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United Nations Organisation (UNO) and Its Agencies

International Relations — United Nations Organisation (UNO) and Its Agencies

United Nations Organisation - UN Headquarters
Figure 1: The United Nations Organisation (UNO) and its specialized agencies are frequently tested in UPSC Preliminary and Mains examinations.

1. United Nations Organisation (UNO)

BASIC INFORMATION

  • Established: 1945
  • Headquarters: New York, USA
  • Member Countries: 193 countries (South Sudan is the latest member)
  • The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization that was established to promote international cooperation and maintain peace and security among its member states.
  • The UN has a total of 193 member states, with South Sudan being the latest one.
  • Official Languages: In all organs of the UN other than the ICJ, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Arabic and Spanish are the official languages, and English and French are the working languages.
  • Two non-member observer states of the UNGA:
    • The Holy See (holds sovereignty over Vatican City)
    • The State of Palestine

UN Bodies Which Have Won Nobel Prize

  • UN World Food Programme
  • Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
  • IPCC
  • International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
  • United Nations
  • United Nations Peacekeeping Forces
  • International Labor Organization (ILO)
  • UNICEF
  • UNHCR
  • Ralph Bunche (UN mediator in Palestine during the 1948 conflict)
KNOWLEDGE NUGGET

  • UNO Established: 1945 (after World War II)
  • Headquarters: New York, USA
  • Total Members: 193 (South Sudan is the latest)
  • Official Languages: 6 (Chinese, English, French, Russian, Arabic, Spanish)
  • Working Languages: English and French
  • Observer States: Holy See (Vatican) and State of Palestine

2. Organs of the UNO

2.1 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)

BASIC INFORMATION

  • Established: 1945
  • Headquarters: New York, USA
  • Member Countries: 193
  • Observer States: 2 (Holy See and State of Palestine)
  • The General Assembly is the main deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ of the UN.
  • All 193 Member States of the UN are represented in the General Assembly.
  • Each year, in September, the full UN membership meets in the General Assembly Hall in New York for the annual General Assembly session.
  • Voting Requirements:
    • Two-thirds majority for important questions (peace and security, admission of new members, budgetary matters).
    • Simple majority for other questions.
  • The President of the General Assembly is elected annually by the assembly to serve a one-year term of office.

2.2 United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

  • It has a primary responsibility to maintain international peace and security.
  • The Security Council is made up of 15 member states:
    • 5 permanent members – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
    • 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly on a regional basis.
  • "Veto power" refers to the power of the permanent member to veto (reject) any resolution of the Security Council.

2.3 United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

  • It is the principal body for coordination, policy review, policy dialogue, and recommendations on economic, social, and environmental issues, as well as implementation of internationally agreed development goals.
  • It has 54 Members, elected by the General Assembly for overlapping three-year terms.
  • It is the United Nations' central platform for reflection, debate, and innovative thinking on sustainable development.
  • It coordinates the work of the UN specialized agencies and issues policy recommendations to the UN system and Member States.

2.4 United Nations Trusteeship Council

  • It was established in 1945 by the UN Charter, under Chapter XIII.
  • Trust territory is a non-self-governing territory placed under administrative authority by the Trusteeship Council of the United Nations.
  • It was established to supervise the administration of trust territories as they transitioned from colonies to sovereign nations.
  • The Trusteeship Council suspended operation on 1 November 1994.

2.5 United Nations International Court of Justice (ICJ)

  • ICJ was established in 1945 and began work in April 1946.
  • It is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.
  • It is situated at the Peace Palace in the Hague (Netherlands).
  • Different from the six principal organs of the United Nations, it is the only organ not located in New York (USA).
  • It settles legal disputes between states and gives advisory opinions following international law, on legal questions referred to it by authorized United Nations organs and specialized agencies.
  • It has 193 state parties and the current President is Nawaf Salam.
  • The Court is composed of 15 judges, who are elected for terms of office of nine years by the United Nations General Assembly and the UN Security Council.
  • These organs vote simultaneously but separately. To be elected, a candidate must receive the majority of the votes in both bodies.

2.6 UN Secretariat

  • The Secretariat comprises the Secretary-General and tens of thousands of international UN staff members who carry out the day-to-day work of the UN as mandated by the General Assembly and the Organization's other principal organs.
  • The Secretary-General is the chief administrative officer of the Organization.
  • The General Assembly appoints him/her on the recommendation of the Security Council for a five-year, renewable term.
UN ORGANS AT A GLANCE

Organ Key Feature Location
General Assembly Main deliberative organ; 193 members New York
Security Council 15 members (5 Permanent + 10 Non-Permanent); Veto power New York
ECOSOC 54 members; Economic, social, environmental issues New York
Trusteeship Council Suspended in 1994; supervised trust territories New York
International Court of Justice Principal judicial organ; 15 judges; 9-year term The Hague (Netherlands)
Secretariat Secretary-General; 5-year renewable term New York

3. UN Specialized Agencies

3.1 World Bank

BASIC INFORMATION

  • Established: 1944
  • Headquarters: Washington DC, USA
  • Member Countries: 189 countries
  • The World Bank Group is a unique global partnership of five institutions working for sustainable solutions that reduce poverty and build shared prosperity in developing countries.
  • The World Bank is one of the United Nations' specialized agencies.
  • It is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low and middle-income developing countries to pursue capital projects.
  • Dual objectives of the WB Group:
    • To end extreme poverty by 2030.
    • To increase shared prosperity for the bottom 40% of the population worldwide.
  • Top Shareholders: United States (16.41%), Japan (7.87%), Germany (4.49%), United Kingdom (4.31%), France (4.31%). India has a voting share of 2.91%.
  • The President of the World Bank Group (currently Mr. Ajay Banga) is responsible for chairing meetings of the boards of directors and for the overall management of the Bank.

Development Institutions Under The World Bank

Institution Description
IBRD (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development) Provides loans, credits, and grants.
IDA (International Development Association) Provides low or no-interest loans to low-income countries.
IFC (International Finance Corporation) Provides investment, advice, and asset management to private companies and governments.
MIGA (Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency) Insures lenders and investors against political risks such as war.
ICSID (International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes) Settles investment disputes between investors and countries.

3.2 World Health Organization (WHO)

BASIC INFORMATION

  • Established: 1948
  • Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
  • Member Countries: 194 countries
  • It is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads global efforts to expand universal health coverage.
  • Objectives include:
    • Lead global efforts to expand universal health coverage.
    • Focus on the areas of disease prevention, control and elimination, and the promotion of health and well-being.

Governance Structure and Functioning

  • World Health Assembly (WHA): The highest decision-making body of WHO, comprising representatives from all member states. Meets annually to set policies, approve the budget, and elect the Director-General.
  • Secretariat: Responsible for carrying out the policies and programs approved by the WHA.
  • Six Regional Offices: Africa, the Americas, Southeast Asia, Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, and Western Pacific.
  • Funding Sources:
    • Assessed contributions: Dues countries pay to be a member.
    • Voluntary contributions: From Member States or other partners like UN organizations, intergovernmental organizations, private sector, etc.

3.3 World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

BASIC INFORMATION

  • Established: 1950
  • Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
  • Member Countries: 187 countries
  • It is a specialized agency of the United Nations, originated from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), which was founded in 1873.
  • It is a key body of the UN that speaks about the state and behavior of the Earth's atmosphere.
  • Apart from this, it gives inputs on its interaction with the oceans, the climate it produces, and the resulting distribution of water resources.
  • World Meteorological Congress: The supreme body consisting of representatives of all member states, headed by the Secretary General. It meets at least every four years to set general policy and adopt regulations.
  • Executive Council: A 36-member body that meets annually and implements policy.

3.4 International Monetary Fund (IMF)

BASIC INFORMATION

  • Established: 1944
  • Headquarters: Washington DC, USA
  • Member Countries: 190 countries
  • The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is a global institution that aims to encourage international monetary collaboration, facilitate worldwide trade, stimulate economic growth and sustainable development.
  • It emerged as a result of the Bretton Woods Agreement.
  • It aimed to stabilize international currency exchange rates and establish a framework for international economic cooperation post World War II.
  • The IMF strives to nurture global monetary stability and mitigate the perils of economic and financial crises through fostering cooperation among its member nations.
  • The IMF extends financial aid to member nations encountering balance-of-payments dilemmas or other economic predicaments.
  • Financial support takes the form of loans or other financial mechanisms, often linked to specific criteria designed to enhance the nation's economic standing.
  • The IMF provides technical aid and training to bolster its members' capabilities in areas like fiscal policy, monetary policy, and financial regulation.
  • Each member is assigned a quota based on its relative position in the world economy.
  • Special Drawing Right (SDR): An interest-bearing international reserve asset created by the IMF in 1969 to supplement other reserve assets of member countries.
    • The value of the SDR is based on a basket of five currencies — the U.S. Dollar, the Euro, the Chinese Renminbi, the Japanese Yen, and the British Pound Sterling.
    • Once allocated, members can hold their SDRs as part of their foreign exchange reserves or sell or use part or all of their SDR allocations.
KEY DIFFERENCE: WORLD BANK vs IMF

  • World Bank: Provides loans and grants for development projects (infrastructure, poverty reduction).
  • IMF: Provides financial assistance to countries facing balance-of-payments problems and promotes monetary cooperation.
  • Both: Established at Bretton Woods Conference (1944).

3.5 International Labour Organization (ILO)

BASIC INFORMATION

  • Established: 1919
  • Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
  • Member Countries: 187 countries
  • The International Labour Organization (ILO) is the United Nations agency for all aspects related to work.
  • Its mandate is to advance social and economic justice by setting international labor standards.
  • ILO's mandate is expressed today as "Decent Work for all".
  • UN ECOSOC is its parent organization.
  • It is the only tripartite U.N. agency that brings together governments, employers, and workers' representatives of all the member States.
  • It adopted the "Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work" that aims to eliminate all forms of forced or compulsory labor.
  • India is a founder member of the ILO.
  • India's Ratification of ILO Conventions:
    • Out of the eight Core Conventions of the ILO, India has ratified 6:
      • Forced Labour Convention (No. 29)
      • Abolition of Forced Labour Convention (No. 105)
      • Equal Remuneration Convention (No. 100)
      • Discrimination (Employment Occupation) Convention (No. 111)
      • Minimum Age Convention (No. 138)
      • Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (No. 182)
    • 2 conventions NOT ratified by India:
      • Freedom of Association and Protection of Right to Organised Convention (No. 87)
      • Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention (No. 98)
📝 UPSC PREVIOUS YEAR FOCUS

  • India's ILO Membership: India is a founder member of the ILO.
  • Core Conventions: India has ratified 6 out of 8 Core Conventions.
  • Not Ratified: Convention No. 87 (Freedom of Association) and Convention No. 98 (Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining).
  • ILO Mandate: "Decent Work for all" — advanced by social and economic justice.

4. Summary: UN and Its Agencies at a Glance

Organization Established Headquarters Member Countries Key Function
UNO 1945 New York 193 International peace and security
World Bank 1944 Washington DC 189 Loans and grants for development
WHO 1948 Geneva 194 Global health and well-being
WMO 1950 Geneva 187 Meteorology and climate
IMF 1944 Washington DC 190 Monetary cooperation and stability
ILO 1919 Geneva 187 International labor standards
Key Takeaways for UPSC

  • UNO Established: 1945 | Headquarters: New York | Members: 193 (South Sudan is latest)
  • UNSC: 15 members (5 Permanent + 10 Non-Permanent) | Veto power with P5
  • ICJ: Only UN organ NOT in New York — located in The Hague (Netherlands)
  • World Bank & IMF: Both established at Bretton Woods (1944)
  • WHO: 1948 | Geneva | 194 members | WHA is highest decision-making body
  • ILO: 1919 | Geneva | India is a founder member | Ratified 6 of 8 Core Conventions
  • ILO Not Ratified: Convention No. 87 (Freedom of Association) & Convention No. 98 (Right to Organise)
  • SDR (IMF): Basket of 5 currencies — USD, Euro, Chinese Renminbi, Japanese Yen, British Pound Sterling
  • World Bank President: Ajay Banga (current) | IMF Managing Director: Kristalina Georgieva (current)
High-Yield Interactive UPSC Quiz (United Nations Organisation and Agencies)

Q1. The United Nations Organisation (UNO) was established in which year?

Correct Answer: C. The United Nations Organisation (UNO) was established in 1945 after World War II, replacing the League of Nations.

Q2. How many permanent members does the UN Security Council have?

Correct Answer: C. The UN Security Council has 5 permanent members (P5) — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Q3. Which UN organ is NOT located in New York?

Correct Answer: C. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is located at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands. It is the only principal organ not located in New York.

Q4. The Trusteeship Council suspended its operation on:

Correct Answer: B. The Trusteeship Council suspended its operation on 1 November 1994 after the last trust territory, Palau, gained independence.

Q5. The World Bank and IMF were established at which conference?

Correct Answer: B. The World Bank and IMF were established at the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944.

Q6. Which of the following is NOT a World Bank institution?

Correct Answer: C. IMF is a separate institution. The World Bank Group includes IBRD, IDA, IFC, MIGA, and ICSID.

Q7. The highest decision-making body of WHO is:

Correct Answer: B. The World Health Assembly (WHA) is the highest decision-making body of WHO, comprising representatives from all member states.

Q8. How many ILO Core Conventions has India NOT ratified?

Correct Answer: B. India has NOT ratified 2 of the 8 ILO Core Conventions — Convention No. 87 (Freedom of Association) and Convention No. 98 (Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining).

Q9. The Special Drawing Right (SDR) was created by the IMF in:

Correct Answer: C. The Special Drawing Right (SDR) was created by the IMF in 1969 as an international reserve asset to supplement other reserve assets.

Q10. Which of the following is a non-member observer state of the UN General Assembly?

Correct Answer: C. There are two non-member observer states of the UN General Assembly — the Holy See (Vatican City) and the State of Palestine.
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