The United Nations is an international organization.

It is aimed at maintaining
international peace and security. It develops friendly relations among nations and
achieves international cooperation. It was set up in 1945 after the devastation brought on
by World War II. It aimed to promote dialogue and resolve conflicts peacefully.
The United Nations Organisation is significant for both the UPSC Prelims and GS Paper
2 of the UPSC Mains curriculum. In this article, we will provide you with all features
and necessary information on the United Nations Organisation. Study major topics
of International Relations from the perspective of UPSC Exams.
What is United Nations Organization?
o The United Nations (U.N.), headquartered in New York, is a 193-member international
organization. It was established in 1945 in order to avert another world war.
o During the Second World War, the leaders of the Allied Governments conducted several
meetings that eventually led to the formation of the United Nations Organization (UNO).
o Participating nations signed the Charter. It was founded on October 24, 1945.
o The United Nations has six official languages. Arabic, Chinese, English, French,
Russian, and Spanish are among them.
Formation of United Nations Organisation
o The United Nations is an International Governmental body that was established in 1945
to promote political and economic cooperation among its member countries.
o Following World War II, the League of Nations evolved into the United Nations, of
which practically every country in the world is now a member.
o It is made up of five major components, including the United Nations Economic and
Social Council, which supervises the activity of 15 specialized organizations.
o The United States is an international organization created in 1945 by 51 countries
dedicated to maintaining international peace and security, creating cordial relations
among nations, and promoting social development, higher living standards, and human
rights.
o The United Nations’ membership has expanded from 51 members in 1945 to 193
members now.
o The General Assembly is composed of all UN Member States. On the proposal of the
Security Council, states are admitted to membership by a decision of the General
Assembly.
United Nations Organisation - Structure
The United Nations has a number of specialized agencies. The agencies of United
Nations operate as autonomous entities inside the United Nations. The General
Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, International Court of
Justice, and Secretariat are the primary components of the United Nations.
 United Nations General Assembly
o The General Assembly is the only UN body with universal representation, having
representatives from all 193 UN Member States.
o Every year, the whole UN membership gathers in New York for the annual General
Assembly session and general discussion, to which many heads of state attend and
speak.
o This is the United Nations’ principal deliberative body, and all members have equal
representation.
o Its headquarters are in New York City, and its duties include establishing the United
Nations budget, selecting rotating members of the Security Council, and approving non-
binding resolutions that convey the views of the world community.
6 Main Committees
o The General Assembly is the only United Nations body with universal representation,
with delegates from each of the 193 UN Member States.
o The annual General Assembly session and general discussion, which several heads of
state attend and take part in, are held in New York each year and are attended by the
entire UN membership.
o The UN General Assembly’s main committees are as follows:
o First Committee -Disarmament & International Security)
o Second Committee -Economic & Financial)
o Third Committee -Social, Humanitarian & Cultural)
o Fourth Committee -Special Political & Decolonization)
o Fifth Committee -Administrative & Budgetary)
o Sixth Committee -Legal)
Other Committees
o The Credentials Committee is charged with investigating the credentials of
representatives from member countries and reporting to the General Assembly.
o The General Committee meets to examine the progress of the General Assembly and its
committees and to offer suggestions for enhancing such progress.
United Nations Security Council
o The United Nations Security Council is in charge of ensuring international peace and
security.
o It is made up of 15 people, among which 5 members are permanent while 10 are non-
permanent members.
o A danger to peace or an act of aggression must be determined by the Security Council.
o It encourages the parties to a disagreement to settle it peacefully and suggests techniques
of adjustment or conditions of the settlement.
o The Security Council also makes recommendations to the General Assembly on the
Secretary-nomination Generals and the admission of new members to the United
Nations.
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) coordinates economic, social, and
environmental policies for the United Nations.
o ECOSOC oversees agencies that work in the economic, social, and environmental areas.
It helps the UN system achieve development goals.
o ECOSOC has 54 members that are chosen by the General Assembly for 3-year terms.
o ECOSOC is an important platform for discussing sustainable development at the United
Nations.
o The ECOSOC Functional Commissions include the following:
o Statistical Commission
o Commission on Population and Development
o Commission for Social Development
o Commission on the Status of Women
o Commission on Narcotic Drugs
o Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
o Commission on Science and Technology for Development
o United Nations Forum on Forests
o These commissions help ECOSOC perform its functions related to collecting data,
monitoring development issues, and making policy recommendations.
Trusteeship Council
o The UN Charter, established by the Trusteeship Council in 1945, seeks to ensure that all
necessary efforts have been taken to prepare the Territories for self-government and
independence.
o The Trusteeship Council terminated operations on November 1, 1994.
o The Council revised its process rules to remove the requirement to convene yearly and
agreed to meet as needed.
International Court of Justice
o The International Court of Justice is the United Nations’ primary judicial organ.
o Its headquarters are in The Hague’s Peace Palace (Netherlands).
o It is the only one of the United Nations’ six main institutions that is not based in New
York (United States of America).
o The Court’s responsibility is to handle legal issues brought before it by states in
accordance with international law.
o It also seeks to give advice on legal issues referred to it by approved United Nations
entities and specialized bodies.
UN Secretariat
o The Secretariat is made up of the Secretary-General and tens of thousands of
international UN staff members who carry out the day-to-day operations of the UN as
required by the General Assembly and other Organizations.
o The senior administrative officer of the Organization, the Secretary-General is chosen by
the General Assembly for a five-year term that is renewable.