the
UN (HQ: New York) is crucial for International Relations (IR), focusing on its
structure (Security Council, GA, etc.), key organs (IMF, WHO, UNICEF in
NY/Geneva), objectives (peace, development), India's role (permanent member
aspirations, peacekeeping), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and recent
developments/reforms, often appearing in Prelims (static facts) and Mains
(analytical questions).
Here's
a comprehensive breakdown for UPSC prep:
1.
Core Facts (Prelims Focus)
- Headquarters: New York, USA (Main Hub).
- Founded: 1945 (after WWII).
- Key Organs
& Agencies (with HQs):
- General
Assembly (UNGA): New York.
- Security
Council (UNSC): New York.
- Secretariat:
New York.
- International
Court of Justice (ICJ): The Hague, Netherlands.
- Economic and
Social Council (ECOSOC): New York.
- Trusteeship
Council (Inactive).
- UNICEF (Children's
Fund): New York.
- WHO (World
Health Org): Geneva, Switzerland.
- IMF (International
Monetary Fund): Washington D.C., USA.
- World Bank:
Washington D.C., USA.
- UNCTAD (Trade
& Dev): Geneva, Switzerland.
2.
Objectives & Principles (Mains Focus)
- Maintain
international peace & security.
- Develop friendly
relations among nations.
- Achieve
international co-operation (economic, social, cultural).
- Be a center for
harmonizing actions.
3.
India & the UN (Crucial for Mains/Essay)
- Founding Member
(1945).
- Active
participant in peacekeeping operations (PKO).
- Advocacy for
UNSC reforms (permanent membership).
- Key contributor
to UN budgets & initiatives (e.g., Climate Action, SDGs).
4.
Key Issues & Topics (Mains/Current Affairs)
- SDGs
(Sustainable Development Goals): 17
Goals for 2030 Agenda (Health, Poverty, Climate, etc.).
- UN Security
Council Reforms: Veto
power, expansion of permanent/non-permanent members.
- Climate
Change: UNFCCC, Paris
Agreement (UN-led).
- Human Rights: Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(UDHR), Human Rights Council (HRC).
- Peacekeeping: India's role, challenges, mandates.
5.
UPSC Strategy
- Prelims: Static facts (HQs, dates, structure,
key officials).
- Mains: Analytical questions on India's foreign
policy, global issues, UNSC, SDGs, reforms.
- Current
Affairs: Link UN
reports (e.g., Human Development Report, IPCC) with Mains syllabus.
Resource
Tip: Refer to the official
UN website, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) India's UN division, and quality
study materials like Static GK compilations.
