Context: Recently, India has released a campaign brochure ahead of the vote for the non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in 2021-22, the year  that will mark its 75th year of Independence.
Background

• The government launched its plan for the UNSC seat as far back as 2013, officials said, with a keen eye on 2021, and the year that will mark its 75th year of Independence.
• To our good fortune, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan agreed, in a gesture to our friendship, to step aside for the 2021-22 seats.
• The next big challenge was to pursue the Asia-Pacific grouping nomination without any last-minute contenders being propped up against India.
• While diplomacy between capitals certainly helps, the vote had to be tied down by negotiations on the ground.
• India was able to win a unanimous endorsement from the 55-nation grouping that included both China and Pakistan, in June 2019.

India’s membership

• India is guaranteed a place in the UNSC as it is the sole candidate for Asia-Pacific (55-nation grouping) and is also expected to sail through with the 129 votes (two-thirds of the 193-member General Assembly) required for the seat.
• This will be the eighth time India will occupy a non-permanent UNSC seat, with its last stint in 2011-2012.

India’s agenda

• India will highlight international terrorism, United Nations reforms and Security Council expansion, streamlining the world body’s peacekeeping operations and technology initiatives during its upcoming tenure as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in 2021-22.
• 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 to set right the challenge of “Unreformed and under-representative” global institutions.

About United Nations Security Council

• The UNSC is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security.
• Its powers include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of international sanctions, and the authorization of military action through Security Council resolutions.
• It is the only UN body with the authority to issue binding resolutions to member states.
• The Security Council consists of fifteen members. Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, and the United States—serve as the body’s five permanent members.
• These permanent members can veto any substantive Security Council resolution, including those on the admission of new member states or candidates for Secretary-General.
• The Security Council also has 10 non-permanent members, elected on a regional basis to serve two-year terms. The body’s presidency rotates monthly among its members.