{"id":65467,"date":"2025-09-28T12:12:45","date_gmt":"2025-09-28T06:42:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=65467"},"modified":"2025-09-29T17:35:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T12:05:12","slug":"india-calls-for-major-un-reforms-to-address-global-crises","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/india-calls-for-major-un-reforms-to-address-global-crises\/","title":{"rendered":"India Calls for Major UN Reforms to Address Global Crises"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>UN Reforms Latest News<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India\u2019s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed the 80th session of the UN General Assembly.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During this speech, he emphasised that the UN must be reformed and member states \u2014 led by active Global South contributors like India \u2014 must strengthen cooperation, confront terrorism, and restore multilateral credibility to meet 21st-century challenges.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>UN General Assembly<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The UN General Assembly (UNGA) is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All <\/span><b>193<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> UN member states are members (each with one vote). The <\/span><b>Holy See and Palestine<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are permanent observers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It provides a global forum for multilateral discussion of international issues \u2014 peace &amp; security, development, human rights, international law, budgetary and administrative matters.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Working<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">holds an annual <\/span><b>Regular Session<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (High-Level Week in September) plus <\/span><b>Special<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>Emergency Special Sessions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> when required.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Structure:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Six Main Committees handle substantive work:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disarmament &amp; International Security<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Economic &amp; Financial<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social, Humanitarian &amp; Cultural<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Special Political &amp; Decolonization<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative &amp; Budgetary<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Legal<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>President &amp; Bureau:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A President (<\/span><b>elected for one year<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) chairs sessions and sets procedural priorities; elected from different regional groups on rotation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Decision-Making &amp; Voting<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Important questions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (admission of members, budget, peace &amp; security recommendations) normally require a <\/span><b>two-thirds majority<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Other questions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> require a <\/span><b>simple majority<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Nature of GA decisions:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Most resolutions and declarations are <\/span><b>non-binding<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> politically influential instruments; binding enforcement is typically the Security Council\u2019s domain.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Key Powers &amp; Functions<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Approve the UN budget and apportion member contributions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Elect non-permanent members of the Security Council, members of other UN bodies and the judges of the ICJ (in conjunction with the Security Council).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recommend appointment of the Secretary-General to the Security Council.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create subsidiary organs and specialised agencies; convene world conferences.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Key Achievements &amp; Historical Impact<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948): Adopted by UNGA \u2014 foundational text in international human rights.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Decolonization: Adopted the 1960 Declaration on Granting Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and guided a major wave of decolonization through UN support and membership expansion.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development agendas: Endorsed the Millennium Declaration (MDGs) and later the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs (2015) \u2014 global compacts for development.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>The General Debate<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The general debate is part of the General Assembly session and is held at the beginning of each regular session in September.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Purpose:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Heads of state\/government and ministers present national views and priorities and respond to global issues under a chosen theme.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Speaking order &amp; practice<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Traditionally Brazil speaks first, then the United States, followed by other states in order of request and protocol.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Theme of 80<\/b><b>th<\/b><b> session &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Better Together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Presidency of 80<\/b><b>th<\/b><b> session &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Annalena Baerbock of Germany is the President of 80<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">th<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> UNGA being held in New York.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>EAM Jaishankar at the UN \u2014 Key Points &amp; Takeaways<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">EAM argued that the UN\u2019s founding Charter calls for peace and human dignity, but the <\/span><b>state of the world<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> shows the organisation struggling to deliver.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He said that the global problems (conflict, climate, development, trade, terrorism) make a compelling case <\/span><b>for more international cooperation \u2014 and urgent reform of multilateral institutions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>State of the world \u2014 Where the UN is Falling Short<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Major conflicts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Cited Ukraine and the Middle East as evidence that the UN\u2019s conflict-resolution role is under strain.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Development shortfalls<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Slow progress on the Sustainable Development Goals; resources and delivery lag.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Climate credibility at risk<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: \u201cIf climate action itself is questioned, what hope is there for climate justice?\u201d \u2014 concern over hollow commitments and creative accounting.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Economic friction<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Rising tariff volatility, technology controls, supply-chain grip, and restricted labour mobility undermine open trade and require multilateral responses.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Terrorism \u2014 An Urgent, Shared Threat<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Terrorism synthesises <\/span><b>bigotry, violence, intolerance and fear<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and remains a priority.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>India\u2019s experience<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: living next to a state that is a <\/span><b>centre for global terrorism<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> underlines the urgency.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Required measures:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> choke terrorism financing, sanction prominent terrorists, and deepen international cooperation against sponsors and sympathisers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>UN Credibility &amp; The Need for Reform<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The UN is <\/span><b>\u201cin a state of crisis\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: gridlock has reduced its ability to build common ground and weakened belief in multilateralism.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Security Council reform<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is essential \u2014 expand both <\/span><b>permanent and non-permanent<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> membership to reflect contemporary realities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>India and the Global South \u2014 Readiness to Lead<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>India stands ready to assume greater responsibilities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and the Global South must contribute more actively.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cited India\u2019s international role: <\/span><b>development projects, crisis response, safe commerce, and security assistance<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Call for countries that can engage all sides (e.g., in Ukraine and the Middle East) to step up mediation and search for solutions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Principles for Action \u2014 Cooperation, Empathy, Common Purpose<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">International cooperation must prevail; <\/span><b>islands of prosperity cannot flourish in an ocean of turbulence<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A functioning world order requires <\/span><b>common purpose and empathy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 the UN should be the forum to enable that.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Reforming multilateralism<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is presented as the obvious, necessary path forward.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Source:<\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/un-is-gridlocked-and-needs-reform-says-jaishankar-at-united-nations-general-assembly\/article70103257.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">TH<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> | <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/research.un.org\/en\/docs\/ga\/generaldebate#:~:text=The%20general%20debate%20is%20part,of%20the%20regular%20session%20agenda.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UN<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> | <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/gadebate.un.org\/en\/80\/india\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UNGA<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>EAM S. Jaishankar at UNGA calls for urgent UN reforms, citing terrorism, climate change, development issues, and pressing for Security Council expansion.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":65613,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[60,2942,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-65467","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-mains-articles","9":"tag-un-reforms","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65467","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=65467"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65467\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/65613"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65467"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65467"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65467"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}