UNSC Reforms
India's demands for reforming the UNSC
✅ Permanent Membership: India has long demanded a permanent seat in an expanded UNSC to reflect its rising influence as an emerging power.
✅ Equitable Representation: India advocates for equitable regional representation in an expanded UNSC. It notes that Africa and Latin America currently have no permanent members, while Asia only has China. India calls for more opportunities for under-represented regions.
✅ Veto Power Reform: While seeking a permanent seat, India has also consistently pushed for reforming the veto power wielded by the 5 existing permanent members (P5) to make the UNSC more democratic.
✅ In 2020, India again called for restricting the veto only to vital national security issues.
✅ Terrorism Convention: India urges the UNSC to adopt a comprehensive convention on terrorism reflecting the current realities of cross-border and international terrorism.
✅ Working Methods Reform: India advocates for reforms in the UNSC's opaque working methods and decision-making procedures to make them more transparent, efficient and inclusive.
Key challenges facing UNSC reforms:
✅ Lack of Consensus: There is no consensus among UN member states on the nature and extent of UNSC expansion.
✅ Resistance from Current P5: The existing permanent members are reluctant to dilute their influence by expanding permanent membership. They have shown little willingness for drastic reform.
✅ Competing Claims: Rival states like India, Japan, Germany, Brazil and others are competing for permanent seats. Concurrence on new permanent members is difficult.
✅ Representation and Rotation: Smaller states prefer expanded non-permanent membership with regional representation and rotation instead of new permanent members. This clashes with demands for permanency.
✅ Security Council's Relevance: Some states question the relevance of the UNSC structure itself in the 21st century and argue for alternative global conflict resolution mechanisms that are more representative and equitable.
✅ Charter Amendment Requirement: Any UNSC expansion requires amendment of the UN Charter, which needs ratification by 2/3rd UN members and all P5 members.
Achieving this high bar for reform is challenging.
✅ Loss of Privileges: The P5 enjoy certain privileges like appointing the Secretary General. They are reluctant to extend these privileges to new permanent members, reducing incentives for reform.
✅ Changing Global Order: Lack of consensus among major powers like the US, Russia and China on the direction of the evolving global order hampers progress on UNSC reforms.
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India's demands for reforming the UNSC
✅ Permanent Membership: India has long demanded a permanent seat in an expanded UNSC to reflect its rising influence as an emerging power.
✅ Equitable Representation: India advocates for equitable regional representation in an expanded UNSC. It notes that Africa and Latin America currently have no permanent members, while Asia only has China. India calls for more opportunities for under-represented regions.
✅ Veto Power Reform: While seeking a permanent seat, India has also consistently pushed for reforming the veto power wielded by the 5 existing permanent members (P5) to make the UNSC more democratic.
✅ In 2020, India again called for restricting the veto only to vital national security issues.
✅ Terrorism Convention: India urges the UNSC to adopt a comprehensive convention on terrorism reflecting the current realities of cross-border and international terrorism.
✅ Working Methods Reform: India advocates for reforms in the UNSC's opaque working methods and decision-making procedures to make them more transparent, efficient and inclusive.
Key challenges facing UNSC reforms:
✅ Lack of Consensus: There is no consensus among UN member states on the nature and extent of UNSC expansion.
✅ Resistance from Current P5: The existing permanent members are reluctant to dilute their influence by expanding permanent membership. They have shown little willingness for drastic reform.
✅ Competing Claims: Rival states like India, Japan, Germany, Brazil and others are competing for permanent seats. Concurrence on new permanent members is difficult.
✅ Representation and Rotation: Smaller states prefer expanded non-permanent membership with regional representation and rotation instead of new permanent members. This clashes with demands for permanency.
✅ Security Council's Relevance: Some states question the relevance of the UNSC structure itself in the 21st century and argue for alternative global conflict resolution mechanisms that are more representative and equitable.
✅ Charter Amendment Requirement: Any UNSC expansion requires amendment of the UN Charter, which needs ratification by 2/3rd UN members and all P5 members.
Achieving this high bar for reform is challenging.
✅ Loss of Privileges: The P5 enjoy certain privileges like appointing the Secretary General. They are reluctant to extend these privileges to new permanent members, reducing incentives for reform.
✅ Changing Global Order: Lack of consensus among major powers like the US, Russia and China on the direction of the evolving global order hampers progress on UNSC reforms.
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🔆South Africa's Case against Israel at ICJ Could linger.
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🔆Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace (ABCP)
✅It was founded in 1970 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, as a voluntary movement of followers of Buddhism with both monastic (monks) and lay members.
✅Its aim is to bring together the efforts of Buddhists in support of consolidating universal peace, harmony, and cooperation among people in Asia.
✅It is currently headquartered at the Ganden Tegchenling Monastery in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and the Supreme Head of Mongolian Buddhists is the ABCP President.
✅It drew active participation from Mongolia, Japan, India, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Bhutan, Russian Far East, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and other regional countries.
✅ABCP was registered as an observer to the UN’s Economic and Social Council in 1988 in recognition of its contribution to the well-being of humanity.
✅It was founded in 1970 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, as a voluntary movement of followers of Buddhism with both monastic (monks) and lay members.
✅Its aim is to bring together the efforts of Buddhists in support of consolidating universal peace, harmony, and cooperation among people in Asia.
✅It is currently headquartered at the Ganden Tegchenling Monastery in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and the Supreme Head of Mongolian Buddhists is the ABCP President.
✅It drew active participation from Mongolia, Japan, India, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Bhutan, Russian Far East, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and other regional countries.
✅ABCP was registered as an observer to the UN’s Economic and Social Council in 1988 in recognition of its contribution to the well-being of humanity.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's recent visit to the United Kingdom (U.K.), the first in 22 years, marks a significant phase in India-U.K. defence ties.
The rise in Chinese military power, particularly its expansion into the Indian Ocean, which poses a threat to both India and the U.K., has led to strategic reassessment and cooperation between London and new Delhi
A major focus of bilateral discussions was the technology gaps in the Indian Navy as compared to the Chinese navy, especially in the area of electrical propulsion to power aircraft carriers. The U.K. has agreed to assist India with this technology as it is being used in the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy.
The 'India-UK electric propulsion capability partnership' was established, which held several rounds of discussions on technical knowledge transfer, training, and preparing the necessary infrastructure to develop an electric propulsion system.
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The rise in Chinese military power, particularly its expansion into the Indian Ocean, which poses a threat to both India and the U.K., has led to strategic reassessment and cooperation between London and new Delhi
A major focus of bilateral discussions was the technology gaps in the Indian Navy as compared to the Chinese navy, especially in the area of electrical propulsion to power aircraft carriers. The U.K. has agreed to assist India with this technology as it is being used in the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy.
The 'India-UK electric propulsion capability partnership' was established, which held several rounds of discussions on technical knowledge transfer, training, and preparing the necessary infrastructure to develop an electric propulsion system.
#gs2
#ir
@upsc_4_ir
@upsc_the_hindu_ie_editorial
Forwarded from CSE EXAM ( UPSC prelims mains)
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The Chinese research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 03 is making its way to the Maldivian capital, Male, according to Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) observers and maritime tracking portals.
Reports suggest this navigation comes amidst Sri Lanka's imposition of a ban on foreign research vessels and an ongoing dispute between India and Maldives over Indian troops stationed in the latter.
The presence of these Chinese research vessels is of concern due to their advanced equipment, used for data collection and surveillance.
The situation arises just after talks were held between the Foreign Ministers of India and Maldives on the sidelines of the Non-Alignment Movement summit in Uganda. These high-level discussions focused on the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the Maldives.
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Reports suggest this navigation comes amidst Sri Lanka's imposition of a ban on foreign research vessels and an ongoing dispute between India and Maldives over Indian troops stationed in the latter.
The presence of these Chinese research vessels is of concern due to their advanced equipment, used for data collection and surveillance.
The situation arises just after talks were held between the Foreign Ministers of India and Maldives on the sidelines of the Non-Alignment Movement summit in Uganda. These high-level discussions focused on the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the Maldives.
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As per a recent UN report, the Taliban are imposing restrictions on single Afghan women or those without a male guardian, impacting their access to work, travel, and healthcare.
One incident highlighted how a woman was told to get married to keep her job at a healthcare facility. This reflects the Taliban's view that it's inappropriate for unattached women to work.
After seizing power in 2021, the Taliban introduced severe rules, barring women from most public platforms and prohibiting girls from pursuing education beyond the sixth grade, overturning their initial promise for a more moderate administration.
The Taliban have closed beauty parlors, implemented a dress code, and arrested women who didn't comply with their interpretation of the Islamic headscarf or hijab.
The recent quarterly UN report (October-December 2021) emphasizes that the Taliban have intensified their crackdown on single women or those without male guardians.
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One incident highlighted how a woman was told to get married to keep her job at a healthcare facility. This reflects the Taliban's view that it's inappropriate for unattached women to work.
After seizing power in 2021, the Taliban introduced severe rules, barring women from most public platforms and prohibiting girls from pursuing education beyond the sixth grade, overturning their initial promise for a more moderate administration.
The Taliban have closed beauty parlors, implemented a dress code, and arrested women who didn't comply with their interpretation of the Islamic headscarf or hijab.
The recent quarterly UN report (October-December 2021) emphasizes that the Taliban have intensified their crackdown on single women or those without male guardians.
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@upsc_4_ir
Maldives has confirmed that the Chinese research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 03 will not be conducting research in its waters, but will only make a port call for personnel rotation and replenishment.
India has shown interest in the movements of the vessel following Sri Lanka's decision for a moratorium on foreign research vessels, which came after concerns raised by India over a Chinese vessel's visit.
This development highlights the delicacy of regional maritime dynamics, underscoring India's vigilance over Chinese activities in the Indian Ocean region.
The update was shared by the Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer via a social media platform, enhancing transparency on the issue.
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India has shown interest in the movements of the vessel following Sri Lanka's decision for a moratorium on foreign research vessels, which came after concerns raised by India over a Chinese vessel's visit.
This development highlights the delicacy of regional maritime dynamics, underscoring India's vigilance over Chinese activities in the Indian Ocean region.
The update was shared by the Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer via a social media platform, enhancing transparency on the issue.
#gs2
#ir
@upsc_4_ir