About the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
- The UNSC is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN), with the primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security.
- Under the UN Charter, all member states must comply with UNSC decisions.
- It determines threats to peace, recommends settlement methods, imposes sanctions, and authorizes military actions.
Structure and Membership
- The UNSC consists of 15 members, each having one vote.
- Five permanent members (P5) with veto power:
- China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
- Ten non-permanent members, elected by the UN General Assembly for two-year terms, with equitable geographical representation:
- 5 from Africa/Asia, 1 from Eastern Europe, 2 from Latin America, and 2 from Western Europe/others
- The UNSC is headquartered at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.
G4 Nations’ Position and India’s Advocacy
- India, Brazil, Germany, and Japan (G4) are actively advocating UNSC reform. At a recent IGN meeting, India’s Permanent Representative declared the current UNSC structure outdated, no longer reflecting contemporary geopolitical realities.
- The G4 proposal calls for:
- Expanding the Council from 15 to 25 or 26 members
- Including 11 permanent members and 14–15 non-permanent members
- Encouraging Member States to submit models to enable formal negotiations.
