UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Jaishankar gearing up to lead India’s campaign for non-permanent UNSC seat

Q1. With reference to the composition and election of the UN Security Council, consider the following statements: 1. The Council has ten non-permanent members in addition to its five permanent members. 2. Non-permanent members are elected by a two-thirds majority of the UN General Assembly. 3. Each non-permanent member serves a single non-renewable term of three years. 4. The ten non-permanent seats are distributed among the UN's regional groups. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The Council has ten non-permanent members in addition to its five permanent members.
  2. Non-permanent members are elected by a two-thirds majority of the UN General Assembly.
  3. Each non-permanent member serves a single non-renewable term of three years.
  4. The ten non-permanent seats are distributed among the UN's regional groups.
  • A. 1, 2 and 4
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q2. With reference to the powers and election of UN Security Council members, consider the following statements: 1. Each of the five permanent members holds a veto over substantive resolutions. 2. Five non-permanent members are elected each year to replace those retiring. 3. A retiring non-permanent member is eligible for immediate re-election to a consecutive term. 4. Non-permanent members are eligible to hold the Council's monthly rotating presidency. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Each of the five permanent members holds a veto over substantive resolutions.
  2. Five non-permanent members are elected each year to replace those retiring.
  3. A retiring non-permanent member is eligible for immediate re-election to a consecutive term.
  4. Non-permanent members are eligible to hold the Council's monthly rotating presidency.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4

Q3. In the context of the 2028-29 UNSC contest, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) — reported to be backing Tajikistan — is best described as:

  • A. a 57-member intergovernmental grouping of Muslim-majority states
  • B. one of the five official UN regional groups used to allocate UNSC seats
  • C. a specialised agency of the UN General Assembly
  • D. a permanent organ of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

Q4. India's most recent (eighth) term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council covered which one of the following periods?

  • A. 2021-22
  • B. 2011-12
  • C. 2019-20
  • D. 2023-24

Q5. Prior to launching its bid for the 2028-29 term, how many times had India served as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council?

  • A. six
  • B. seven
  • C. eight
  • D. nine

Q6. Among the G4 nations campaigning for permanent UNSC seats, which one has served the greatest number of terms as a non-permanent member of the Security Council?

  • A. India
  • B. Japan
  • C. Brazil
  • D. Germany

Q7. Which Union ministry is the nodal ministry steering India's UNSC candidature and its push for Security Council reform?

  • A. Ministry of External Affairs
  • B. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • C. Ministry of Defence
  • D. Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Q8. The distribution of the ten non-permanent UNSC seats among the regional groups was formally established by which one of the following?

  • A. A 1963 UN General Assembly resolution (Resolution 1991 (XVIII)) amending the Charter
  • B. Article 23 of the UN Charter, which fixes the number of seats for each regional group
  • C. A binding decision of the Security Council adopted under Chapter VII
  • D. Rule 142 of the General Assembly's rules of procedure

Q9. With reference to the allocation of the ten non-permanent UNSC seats among the UN regional groups, consider the following statements: 1. The Eastern European group is allocated a single non-permanent seat. 2. The Latin American and Caribbean group and the Western European and Others group are each allocated two non-permanent seats. 3. African and Asian States together are allocated four non-permanent seats. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Eastern European group is allocated a single non-permanent seat.
  2. The Latin American and Caribbean group and the Western European and Others group are each allocated two non-permanent seats.
  3. African and Asian States together are allocated four non-permanent seats.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. India's official campaign for the 2028-29 UNSC non-permanent seat is being personally led by which one of the following office-holders?

  • A. The External Affairs Minister
  • B. The Prime Minister
  • C. The President of India
  • D. India's Permanent Representative to the UN

Q11. The meetings of the UN Security Council are chaired by which one of the following?

  • A. The member state holding the Council's monthly rotating presidency
  • B. The UN Secretary-General
  • C. The President of the UN General Assembly
  • D. The senior-most permanent member taken in alphabetical order