United Nations (UN)
Founded: June 26, 1945 (San Francisco Charter); effective October 24, 1945 — UN Day Members: 193 member states HQ: New York, USA Secretary-General: António Guterres (Portugal) — since January 2017; 2nd term 2022–2026
Six Principal Organs
| Organ | Members / Composition | Key Function |
|---|---|---|
| General Assembly | All 193 members; 1 vote each | Debates, recommendations (non-binding except internal UN matters) |
| Security Council | 15 (5 permanent + 10 elected) | Maintains international peace; binding resolutions; peace-keeping |
| ICJ | 15 judges; The Hague | Settles legal disputes between states; advisory opinions |
| Secretariat | SG + international staff | Day-to-day administration |
| ECOSOC | 54 elected members | Coordinates economic, social, humanitarian work |
| Trusteeship Council | Suspended 1994 | Was overseeing non-self-governing territories |
Security Council — P5 and Veto
Permanent members (P5) with veto power:
- USA, United Kingdom, France, Russia, China
India's UNSC position: India has been a non-permanent member 8 times (most recently 2021–22). India campaigns for permanent membership (UNSC reform with G4: India, Germany, Japan, Brazil).
Key UN Agencies
| Agency | HQ | Function |
|---|---|---|
| UNESCO | Paris | Education, science, culture, World Heritage Sites |
| WHO | Geneva | Global health; led COVID-19 response |
| UNICEF | New York | Children's rights, nutrition, education |
| UNDP | New York | Human Development Index (HDI); development programmes |
| FAO | Rome | Food security, agriculture |
| ILO | Geneva | Labour standards, workers' rights |
| UNHCR | Geneva | Refugees — protection and assistance |
| IAEA | Vienna | Nuclear energy; nuclear safeguards (NPT inspections) |
| IMO | London | International maritime regulation |
| ICAO | Montreal | International civil aviation standards |
| WMO | Geneva | Weather, climate, hydrology |
| UNEP | Nairobi | Environment (only major UN agency HQ in developing country) |
Bretton Woods Institutions
IMF (International Monetary Fund)
Founded: 1944 (Bretton Woods Conference); operational 1945 HQ: Washington DC Members: 190 MD: Kristalina Georgieva (Bulgaria), since 2019
Functions:
- Promotes monetary cooperation and exchange rate stability
- Provides short-term balance of payments support — emergency loans
- Surveillance: monitors global economy and member fiscal policies
- Quota system: voting power proportional to economic size (US has largest share; India ~2.75%)
India and IMF:
- 1966: IMF loan with conditions → rupee devaluation
- 1991: BoP crisis → gold pledge → IMF structural adjustment loan → LPG reforms
SDR (Special Drawing Rights): IMF's reserve asset; basket of USD, EUR, CNY, JPY, GBP. India holds SDR allocation.
World Bank Group
Founded: 1944; operational 1946 HQ: Washington DC President: Ajay Banga (Indian-American), since June 2023
Five institutions:
| Institution | Focus |
|---|---|
| IBRD (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development) | Middle-income country loans |
| IDA (International Development Association) | Concessional loans/grants to poorest nations |
| IFC (International Finance Corporation) | Private sector investment in developing countries |
| MIGA (Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency) | Political risk insurance for investors |
| ICSID (International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes) | Arbitration for investment disputes |
India and World Bank: Major borrower — infrastructure (highways, metros), health, education. India received $5–6 billion annually in recent years.
World Trade Organisation (WTO)
Established: January 1, 1995 (replaced GATT 1947) HQ: Geneva, Switzerland Members: 164 countries DG: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Nigeria) — first African DG, first woman DG (since 2021)
Key agreements:
- GATT: Goods trade; most-favoured-nation (MFN) principle; tariff reduction
- GATS: Services trade liberalisation
- TRIPS: Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights — patents, copyrights, trademarks
- Agreement on Agriculture: Reduces farm subsidies and trade barriers
India's WTO positions:
- Defends food security — PDS/MSP procurement vs AoA limits (peace clause obtained at Bali MC9, 2013)
- Pushed for TRIPS waiver for COVID vaccines with South Africa (partial success — WTO waiver June 2022)
- Opposes e-commerce moratorium becoming permanent — protects developing country digital sectors
Dispute Settlement: WTO's binding dispute mechanism — Appellate Body (US blocked appointments 2020–, creating crisis).
Ministerial Conferences (MC) — recent:
- MC12 (Geneva 2022): Fisheries subsidies agreement; partial TRIPS waiver
- MC13 (Abu Dhabi, February 2024): Agriculture and food security discussions
G20
Full name: Group of 20 — 19 countries + EU (now African Union also added) Members: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, UK, USA + EU HQ: No permanent secretariat; rotating presidency
India's G20 Presidency (December 2022 – November 2023):
- Theme: "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" (One Earth, One Family, One Future)
- New Delhi Summit (September 9–10, 2023)
- Key outcomes: African Union admitted as permanent G20 member; Global Biofuels Alliance launched; New Delhi Declaration on debt relief for developing nations; India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) announced
G20 significance: Represents 85% of global GDP, 75% of world trade, 67% of world population.
BRICS
Members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa 2024 expansion: Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, UAE invited (Saudi Arabia invitation) New Development Bank (NDB): HQ Shanghai; funds infrastructure in member countries; India's first loan — renewable energy projects Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA): BoP safety net for members
India and BRICS: 3rd largest economy by purchasing power parity in BRICS; pushes for IMF/WB quota reform; coordinates on WTO; New Delhi is NDB's Indian operations centre.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
Founded: 2001 (Shanghai) Members: China, Russia, India (2017), Pakistan (2017), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan; Iran (2023); Belarus (2024 process) HQ: Beijing Focus: Security cooperation, counter-terrorism, economic connectivity
India-SCO: India uses SCO to engage with Central Asian republics (energy, connectivity — INSTC). Tension: India and Pakistan are both members; India and China dispute within SCO framework. India hosted SCO Summit (July 2023, virtual).
ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)
Founded: August 8, 1967 (Bangkok Declaration) Members: 10 — Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam HQ: Jakarta, Indonesia Secretariat head: Secretary-General
India-ASEAN: India's "Act East Policy" (upgraded from Look East Policy, 2014). ASEAN–India FTA in goods (2009), services (2015). ASEAN+6 = RCEP (India withdrew 2019). Annual India-ASEAN Summit.
Climate Change Framework
UNFCCC → Kyoto Protocol → Paris Agreement
| Agreement | Year | Key Provision |
|---|---|---|
| UNFCCC | 1992 (Rio Earth Summit) | Framework convention; "common but differentiated responsibilities" |
| Kyoto Protocol | 1997 (in force 2005) | Binding emission targets for developed nations; CDM for developing nations |
| Paris Agreement | 2015 (COP21) | NDCs for all countries; 1.5–2°C target; loss and damage fund |
| Glasgow Pact | 2021 (COP26) | "Phase down" (not phase out) coal; Loss and Damage discussions |
| COP27 (Sharm el-Sheikh) | 2022 | Loss and Damage Fund established (historic win for developing nations) |
| COP28 (Dubai) | 2023 | "Transition away from fossil fuels" language; $100 billion climate finance |
| COP29 (Baku) | 2024 | New climate finance goal for developing nations |
India-specific:
- International Solar Alliance (ISA): co-founded by India and France at COP21; HQ Gurugram; 120+ members — "One Sun, One World, One Grid"
- CDRI (Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure): India launched at UNGA 2019; HQ New Delhi
- India achieved 50% non-fossil electricity ahead of 2030 target (2024)
Other Important Bodies
| Organisation | HQ | Key Function |
|---|---|---|
| Commonwealth | London | 56 nations; former British colonies; CHOGM meetings |
| NAM (Non-Aligned Movement) | Rotating | 120 members; India founding member (1961, Belgrade) |
| SAARC | Kathmandu | 8 South Asian nations; suspended since 2016 (India-Pakistan tensions) |
| BIMSTEC | Dhaka | Bay of Bengal group; India's active alternative to stalled SAARC |
| G7 | Rotating | USA, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada (+EU); India invited as guest |
| OPEC | Vienna | 12 oil-producing nations (India is not a member — oil importer) |
| NATO | Brussels | 32 nations; Western military alliance; India is not a member |
| Interpol | Lyon | International police cooperation; India is member |
| ICC (International Criminal Court) | The Hague | Prosecutes war crimes, genocide; India has not ratified Rome Statute |
| WEF (World Economic Forum) | Davos | Annual summit of global business-government leaders; not an IGO |
India's Multilateral Positions
| Issue | India's Position |
|---|---|
| UNSC reform | Permanent seat for India; G4 group with Germany, Japan, Brazil |
| Nuclear | Non-NPT nuclear state; member of NSG (supplier group); CTBT not ratified |
| Climate | Per-capita equity argument; NDCs met/ahead of schedule; opposes binding technology transfer |
| Trade (WTO) | Food security exemption; TRIPS waiver; opposes permanent e-commerce moratorium |
| BRICS/SCO | Multipolar world; IMF/WB quota reform; strategic autonomy |
Board Exam Tips
- UN: 6 organs; Security Council P5 veto (USA, UK, France, Russia, China); ICJ at The Hague; SG António Guterres.
- IMF: short-term BoP support; Kristalina Georgieva; India used in 1991 crisis.
- World Bank: long-term development; IBRD + IDA; President Ajay Banga (Indian-American, 2023).
- WTO: est. 1995; Geneva; DG Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (first African, first woman).
- G20: India presidency 2023; "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam"; AU admitted; IMEC launched.
- BRICS: Brazil Russia India China South Africa; NDB in Shanghai; 2024 expansion.
- Paris Agreement: NDC; 1.5–2°C target; ISA co-founded by India; India achieved 50% non-fossil target.
- SAARC: stalled since 2016; BIMSTEC is India's active alternative.
- COP27: Loss and Damage Fund (win for developing nations).