Value Added | International Relations | Part-4

Team Shashank Sajwan

United Nations
1. The United Nation was formed on October 24, 1945, with the aim of establishing
world peace. It was established with the signing of 50 countries on the United
Nations Charter. Currently, the United Nations has become an organisation of 193
countries.
2. The UN is structured around five principal organs:
a. General Assembly
b. United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
c. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
d. International Court of Justice
e. UN Secretariat
3. The basic work of the United Nations Security Council is the establishment of global
peace. It is also known as the executive body of the United Nations.
4. It has 5 permanent and 10 temporary members. Its 5 permanent members have the
veto power which often causes controversy.
a. India is currently a non-permanent member of the United Nations.
b. Prior to this, India has been a non-permanent member 7 times.
5. The UN specialised agencies are autonomous organisations working with the United
Nations:
a. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) established in 1945, with the
contemporary role of leading international efforts to defeat hunger.
b. International Labour Organization (ILO) is a United Nations agency whose
objective is to advance social justice and promote decent work by setting
international labour standards.
c. The UN Monetary and Financial Conference also called Bretton Woods
Conference was held in the United States to regulate the international
monetary and financial order after the conclusion of World War II, this led to
creation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 1945, and IBRD in 1945
which is the founding institution of World Bank.
d. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) was established in 1945 to develop the “intellectual and moral
solidarity of mankind” as a means of building lasting peace.
e. The World Health Organization (WHO), established in 1948, is the United
Nations’ specialised agency for health.

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 f. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was created in
1950, during the Second World War, to help millions of Europeans who had
fled or lost their homes find refuge.
6. UN Funds and Programmes:
a. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) was created by the United
Nations General Assembly in 1946, to provide emergency food and
healthcare to children and mothers after the 2nd World War.
b. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), established in 1965, is the
UN's global development network. It is key to the United Nations Sustainable
Development Group (UN SDG) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development.
c. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the environmental
authority. UNEP and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) established
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 1988. UNEP
releases many reports such as the Emission Gap Report.
d. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) works as the United Nations sexual
and reproductive health agency. It also publishes the “State of World
Population” Report.
e. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations General
Assembly established the World Food Programme (WFP) in 1963, to address
the global pressing cause of nutritional betterment and hunger eradication.
f. United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the United
Nations programme aiming towards a better urban future.

UN: 75th Anniversary

1. The year 2020 marked the 75th anniversary of the United Nations and its founding
Charter. This anniversary comes in a time of great disruption for the world,
compounded by an unprecedented global health crisis due to the COVID-19
pandemic, with severe economic and social impacts. Many of the planned modalities
of the commemoration, agreed to by Member States in 2019, have had to be
modified in view of the restrictions on international travel and in-person meetings,
leading to virtual and hybrid-format events.
2. The UN marked the occasion with a High-Level Meeting of the 75th UN General
Assembly on 21 September 2020 on the theme 'The Future We Want, the UN We
Need: Reaffirming our Collective Commitment to Multilateralism'. In his
intervention, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi highlighted the need for a reformed
multilateralism that reflects today's realities, gives voice to all stakeholders,
addresses contemporary challenges and focuses on human welfare. During this
meeting, world leaders also adopted the UN@75 Political Declaration
commemorating 75 years of the UN.

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3. 75th session of the UN General Assembly emphasised that in this term, the priority
areas will be:
a. Fighting COVID-19 together.
b. Celebrating 75 years of the UN.
c. Recommitting to and strengthening Multilateralism.
d. Advancing humanitarian agenda with a focus on the most vulnerable.
e. Taking action to achieve the 2030 Agenda and SDGs
f. Promoting Gender Equality

India-UN
1. India was among the select members of the United Nations that signed the
Declaration by the United Nations at Washington on 1 January 1942. India also
participated in the historic UN Conference of International Organization at San
Francisco from 25 April to 26 June 1945.
2. As a founding member of the United Nations, India strongly supports the purposes
and principles of the UN and has made significant contributions to implementing the
goals of the Charter, and the evolution of the UN’s specialised programmes and
agencies.
3. Historical Perspective:
a. Independent India viewed its membership at the United Nations as an
important guarantee for maintaining international peace and security. India
stood at the forefront during the UN's tumultuous years of struggle against
colonialism and apartheid.
b. India’s status as a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement and the
Group of 77 cemented its position within the UN system as a leading
advocate of the concerns and aspirations of developing countries and the
creation of a more equitable international economic and political order.
4. India’s deepening engagement with the United Nations is based on its steadfast
commitment to multilateralism and dialogue as the key for achieving shared goals
and addressing common challenges faced by the global community including those
related to peace building and peacekeeping, sustainable development, poverty
eradication, environment, climate change, terrorism, disarmament, human rights,
health and pandemics, migration, cyber security, space and frontier technologies like
Artificial Intelligence, comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including the
reform of the Security Council, among others.
5. India contribution:
a. India played an important part in the drafting of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights in 1948.
b. India has sent her peacekeeping troops in UN Peacekeeping Missions in
various parts of the world such as Egypt, Congo, Haiti, Angola, Somalia,
Liberia, Rwanda, Lebanon etc.

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 c. India has also been one of the largest contributors of troops in the UN
Peacekeeping Forces.
d. India is playing an important role in the UNDP, environmental improvement
programs protected by the United Nations
6. In India, UN-Women’s five priority areas are:
a. Ending violence against women and girls,
b. Expanding women’s leadership and participation,
c. Making gender equality central to national development planning and
budgeting,
d. Enhancing women’s economic empowerment,
e. Engaging women as global peace-builders and negotiators.
7. India is currently serving its 2-year term as a non-permanent Member of the UN
Security Council.
a. During its time on the Council, India has strived to achieve its priorities, i.e.,
new opportunities for progress; an effective response to international
terrorism; reforming the multilateral system; a comprehensive approach to
international peace and security; and promoting technology with a human
touch as a driver of solutions.
b. India looks forward to adopting an approach guided by the "Five S’s”, as set
out by the Prime Minister: Samman (Respect); Samvad (Dialogue), Sahyog
(Cooperation), and Shanti (Peace), to create conditions for universal
Samriddhi (Prosperity).
c. India’s overall objective during this tenure in the UN Security Council will be
the achievement of N.O.R.M.S: a New Orientation for a Reformed
Multilateral System. The ‘Five S’s will also be the guiding light in our approach
to the 77th UNGA.
d. India would also continue to strive to build on our achievements during our
August 2021 Presidency of the Security Council, including the focus that was
brought on international maritime security by Prime Minister Modi’s chairing
of the UNSC and adoption of the first PRST on this topic by the Council.
e. Further a discussion on technology and peacekeeping in the Council chaired
by External Affairs Minister, and the adoption of a UNSC Resolution on
“Protecting the Protectors” that was cosponsored by all 15-Member States.
f. India’s contribution of US$ 1.6 million to UN to develop a situational
awareness software platform, “UNITE AWARE” for assisting UN Peacekeeping
Missions.

77th UNGA priorities for India:

1. Maintain India’s active engagement as a leading voice on issues relating to
sustainable development, financing for development, terrorism, and climate change.

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2. Strengthen engagement with fellow developing countries, especially LLDCs, LDCs and
SIDS through the India-UN Development Partnership Fund and IBSA Fund in the spirit
of SouthSouth cooperation.
3. Bring India’s perspective to debates relating to human rights including the right to
development and continue to highlight India’s achievements in realising the rights of
different groups, including women, children, minorities, and persons with
disabilities.
4. Continue to showcase commitments and achievements in women-led development
particularly women’s leadership and political participation at the grassroots level,
promoting financial inclusion, prevention of sexual harassment and violence against
women, providing access to clean cooking fuel, sanitation, safe drinking water and
health coverage including maternal and child health etc.
5. Continue to advocate the need for resilient global supply chains to sustain vaccine
production to ensure equitably and affordable access. Promote Indian positions and
arguments in consultations and subsequent intergovernmental negotiations on
Universal Health Coverage.
6. Attach greater prominence to issues relating to counter- terrorism; pushing for more
transparency in the process of listing and delisting of entities and individuals in
Security Council’s Sanction Committees.
7. Engage substantively in matters relating to peacekeeping as a major Troop
Contributing Country in finalising mandates for UN peacekeeping missions.
a. Promote application of technology in peacekeeping Missions and seek
accountability for crimes against Peacekeepers in line with Security Council
Resolution 2589.
8. Take forward India’s pragmatic and constructive approach on disarmament issues at
the First Committee and UN Disarmament Commission and engage with all partners
on issues related to outer space, cyberspace etc.
9. Continue to pursue the issue of reform of the Security Council for a meaningful
outcome in the 77th UNGA.
10. 2030 Agenda: Strategies for a ‘New India’ and the country’s vision for 2030 are
aligned with the spirit of achieving the 2030 Agenda.
a. The various flagship programmes - Poshan Abhiyaan, Ayushman Bharat,
Swacch Bharat, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Skill India, Ujjwala Yojana, Rural
Electrification program, Smart Cities Mission – directly address the challenges
highlighted by the SDGs. The slogan of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka
Vishwas’ mirrors the essence of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development, of leaving no one behind.
11. South-South Cooperation:
a. India has considerable experience in South-South Cooperation, bilaterally as
well as through collaboration with the UN.

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 b. India has set up a US$ 150 million IndiaUN Development Partnership Fund,
managed by UNOSSC. The Fund continues to support South-owned and
South-led sustainable development projects with a focus on LDCs, LLDCs and
SIDS. In four years, the Fund has accumulated a portfolio of 66 projects in 52
countries.
c. As part of Covid response, the India-UNDP Fund has commissioned projects
in 15 countries ranging from Antigua & Barbuda in the Caribbean to Palau in
the South Pacific.
d. The IBSA (India-BrazilSouth Africa) Fund for the Alleviation of Poverty and
Hunger also hosted at the UNOSSC is another unique mechanism for South-
South Cooperation.
e. India will also be an active participant in the 5th UN Conference on LDCs to
be held in Doha, Qatar in March 2023.
12. Focus on Climate and Water: The 77th session is associated with multiple
conferences and meetings such as:
a. COP27 on climate change in November 2022 that will bring parties together
to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change.
b. The UN Water Conference in March 2023 that aims to take concerted action
to achieve the internationally agreed water-related goals and targets.
c. The UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15-second part) in December 2022 that
will see the adoption of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework,
providing a strategic vision and roadmap for the conservation, protection,
restoration and sustainable management of biodiversity for the next decade.
d. India’s involvement and voice in these forums will indicate our strong
momentum in actively responding to the needs of our planet.
13. India along with South Africa has taken the lead in the WTO on a COVID-19 vaccine
a. Intellectual Property Rights waiver and the use of flexibilities of the TRIPS
Agreement and the Doha Declaration on TRIPS Agreement and Public Health.
We are working actively with GAVI, WHO and ACT Accelerator.
b. India will continue to mobilise Member States towards ensuring equitable
and affordable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

Challenges
1. Widespread concern at the inadequacy of the existing multilateral institutions to
deliver results or meet new challenges.
a. UNSC has largely remained the same from decades and does not reflect the
realities of the 21st century.
2. The UN failed as a global body in containing regional conflicts such as the current
Russia-Ukraine crisis.

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3. Terrorism is an enduring and critical threat to international peace and security.
Terrorist groups have linkages across borders, regions and continents in recruitment,
financing and operations.
4. Rapidly evolving technology can pose new challenges for humankind and it must be
intelligently harnessed by the international community.
5. The failure of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) highlights the
ineffectiveness of the United Nations and its limitation to enforce crucial rules and
regulations on offending nations.
6. The world population is projected to increase by more than one billion people within
the next 15 years, reaching 8.5 billion in 2030 making it more difficult to achieve the
desired development goals.

UNSC Reforms
1. India has accorded great priority to getting permanent membership for India in an
expanded UN Security Council that reflects contemporary global realities.
2. India in collaboration with other pro-reform countries has been consistently making
efforts to build support among the UN Member States for expansion of the UNSC, in
both permanent and non-permanent categories.
3. India has been maintaining that global institutions need to be reformed, starting
from the United Nations and its Security Council.
4. Reformed multilateralism has been our motto for a purposeful reform of existing
structures, which must continue to serve the international community even more in
these complex and uncertain times.
5. India is actively engaged in the ongoing Intergovernmental Negotiations on UNSC
reform at the UN and has been working alongside other reform-oriented countries
through its membership of the:
a. G-4 (India, Japan, Brazil and Germany)
b. L.69 Group (cross-regional grouping of developing countries of Asia, Africa
and Latin America).

Way Forward
1. Despite the UN’s shortcomings, there has been no major war in the world since
World War 2.
2. Kofi Annan: “World needs a renewed UN, and not retire UN”. Hence reforms are the
need of the hour.
3. The UN needs to strengthen its expertise in areas such as ocean health, renewable
energy systems, urban design, disease control, technological innovation, public-
private partnerships, and peaceful cultural cooperation.
4. The ‘New Orientation for a Reformed Multilateral System (NORMS)’ approach given
by India will be the torchbearer in the right direction.

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 World Trade Organisation (WTO)
1. The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organisation
dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO
agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world’s trading nations and
ratified in their parliaments. The goal is to help producers of goods and services,
exporters, and importers conduct their business.
2. Evolution:
a. From 1948 to 1994, the GATT provided the rules for much of world trade and
presided over periods that saw some of the highest growth rates in
international commerce. It seemed well-established but throughout those 47
years, it was a provisional agreement and organisation.
b. The WTO’s creation on 1 January 1995 marked the biggest reform of
international trade since the end of the Second World War. Whereas the
GATT mainly dealt with trade in goods, the WTO and its agreements also
cover trade in services and intellectual property.
3. The WTO is run by its member governments. All major decisions are made by the
membership as a whole, either by ministers (who usually meet at least once every
two years) or by their ambassadors or delegates (who meet regularly in Geneva).
4. Objectives:
a. Trade negotiations: The WTO agreements cover goods, services and
intellectual property. They spell out the principles of liberalisation, and the
permitted exceptions. They include individual countries’ commitments to
lower customs tariffs and other trade barriers, and to open and keep open
services markets. They set procedures for settling disputes. These
agreements are not static; they are renegotiated from time to time and new
agreements can be added to the package. Many are now being negotiated
under the Doha Development Agenda, launched by WTO trade ministers in
Doha, Qatar, in November 2001.
b. Dispute settlement: The WTO’s procedure for resolving trade quarrels under
the Dispute Settlement Understanding is vital for enforcing the rules and
therefore for ensuring that trade flows smoothly. Countries bring disputes to
the WTO if they think their rights under the agreements are being infringed.
Judgements by specially appointed independent experts are based on
interpretations of the agreements and individual countries’ commitments.
c. Building trade capacity: WTO agreements contain special provisions for
developing countries, including longer time periods to implement
agreements and commitments, measures to increase their trading
opportunities, and support to help them build their trade capacity, to handle
disputes and to implement technical standards. The WTO organises hundreds
of technical cooperation missions to developing countries annually. It also
holds numerous courses each year in Geneva for government officials. Aid for

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 Trade aims to help developing countries develop the skills and infrastructure
needed to expand their trade.
5. The topmost decision-making body of the WTO is the Ministerial Conference, which
usually meets every two years. It brings together all members of the WTO, all of
which are countries or customs unions. The Ministerial Conference can take
decisions on all matters under any of the multilateral trade agreements.
6. The WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) took place from 12 to 17 June 2022
at WTO headquarters in Geneva. The “Geneva package” adopted by members
includes:
a. A package on WTO response to emergencies, comprising: a Ministerial
Declaration on the Emergency Response to Food Insecurity.
b. A Ministerial Decision on World Food Programme (WFP) Food Purchases
Exemptions from Export Prohibitions or Restrictions.
c. A Ministerial Declaration on the WTO Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
and Preparedness for Future Pandemics.
d. A Ministerial Decision on the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of
Intellectual Property Rights.
e. A Decision on the E-commerce Moratorium and Work Programme.
f. An Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.
g. Overall, the path ahead for India at the WTO is difficult. India’s negotiators
need to undertake soul searching to learn lessons from the dynamics at the
MC12, and make course corrections.
7. Doha Round:
a. The Doha Round is the latest round of trade negotiations among the WTO
membership. Its aim is to achieve major reform of the international trading
system through the introduction of lower trade barriers and revised trade
rules. The work programme covers about 20 areas of trade.
b. The Round is also known semi-officially as the Doha Development Agenda as
a fundamental objective is to improve the trading prospects of developing
countries. The Round was officially launched at the WTO’s Fourth Ministerial
Conference in Doha, Qatar, in November 2001.
c. The Doha Ministerial Declaration provided the mandate for the negotiations,
including on agriculture, services and an intellectual property topic, which
began earlier. In Doha, ministers also approved a decision on how to address
the problems developing countries face in implementing the current WTO
agreements.
8. Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS):
a. The WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights
(TRIPS) is the most comprehensive multilateral agreement on intellectual
property (IP).

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 b. It plays a central role in facilitating trade in knowledge and creativity, in
resolving trade disputes over IP, and in assuring WTO members the latitude
to achieve their domestic policy objectives.
c. It frames the IP system in terms of innovation, technology transfer and public
welfare. The Agreement is a legal recognition of the significance of links
between IP and trade and the need for a balanced IP system.
9. Major Achievements:
a. Over the past 20 years, WTO members have agreed major updates to the
WTO rulebook to improve the flow of global trade.
b. The WTO's membership has expanded to 164 members, representing over
98% of international trade.
c. In 2015, the WTO reached a significant milestone with the receipt of its 500th
trade dispute for settlement.
d. WTO members representing major exporters of information technology
products agreed at the WTO’s 10th Ministerial Conference, in Nairobi, on the
timetable for implementing a landmark deal to eliminate tariffs on 201 IT
products valued at over $1.3 trillion per year

India-WTO
1. India has been a WTO member since 1 January 1995 and a member of GATT since 8
July 1948.
2. India saw three major opportunities from its membership of the WTO.
a. These were to use the WTO’s unique multilateral dispute settlement
mechanism as an option to avoid being enmeshed in unequal bilateral trade
disputes with major trading countries, especially when threatened by the
application of provisions like Super 301 by the United States.
b. Secondly, the integration of special and differential treatment provisions in
favour of developing countries in the WTO Agreement provided India scope
for advocating a phased approach to trade liberalisation for the vast majority
of WTO members in order to sustain the benefits of trade liberalisation. This
created a "constituency” for India’s prominent role in WTO activities.
c. Third, the WTO, especially its new architecture on trade in services provided
by the GATS, became an important reference point and an anchor to sustain
major India’s domestic economic reforms during the turbulent years
following the creation of the WTO.
3. India has been among the most active countries using the WTO’s Dispute Settlement
Understanding (DSU) to uphold the rules-based system of the WTO, ranking fifth in
the consolidated list of complainants and respondents (after the United States, EU,
China, and Canada, and ahead of Brazil, Japan, and South Korea). This is despite
India’s share of global trade being 1.7% for trade in goods, and 3.8% for trade in
services in 2019.

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 Challenges
1. The structural challenge of the dysfunctionality of Appellate Body (AB) of the WTO
dispute settlement system, due to the United States blocking consensus on
appointments to the AB.
a. In response, several of India’s major trading partners, including Australia,
Brazil, and China etc took the initiative in March 2020 to set up a "Multi-Party
Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement” (MPIAAA), which would perform
the role of the AB for the members of the MPIAAA.
b. The indefinite continuation of the MPIAAA has implications for India, which is
not a party to this arrangement, as it has the potential to fragment the
integrity and effectiveness of the WTO dispute settlement mechanism
negotiated during the Uruguay Round.
2. Increased interest among developed country members like the United States in
removing the special and differential treatment for developing countries. It also
poses a direct threat to India’s "constituency” in the international trading system,
nurtured over decades by India’s proactive diplomacy.
3. In the 12th MC in Geneva, the issue of including diagnostics and therapeutics for
these vaccines was deferred for another six months showing the strong protectionist
sentiment within major developed countries.

Way Forward
1. The decision at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference held in Geneva between 12-17
June 2022 to chart a course to reform the AB within the next two years is of critical
importance for India. India must play a proactive negotiating role to bridge the
divergences between its biggest trading partners on this issue in its own interests.
2. The launch of E-Commerce negotiations at the next Ministerial Conference of the
WTO is a marker for India’s ability and interests to become a leading player in the
global digital economy.
3. Despite the strong resistance of the EU, in the 12th MC in Geneva in June2022, the
India-South Africa Covid Vaccine Waiver initiative was partly successful, with a
decision taken to waive the WTO trade-related intellectual rights provisions for
manufacture of such vaccines for a period of 5 years, highlighting the proactive role
of India in WTO.
4. Despite all the challenges, the WTO was able to hold its Ministerial Conference in
Geneva in June 2022, after a fairly long gap after the previous Conference held in
Buenos Aires in December 2017 which demonstrated that despite the larger
challenges facing a rules-based multilateral order today the international community
continues to have faith in multilateralism to bounce back from the setbacks of the
pandemic and conflicts.

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 World Bank (WB)
1. The World Bank was established in July 1944 at the Bretton Woods Conference
which was pursuing three goals:
a. Facilitate reconstruction, which led to the creation of IBRD (International
Bank for Reconstruction and Development).
b. Ensure financial and monetary stability, which led to the creation of the IMF.
c. Restore and expand trade, an objective which has been more difficult to
achieve. It started with the GATT and it is only in 1995 that the WTO was
created.
2. With 189 member countries, staff from more than 170 countries, and offices in over
130 locations, the World Bank Group is a unique global partnership.
3. The World Bank Group is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and
knowledge for developing countries. Its five institutions share a commitment to
reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable
development.
a. IBRD (The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development)
b. IDA (The International Development Association)
c. IFC (The International Finance Corporation)
d. MIGA (The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency)
e. CSID (The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes)
4. Together, IBRD and IDA form the World Bank, which provides financing, policy
advice, and technical assistance to governments of developing countries. IDA
focuses on the world’s poorest countries, while IBRD assists middle-income and
creditworthy poorer countries.
5. IFC, MIGA, and ICSID focus on strengthening the private sector in developing
countries. Through these institutions, the World Bank Group provides financing,
technical assistance, political risk insurance, and settlement of disputes to private
enterprises, including financial institutions.
6. World Bank Annual Report: The Annual Report focuses on how the World Bank is
partnering with countries to end extreme poverty by 2030, promote shared
prosperity, and support the global sustainable development agenda.
a. Other Reports: Ease of Doing Business; World Development Report; Global
Economic Prospect (GEP) Report; Logistics Performance Index; Remittance
Report; Ease of Living Index; India Development Update etc.
7. Its members are shareholders and the number of shares a country has is based
roughly on the size of its economy.
a. The United States is the largest single shareholder, followed by Japan,
Germany, the United Kingdom, and France.
8. Till date it has given $45.9 billion Financial Assistance across 12,000 Projects to
support development and relief.

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 India-WB
1. India, then still under colonial rule, became one of the World Bank’s founding
members. Later, it was India that first suggested the creation of a special body to aid
developing nations, an idea that bore fruit with the establishment of the
International Development Association.
2. Not long after the country gained Independence in 1947, India took its first World
Bank loan - for the development of the Indian Railways – one of the largest such
networks in the world. This was the World Bank’s first loan to an Asian country.
3. When successive droughts led to chronic food shortages and India imported food
grain to feed its rapidly rising population, the World Bank worked with the country
to set the stage for its landmark Green Revolution.
4. When India launched the LPG economic reforms, the World Bank helped the country
build institutions for managing critical sectors of a newly globalising economy.
5. The World Bank also helped India pioneer path breaking reforms in rural water
supply where, for the first time, local communities were involved in the planning and
management of their water supply systems. Today, some 30 million people in over
30,000 villages have gained better access to drinking water.
6. Over the past decade, the World Bank has engaged in a series of next generation
mega projects, including the construction of India’s first electrified rail freight
corridor, the revival of long-defunct inland waterways, and assisted the shift to
multimodal transportation networks.
7. In 2020, when Covid-19 unleashed a crisis of unprecedented magnitude, the World
Bank supported India’s immediate health needs, helped the country extend food and
cash support to large numbers of poor people, and worked with it to protect micro,
small and medium enterprises.
8. In the next phase of partnership, the World Bank will help India build a sustainable
and resilient economy.
9. Currently, the World Bank’s support to India is spread over 127 active projects with a
combined worth of over $28 billion. Even so, the World Bank remains a small player
in India’s nearly three trillion-dollar economy and lends less than one percent of the
country’s GDP.

Way Forward
1. Currently, the World Bank has two stated goals that it aims to achieve by 2030.
a. End extreme poverty by decreasing the number of people living on less than
$1.90 a day to below 3% of the world population.
b. Increase overall prosperity by increasing income growth in the bottom 40% of
every country in the world.
2. World Bank funded projects in India include: Skill India Mission; Clean India Mission;
National Ganga River Basin Project etc hence showcasing the prominent role WB has
in the Indian developmental saga.

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 International Monetary Fund (IMF)
1. The IMF was established in 1944 in the aftermath of the Great Depression of the
1930s. 44 founding member countries sought to build a framework for international
economic cooperation. Today, its membership embraces 190 countries, with staff
drawn from 150 nations.
2. At the top of its organisational structure is the Board of Governors. The day-to-day
work of the IMF is overseen by its 24-member Executive Board, which represents the
entire membership and is supported by IMF staff.
3. The IMF's resources mainly come from the money that countries pay as their capital
subscription (quotas) when they become members. Each member of the IMF is
assigned a quota, based broadly on its relative position in the world economy.
4. The IMF provides loans—including emergency loans—to member countries
experiencing actual or potential balance of payments problems. The aim is to help
them rebuild their international reserves, stabilise their currencies, continue paying
for imports, and restore conditions for strong economic growth, while correcting
underlying problems.
5. The IMF monitors the international monetary system and global economic
developments to identify risks and recommend policies for growth and financial
stability. The Fund also undertakes a regular health check of the economic and
financial policies of its 190 member countries. In addition, the IMF identifies possible
risks to the economic stability of its member countries and advises their
governments on possible policy adjustments.
6. The IMF provides technical assistance and training to governments, including central
banks, finance ministries, revenue administrations, and financial sector supervisory
agencies. These capacity development efforts are centred on the IMF’s core areas of
expertise ranging from taxation through central bank operations to the reporting of
macroeconomic data. Such training also helps countries tackle cross-cutting issues,
such as income inequality, gender equality, corruption, and climate change.
7. IMF’s role in COVID-19:
a. The IMF has responded by doubling the countries’ access to its Rapid Credit
Facility (RCF) and Rapid Transfer Financing (RFI).
b. With Grants for Debt Relief initiative, the IMF has reached out to the 29 of its
poorest and most vulnerable countries.
c. For global financial safety, the International Monetary Organization approved
the establishment of Short-term Liquidity Line (SLL) to enhance liquidity.
d. The IMF reached out to 160 countries to address urgent issues such as cash
management, financial supervision, cybersecurity and economic governance
and ultimately helping in capacity development.
8. World Economic Outlook Report by IMF:
a. Published twice a year in April and October and analyses and predicts global
economic developments.

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 b. The 2022 Report says that Global growth is projected to slow from an
estimated 6.1 percent in 2021 to 3.6 percent in 2022 and 2023.
c. It also lowered India’s growth projection by 0.8 % points for 2022-23 from its
previous forecast (9%) for the same period in 2021.

Special Drawing Rights (SDRs)

1. The SDR is an international reserve asset created by the IMF to supplement the
official reserves of its member countries.
2. The SDR is not a currency. It is a potential claim on the freely usable currencies of
IMF members. As such, SDRs can provide a country with liquidity.
3. A basket of currencies defines the SDR: the US dollar, Euro, Chinese Yuan, Japanese
Yen, and the British Pound.
4. To date, a total of SDR 660.7 billion (equivalent to about US$943 billion) have been
allocated. This includes the largest-ever allocation of about SDR 456 billion approved
on August 2, 2021.
a. This most recent allocation was to address the long-term global need for
reserves, and help countries cope with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
5. Indian Quota: SDR 13114.4 million.

India-IMF
1. India joined on 27th December 1945.
2. The Fund granted India loans to meet the financial difficulties arising out of the
Indo–Pak conflict of 1965 and 1971.
3. IMF has also helped India in the 1990s Balance of Payment Crisis after which the LPG
Reforms were adopted.
4. India’s share is 2.75%, making it the 8th largest shareholder in the quota system.
5. In the IMF’s Economic Outlook, Bangladesh has surpassed India in per capita GDP.

Way Forward
1. IMF Reforms are the need of the hour.
a. IMF Quota’s formula is designed in such a way that the USA itself has a 17.7%
quota which is higher than the cumulative of several countries.
2. There is a rise of possible competitors such as the BRICS bank, to reduce the western
hegemony on these institutions.
3. The under process 15th General Quota Review provides an opportunity to assess and
evaluate size and composition of available resources and to continue the process of
governance reforms.
4. In the contemporary age of centre of gravity turning towards the Indo-Pacific, IMF
has a greater role to play in addressing these issues.

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 International Court of Justice (ICJ)
1. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United
Nations (UN). It was established in June 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations
and began work in April 1946.
2. The court is the successor to the Permanent Court of International Justice (PCIJ),
which was brought into being through, and by, the League of Nations.
3. The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands). Of the six
principal organs of the United Nations, it is the only one not located in New York
(United States of America).
4. The Court’s role is to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes
submitted to it by States and to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to
it by authorised United Nations organs and specialised agencies.
5. The Court is composed of 15 judges, who are elected for terms of office of nine years
by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council. It is assisted by a
Registry, its administrative organ. Its official languages are English and French.
6. Members of the Court:
a. In order to ensure a degree of continuity, one third of the Court is elected
every three years. Judges are eligible for re-election.
b. All States parties to the Statute of the Court have the right to propose
candidates. Such proposals are made not by the government of the State
concerned, but by a group consisting of the members of the Permanent Court
of Arbitration.
7. Presidency:
a. The President and Vice-President are elected by the Members of the Court
every three years by secret ballot. The election is held on the date on which
Members of the Court elected at a triennial election begin their terms of
office or shortly thereafter. An absolute majority is required and there are no
conditions of nationality. The President and Vice-President may be re-
elected.
8. The Court may entertain two types of cases: legal disputes between States
submitted to it by them (contentious cases) and requests for advisory opinions on
legal questions referred to it by United Nations organs and specialised agencies
(advisory proceedings).
9. Every year the Court submits a report on its activities to the United Nations General
Assembly.
10. There are 5 seats available for western nations, 3 for African nations, 2 for Eastern
European nations, 3 for Asian nations, and 2 for Latin American and Caribbean
nations.
11. The 15 judges of the Court are distributed in the following regions:
a. 3 from Africa.
b. 2 from Latin America and the Caribbean.

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 c. 3 from Asia.
d. 5 from Western Europe and other states.
e. 2 from Eastern Europe.

India-ICJ
1. India has moved the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Pakistan, accusing the
latter of violating the Vienna Convention in the case of Indian spy Kulbhushan
Jadhav, who was handed a death sentence by Pakistan.
2. In 2019, the ICJ directed Pakistan to review the conviction order of Kulbhushan
Jadhav and put his death sentence on hold. ICJ also asked Pakistan to allow India
consular access at the earliest which was a major diplomatic and legal victory for
India.
3. Four Indians have been members of the ICJ so far.
a. In November 2017, India’s Dalveer Bhandari was re-elected to the
International Court of Justice (ICJ) and his term ends in 2027.
b. Former Chief Justice of India R S Pathak served from 1989-91.
c. Former Chief Election Commissioner of India Nagendra Singh from 1973-88.
Singh was also president of the court from 1985-88, and vice-president from
1976-79.
d. Sir Benegal Rau, an advisor to the Constituent Assembly was a member of the
ICJ from 1952-53.

Challenges
1. ICJ suffers from many structural and circumstantial limitations.
2. ICJ has no jurisdiction to try individuals accused of war crimes or crimes against
humanity.
3. It does not enjoy a full separation of powers, with permanent members of the
Security Council being able to veto enforcement of cases, even those to which they
consented to be bound.
4. ICJ can not resolve any dispute on its own discretion but only when one or more
States ask the Court to hear a case can it do so.

Way Forward
1. The International Court of Justice is tasked with both a reputed global status and a
mechanism whose potential is often undermined, hence it needs structural and
circumstantial reforms for the promotion and development of international peace.
2. Cooperative and holistic approach is the need of the hour, by taking into play other
institutions such as the International Criminal Court.
3. ICJ’s proactive role will also be a trendsetter for the larger United Nations goals and
achieving the SDGs by 2030.

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 International Criminal Court (ICC)
1. The International Criminal Court (ICC) investigates and, where warranted, tries
individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international
community: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of
aggression.
2. As a court of last resort, it seeks to complement, not replace, national Courts and is
governed by an international treaty called the Rome Statute.
3. The Assembly of States Parties ("the Assembly") is the Court's management
oversight and legislative body and is composed of representatives of the States
which have ratified or acceded to the Rome Statute.
4. Four organs of the ICC:
a. The Presidency conducts external relations with States and coordinates
judicial matters such as assigning judges.
b. Judicial Divisions: Pre-Trial, Trial and Appeals and also conduct judicial
proceedings.
c. The Office of the Prosecutor is bound with undertaking preliminary
examinations, investigations, and prosecutions.
d. Registry conducts non-judicial activities, such as security, interpretation,
outreach, support to Defence and victims' lawyers etc.
5. Trust Fund for Victims is separate from the Court and its mission is to support and
implement programmes that address harms resulting from genocide, crimes of
humanity, war crimes and aggression.
6. India is not a party to the Rome Statute, along with the US and China, due to
concerns such as sovereignty and crime definition.
7. It is headquartered at The Hague, the Netherlands.

Challenges
1. ICC does not have its own police and enforcement agencies and hence rely on the
forces from its members.
2. The ICC is often accused of favouring powerful nations and also pushing forward
biassed western viewpoints.
3. ICC cannot impose a death sentence.
4. USA called for sanctions against ICC officials involved in investigations into possible
war crimes by USA, thus making justice delivery difficult.

Way Forward
1. ICC expansion and acceptance by more nations will increase the scope of human
rights proliferation.
2. Increased state’s authority and coercive powers demand an effective and efficient
ICC.

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