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UN Security Council Sanctions and Veto Power

PYQs

8

Articles

1

Momentum

21

Phase IFoundation

Background

Overview

Understanding the functioning and limitations of multilateral institutions like the UN, the impact of great power politics on global governance, and the challenges to international peace and security. It is crucial for analyzing international relations and India's foreign policy.

The UN Security Council (UNSC), one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, holds primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. It possesses the authority to impose legally binding sanctions on states or entities, which are non-military measures designed to compel compliance with international law and resolutions.

Phase IIStatic core

Facts & tables

Key facts

Composition

The UNSC comprises 15 members: 5 permanent (P5) and 10 non-permanent.

Veto Power

P5 members (China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States) hold veto power, allowing them to block any substantive resolution.

Types of Sanctions

Sanctions can include arms embargoes, asset freezes, travel bans, and restrictions on trade.

Monitoring Mechanisms

Expert panels are often authorized to monitor the implementation and effectiveness of sanctions.

Reference table

Static syllabus anchors

TypeReference
Conceptual areaInternational Relations

Reference table

Institutions & roles

BodyRole
United Nations Security CouncilImplements
United NationsOversees
Phase IIIExam lens

Prelims angle

Overview

Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis

Prelims angle: Factual recall

Quick revision

  • UNSC: primary body for international peace & security.
  • P5 members possess veto power over substantive resolutions.
  • Sanctions are non-military tools for compliance.
  • Expert panels monitor sanction implementation.
  • Vetoes can hinder sanction enforcement and monitoring.

Elimination traps

Body vs treaty — Distinguish between the UNSC (body) and specific sanction resolutions (legal instruments).

Treaty = agreement between states; body = institution.

High-confidence PYQs

2026Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

Consider the following UN organisations/agencies : 1. World Food Programme 2. United Nations Children's Fund 3. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee...

International RelationsOpen question
2025Factual recall, Conceptual understanding

India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect

International RelationsOpen question
2023Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: Statement-I :Israel has established diplomatic relations with some Arab States. Statement-II :The 'Arab Peace Initiative...

International RelationsOpen question
2022Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions

With reference to the “United Nations Credentials Committee”, consider the following statements: 1. It is a committee set up by the UN Security Council and w...

International RelationsOpen question

With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements: 1. The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-mem...

International RelationsOpen question
2022Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

With reference to the “United Nations Credentials Committee”, consider the following statements: 1. It is a committee set up by the UN Security Council and w...

International RelationsOpen question

With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements: 1. The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-mem...

International RelationsOpen question
2017Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions

Consider the following statements: 1. The Nuclear Security Summits are periodically held under the aegis of the United Nations. 2. The International Panel o...

International RelationsOpen question
2016Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

Which of the following is not a member of ‘Gulf Cooperation Council’?

International RelationsOpen question

With reference to ‘Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)’ consider the following statements: 1. It is an organization of European Unio...

International RelationsOpen question
2016Factual recall, Conceptual understanding

Which of the following is not a member of ‘Gulf Cooperation Council’?

International RelationsOpen question

With reference to ‘Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)’ consider the following statements: 1. It is an organization of European Unio...

International RelationsOpen question

Topic timeline

International Relations
Prelims 2016· Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

Which of the following is not a member of ‘Gulf Cooperation Council’?

Open question

With reference to ‘Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)’ consider the following statements: 1. It is an organization of European Unio...

Open question
Prelims 2016· Factual recall, Conceptual understanding

Which of the following is not a member of ‘Gulf Cooperation Council’?

Open question

With reference to ‘Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)’ consider the following statements: 1. It is an organization of European Unio...

Open question
Prelims 2017· Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions

Consider the following statements: 1. The Nuclear Security Summits are periodically held under the aegis of the United Nations. 2. The International Panel o...

Open question
Prelims 2022· Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions

With reference to the “United Nations Credentials Committee”, consider the following statements: 1. It is a committee set up by the UN Security Council and w...

Open question

With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements: 1. The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-mem...

Open question
Prelims 2022· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

With reference to the “United Nations Credentials Committee”, consider the following statements: 1. It is a committee set up by the UN Security Council and w...

Open question

With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements: 1. The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-mem...

Open question
Prelims 2023· Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: Statement-I :Israel has established diplomatic relations with some Arab States. Statement-II :The 'Arab Peace Initiative...

Open question
Prelims 2025· Factual recall, Conceptual understanding

India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect

Open question
Prelims 2026· Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

Consider the following UN organisations/agencies : 1. World Food Programme 2. United Nations Children's Fund 3. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee...

Open question

Russia, China veto U.S. proposal for UN experts to keep monitoring sanctions on Iran

18 Sep 2026 · The UN Security Council uses sanctions as a tool for peace and security, but the veto power of its permanent members can undermine their effectiveness and monitoring, as seen in the Iran case.

Read article

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Current topic

UN Security Council Sanctions and Veto Power

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Nuclear Proliferation

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International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Open notesOften confused with

Iran Nuclear Program & Non-Proliferation

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Part of

Veto Power in the UN Security Council

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Practice writing on this topic

UPSC has asked 8 linked questions on UN Security Council Sanctions and Veto Power in Mains. Write an answer to one — and get it evaluated.

See Mains PYQsEvaluate an answer

UPSC Prelims PYQs on UN Security Council Sanctions and Veto Power

Practice official previous year questions asked by UPSC related to this concept.

With reference to the “United Nations Credentials Committee”, consider the following statements: 1. It is a committee set up by the UN Security Council and w...

2022·International Relations
Solve

With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements: 1. The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-mem...

2022·International Relations
Solve

Consider the following UN organisations/agencies : 1. World Food Programme 2. United Nations Children's Fund 3. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee...

2026·International Relations
Solve

Consider the following statements: 1. The Nuclear Security Summits are periodically held under the aegis of the United Nations. 2. The International Panel o...

2017·International Relations
Solve

India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect

2025·International Relations
Solve

Which of the following is not a member of ‘Gulf Cooperation Council’?

2016·International Relations
Solve

With reference to ‘Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)’ consider the following statements: 1. It is an organization of European Unio...

2016·International Relations
Solve

Consider the following statements: Statement-I :Israel has established diplomatic relations with some Arab States. Statement-II :The 'Arab Peace Initiative...

2023·International Relations
Solve

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