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MAINS 2015
GS2
12.5 marks

Discuss the impediments India is facing in its pursuit of a permanent seat in UN Security Council.

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9 min
200 words
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What the examiner wants

Discuss what stands in the way of India gaining a permanent UN Security Council seat.

DiscussExplain the different sides of the issue, use evidence, and finish with a balanced view.

Demand-wise check

  1. 1Procedural: Article 108 needs two-thirds of the General Assembly and ratification by all P5≈35 words
  2. 2Opposition: China; Uniting for Consensus/Coffee Club (Pakistan, Italy etc.); disagreements on veto and regional seats; Africa's Ezulwini Consensus≈35 words
  3. 3P5 reluctance to dilute power; text-based negotiations (IGN) stalled since 2009≈35 words
  4. 4India's case: population, economy, peacekeeping, eight non-permanent terms; nuclear non-NPT status raised by critics≈35 words

Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.

Answer plan

India's claimProcedural barriersPolitical oppositionStrategy (G4, L.69, Africa)Conclusion

Where marks usually go

  • Only listing India's strengths
  • Ignoring the Article 108 process

Draw this

  • Diagram of groups: G4, UfC, African Group, P5 positions

Value addition

  • LawArticle 108 of the UN Charter requires two-thirds of members, including all P5, to ratify a Charter amendment.UN Charter
  • DataIndia has served eight non-permanent terms; the latest was 2021-22.United Nations