proposes methods to solve disputes among nations.

b) The Security Council elects the judges of the International Court of Justice.

c) It also appoints the Secretary General by recommending to the General assembly.

d) Military action can also be taken by the Security Council if required.

e) The Security Council can also give economic sanctions to stop any aggression.

f) The Security Council can investigate into dispute among nations if friction comes up.

It has been 70 years since India has been an independent country and India has come a long way. From being an infant nation with germinating economy, industry and polity, India has become a much developed nation and has become one of the most powerful Asian countries. Following are some of the few factors supporting India’s candidature for the permanent membership of the security council-

a) India is the largest democracy of the world and supports almost 1/5^th population of the world which makes it a representative of a substantial number of people of the world.

b) India participates in almost all of the initiatives taken by the UN.

c) India has largely supported, promoted and been a part of UN’s peacekeeping missions.

d) India has emerged as a nation that is economically sound and independent. It is one of the healthy and growing economies of the world.

e) India has also contributed financially to various initiatives of the UN and has also never faltered in making payments.

f) India has since ancient times been a country sheltering various religions of the world under one umbrella. It is an embodiment of ethnic, cultural and religious cohesiveness and has always propagated peace and cooperation which also forms the spirit of the UN.

Therefore, India is a very promising candidate for the permanent membership of the Security Council.

The difficulties involved in implementing the suggested reforms to reconstruct the UN are-

• There was no specification regarding how big an economy can become a part of the UN Security Council.

• There was also no specification regarding the required military strength of a nation for membership.

• No target regarding the required budget contribution.

• There was a clash between basis of determination of UNSC membership i.e. between geography and economic development.

• Population couldn’t be classified as an asset or a liability.

• The basis of cultural representation was also unresolved. How could one divide the world by culture and civilisation when nations contain several cultures within their borders?

• There was also a proposal regarding change in membership of the UNSC altogether. Some wanted the veto power of the UNSC members to be abolished. Others considered it to be in conflict with the concept of democracy and sovereignty of states.

The above criteria are the ones that were adopted but weren’t publically accepted and are the difficulties involved in implementing reforms to the UN.

Though the UN has failed in preventing wars and related miseries, nations prefer its continuation because without it the world would be worse off.

• There is requirement for an international body which keeps a watch over myriad activities going on over the world so that no one nation dominates over others.

• The UN makes interdependence and globalisation possible. The World Trade Organisation makes global trade possible and regulates it for free and fair trade.

• Technology is increasing planetary interdependence which makes the need for UN even more.

• The international Monetary Fund and the World Bank are organisations that help various new and developing economies of the world to grow and also prevent economic crises by maintaining economy of the world.

• UNICEF, UNESCO, WHO, UNDP etc are all international UN organisations made for humanitarian activities and are the need of the hour for the world.

• The UN works as a forum where nations can put up their disputes which can be resolved in the best way possible.

Hence, despite failing to prevent wars and related miseries, the world is in dire need of UN.