India’s Address at the United Nations General Assembly

India’s External affairs minister addressed the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Key Highlights from India’s Address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA):

• The theme of the 78th session of UNGA is “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and the sustainability for all.”
• The events started on 5th September till 23rd September 2023.
• Dennis Francis was the President of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly
• The Assembly’s annual general debate provides Member States the opportunity to express their views on major international issues.
• On this occasion, the Secretary-General presents on the opening day of the debate his report on the work of the Organization.

India’s Focus at the UNGA

• Jaishankar emphasized the need for a fair, equitable, and democratic international order
• He highlighted the significance of India’s G20 presidency and its focus on the concerns of the most vulnerable, including the African Union’s inclusion as a permanent member.
• Jaishankar emphasized India’s ability to engage with a broad range of nations and harmonize interests, citing examples like the QUAD and BRICS.
• Jaishankar stressed that political convenience should not determine responses to terrorism, extremism, and violence
• He called for the United Nations to make the Security Council contemporary, inspired by the African Union’s inclusion in the G20
• Jaishankar highlighted the need to move away from a system where a few nations set the global agenda, emphasizing that such days are over.
• He mentioned India’s commitment to gender equality, referring to the path-breaking legislation to reserve one-third of seats for women in legislatures.
• Jaishankar called for stringent climate action and criticized practices like vaccine apartheid
• He shared India’s message of digitally enabled governance and infrastructural growth, showcasing the nation’s vibrant start-up ecosystem.
• In his address, Jaishankar conveyed India’s commitment to fostering cooperation, addressing global challenges, and contributing to a more equitable and just world order.

About the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)

• The General Assembly is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the UN.
• It was established in 1945 under the Charter of the United Nations and is headquartered in New York City.
• It is one of the six principal organs of the UN and serves as the main policy-making organ of the Organization.
• All 193 Member States of the UN are represented in the General Assembly, making it the only UN body with universal representation.
• The President of the General Assembly is elected each year by assembly to serve a one-year term of office.
• The presidency rotates annually between the five geographic groups: African, Asia-Pacific, Eastern European, Latin American and Caribbean, and Western European and other States.

Decision-Making Process at the UNGA

• Decisions on important questions, such as those on peace and security, admission of new members and budgetary matters, require a two-thirds majority of the General Assembly.
• Decisions on other questions are by simple majority.
• The Assembly has no binding votes or veto powers like the UN Security Council.

Key Functions of the UNGA as per the UN Charter:

1. Consider and approve the United Nations budget and establish the financial assessments of Member States.
2. Elect the non-permanent members of the Security Council and the members of other United Nations councils and organs and, on the recommendation of the Security Council, appoint the Secretary-General.
3. Consider and make recommendations on the general principles of cooperation for maintaining international peace and security, including disarmament.
4. Discuss any question relating to international peace and security and, except where a dispute or situation is currently being discussed by the Security Council, make recommendations on it.

Main Committees of the UNGA

The six main Committees of UNGA are:

• the Disarmament and International Security Committee
• the Economic and Financial Committee
• the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee
• the Special Political and Decolonization Committee
• the Administrative and Budgetary Committee
• the Legal Committee

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