Context: Recently, the External Affairs Minister asserted that India’s overall objective during the fresh tenure in the UN Security Council will be the achievement of N.O.R.M.S. (New Orientation for a Reformed Multilateral System).

• This announcement was made during the launch event of a brochure outlining India’s priorities for its forthcoming campaign to secure an elected seat in the UN Security Council. 

Key Points

• The External Affairs Minister emphasized India’s long-standing role as a voice of moderation, an advocate of dialogue and a proponent of international law.

The Priorities Paper, issued as a brochure by the Minister, set out the key priorities for India, as under:

• New Opportunities for progress
• An effective response to international terrorism
• Reforming the multilateral system
• A comprehensive approach to international peace and security
• Promoting technology with a human touch as a driver of solutions

India’s approach will be guided by “Five S’s”, as set out by the Prime Minister are 

• Samman (Respect),
• Samvad (Dialogue),
• Sahyog (Cooperation), 
• Shanti (Peace), to create conditions for universal
• Samriddhi (Prosperity)

About UNSC

• It is one of the 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.

Permanent Members: 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.
Proposed reforms:
Reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) encompasses five key issues

• categories of membership.
• the question of the veto held by the five permanent members.
• regional representation.
• the size of an enlarged Council and its working methods.
• the Security Council-General Assembly relationship.