What Is UNSC - UPSC

The Security Council was established by the UN Charter in 1945. It is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations.

The other 5 organs of the United Nations are—the General Assembly (UNGA), the Trusteeship Council, the Economic and Social Council, the International Court of Justice, and the Secretariat.

The UNSC, with a mandate to maintain international peace and security, is the centrepiece of global multilateralism.

The Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the Security Council.

The UNSC and UNGA jointly elect judges to the International Court of Justice.

Composition

The UNSC is composed of 15 members: 5 permanent and 10 non-permanent.

Five permanent members: China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Ten non-permanent members: Elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly.

Five from African and Asian States,

One from Eastern European States,

Two from Latin American States,

Two from Western European and other States.

India’s Membership

India has served seven times in the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member and in January 2021, India entered the UNSC for the eighth time.

India has been advocating a permanent seat in UNSC.

Voting Powers

Each member of the Security Council has one vote. Decisions of the Security Council on matters are made by an affirmative vote of nine members including the concurring votes of the permanent members.

A "No" vote from one of the five permanent members blocks the passage of the resolution.

Responsibilities

The UNSC brokers peace by helping parties reach an agreement through mediation, appointing special envoys, dispatching a UN Mission or requesting the UN Secretary-General to settle the dispute.

It can also vote to extend, amend or end mission mandates.

The Security Council oversees the work of UN peace operations through periodic reports from the Secretary-General and council sessions. It alone can make decisions regarding these operations, which Member States are obligated to enforce.

What Are The Issues With UNSC

The Loss of Relevance

The council has been criticised for losing relevance and credibility.

According to India's External Affairs Minister, the UNSC has narrow leadership and a need for a new approach, hence a call to push for the “refresh button”.

Lack of Multilateralism

The council’s lack of multilateralism has also been criticised in the wake of the Syrian war crisis and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Less Representative

It was argued by several speakers that the UN Security Council is less effective because it is less representative, the most pertinent absence being that of Africa, a continent of 54 countries.

Misuse of Veto Power

Veto power has been always criticised by many experts as well as by most States calling it a “self-chosen club of the privileged” and non-democratic and not allowing the Council to make necessary decisions whenever it displeases any one of the P-5.

Taking the current world order as an example, the P5 members: United States, Russia, and China are three poles on the periphery of the globe having several geopolitical issues revolving around them (Taiwan Issue and Russia-Ukraine War).