March 1 – GS2/International Relations: 2026 | UPSC Daily Answer Writing Practice PDF Download

Q: How does the concept of United Nations (UN) peacekeeping as a "necessary but imperfect tool" reflect its role in maintaining the global peace order? What role has India played in supporting these missions?  (250 words)

Introduction

UN Peacekeeping involves the efforts of the United Nations to maintain or restore international peace and security in areas affected by conflict. Over the past 70 years, more than 1 million individuals have served in over 70 peacekeeping missions under the UN flag.

Necessity and Achievements of UN Peacekeeping Missions:

• Conflict Resolution: UN peacekeepers have played a crucial role in resolving conflicts in countries like Cambodia, El Salvador, Mozambique, and Sierra Leone. Since 1945, there has been a 40% decrease in interstate conflicts.
• Humanitarian Aid: Peacekeepers have protected over 125 million civilians in conflict zones and facilitated the delivery of humanitarian assistance, including supporting refugee returns and resettlement.
• State Building: They have assisted in organizing democratic elections in over 75 countries, helping to establish functioning government institutions, and supporting security sector reforms and training.

Imperfections and Limitations of UN Peacekeeping Missions:

• Power Politics and Veto Exploitation: The growing polarization among the P5 members has led to the frequent use of veto power in critical situations. For example, since 2011, Russia has used its veto 19 times, with a focus on Syria, Ukraine, Srebrenica, Yemen, and Venezuela.
• Resource Constraints and Funding Challenges: The reluctance of major powers to increase funding has resulted in understaffed missions. For instance, UNIFIL in Lebanon operates with limited resources despite heightened tensions.
• Changing Nature of Conflicts: Modern conflicts involve complex elements such as urban warfare, cyber aspects, and non-state actors, which traditional peacekeeping is not equipped to handle. The Gaza conflict is an example where traditional buffer-zone peacekeeping approaches are inadequate for urban combat situations.
• Credibility Crisis and Past Failures: Historical failures, such as the inability to prevent genocides in Rwanda and Srebrenica, along with recent inaction in contemporary conflicts, have damaged the reputation of UN peacekeeping and eroded global confidence.
• Emerging Regional Alternatives: Regional organizations are increasingly taking the lead in peacekeeping operations. For instance, the African Union's peace operations in Somalia (ATMIS) and the Arab League's growing role in regional disputes indicate a shift towards regional solutions.
• Lack of Political Will for Reform: Despite various proposals for reforming UN peacekeeping, including the 2015 HIPPO report recommendations, implementation has been slow. Proposals such as the expansion of the Security Council and reforms in veto power remain stalled.

India's Contribution to Peacekeeping Missions:

• Historical Leadership and Personnel Contribution: India has been the largest contributor of UN peacekeepers, with over 2,53,000 troops participating in more than 49 missions.
• Medical Expertise: India has mobilized efforts to deploy medical specialists in UN missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.
• Specialized Military Capabilities: The Indian Aviation Contingent-I (IAC-I), inducted in Goma in 2003, provided critical air support with attack and utility helicopters.
• Training and Capacity Building: The Centre for UN Peacekeeping (CUNPK) in New Delhi has trained over 67,000 personnel who have participated in 37 out of 56 UN peacekeeping missions.
• Women in Peacekeeping: India has deployed Female Engagement Teams (FETs) in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Abyei, contributing to the second-largest Indian women contingent after Liberia.

Conclusion

To improve the effectiveness of peacekeeping missions, the UN should focus on structural reforms in the Security Council, establish rapid response mechanisms, and create clear mandates. Financial enhancements, such as mandatory funding and public-private partnerships, should be prioritized, along with technological modernization using AI and surveillance technologies.