United Nations | General Awareness & Knowledge - Bank Exams PDF Download

Introduction

The United Nations (UN) is an international organization dedicated to promoting global cooperation across various domains, including international law, security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and world peace. United Nations Day is observed annually on October 24. As of now, the UN comprises 193 member states.

Principal Organs

The UN has six principal organs:

General Assembly

• Often referred to as the "town meeting of the world."
• The General Assembly convenes annually, starting on the first Tuesday of September.
• It appoints the Secretary-General of the UN Secretariat based on the Security Council's recommendation.
• The presidency rotates yearly among five geographical groups: Asia, Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Western Europe and other states.
• Every member state can send five delegates, but each country has only one vote.
• The General Assembly is headquartered in New York, US.

Security Council

• The main purpose of the Security Council is to maintain international peace and security.
• Originally composed of eleven members, the Security Council expanded to fifteen members in 1965.
• It includes five permanent members: China, the UK, Russia, France, and the USA, and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by a two-thirds majority of the General Assembly. Five non-permanent members are replaced annually, and retiring members cannot be re-elected immediately.
• Permanent members possess veto power, which can block any decision supported by the majority.
• The Security Council is based in New York, US.

Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

• ECOSOC aims to advance social progress and improve living standards.
• It consists of 54 members, with one-third (18 members) elected annually by the General Assembly to serve three-year terms. Both retiring members and the President can be re-elected immediately.
• The ECOSOC headquarters is located in New York, US.

The Trusteeship Council

• Established to ensure that trust territories were administered in the best interests of their inhabitants and international peace and security.
• Formed in 1945, it was headquartered in New York, US.
• The Trusteeship Council ceased operations on November 1, 1994, following the independence of Palau, the last UN trust territory, on October 1, 1994.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ)

• The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the UN.
• Its primary functions are to resolve legal disputes between states and to offer advisory opinions on legal questions posed by authorized international organs, agencies, and the UN General Assembly.
• Established in 1945, the ICJ is based in The Hague, Netherlands.
• It comprises 15 judges elected by the General Assembly and the Security Council for nine-year terms.

The Secretariat

• The Secretariat is one of the principal organs responsible for facilitating international peace and security through diplomatic means.
• It is led by the Secretary-General, who is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council.
• The Secretary-General serves a five-year term and can be re-elected; however, no Secretary-General has served more than two terms.
• The Secretariat employs international civil servants and is headquartered in New York, US.

Secretary Generals Till Date

Important United Nation Agencies 

International Organisations and Groups