UPSC GS Paper II: International Relations, India and Multilateral Forums, UN, G20, SCO, BRICS

Must?Know (20–25 detailed bullets)

• United Nations Charter signed in 1945 at San Francisco Conference; India was a founding member despite being under British rule, admitted on October 24, 1945, as per Article 4 of UN Charter.
• India has served on UN Security Council (UNSC) for 8 terms, most recently 2021–22; during 2021–22 term, India chaired Counter-Terrorism Committee and pushed for reform of UNSC.
• G20 established in 1999 at ministerial level post-Asian Financial Crisis; elevated to leaders’ summit in 2008 during global financial crisis; India hosted G20 summit in 2023 in New Delhi, adopted New Delhi Declaration.
• India’s G20 presidency 2023 introduced focus on Global South, inclusive growth, digital public infrastructure (DPI), and launched India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
• BRICS formed in 2006 as informal grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa; first summit in Yekaterinburg (2009); South Africa joined in 2011, formalizing BRICS acronym.
• New Development Bank (NDB) established at 6th BRICS Summit (Fortaleza, 2014) with initial capital of $50 billion; headquartered in Shanghai; India’s K.V. Kamath first President.
• Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) founded in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan; India and Pakistan joined as full members in 2017 at Astana Summit.
• SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) headquartered in Tashkent; India gained access to RATS after full membership in 2017, enhancing intelligence sharing on terrorism.
• India’s membership in SCO allows engagement with China and Pakistan in institutional setting; first joint anti-terror exercise (Chengdu 2018) included Indian forces.
• India is not a member of NATO but participates in NATO-led operations as partner; contributes to UN peacekeeping, with over 200,000 personnel deployed since 1948, second highest contributor.
• India’s candidacy for permanent UNSC seat supported by G4 (India, Japan, Germany, Brazil); G4 advocates comprehensive reform including expansion of both permanent and non-permanent categories.
• Veto power in UNSC held by P5 (US, UK, France, Russia, China); India has faced vetoes, e.g., 1971 Bangladesh Liberation, when US deployed USS Enterprise in Bay of Bengal.
• India ratified Paris Agreement on climate change on October 2, 2016; committed to Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): 40% non-fossil power capacity by 2030, reduced emission intensity.
• India is a founding member of International Solar Alliance (ISA), launched at COP21 (2015) with France; headquartered in Gurugram; aims to mobilize $1 trillion by 2030 for solar energy.
• India is a member of Asian Development Bank (ADB), established 1966; holds 6.4% share (as of 2023), second after Japan; provides loans for infrastructure and development projects.
• India joined Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) as observer in 1993 but has not sought full membership due to geographic and economic compatibility concerns.
• India is a dialogue partner in ASEAN+6, part of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations until 2019; withdrew citing trade imbalance with China and sensitive agriculture sector.
• India became a member of Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in 2016, Wassenaar Arrangement (2017), Australia Group (2018), but not yet Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) due to opposition from China.
• India’s Look East Policy (1991) evolved into Act East Policy (2014); aims deeper integration with ASEAN and Indo-Pacific; focus on connectivity, trade, and security.
• India hosted the 5th BIMSTEC Summit in 2022; BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) links South and Southeast Asia; headquarters in Dhaka.
• India chairs the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), launched at UN Climate Action Summit 2019; includes 30+ countries and UN agencies; promotes resilient infrastructure.
• India is a member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF); Pakistan has been on FATF grey list multiple times, last from 2018–2022, due to terror financing concerns.
• India proposed Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) in 1996; not adopted due to lack of consensus on definition of terrorism, especially by Pakistan and some OIC members.
• India is a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol (1997), but as per Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR), had no binding emission targets under it.
• India’s participation in G20 includes engagement in Engagement Groups (e.g., Sherpa, Finance, Think 20, Civil 20), influencing agenda on digitalization, women-led development, and climate finance.

Difficulty Level

Intermediate – requires integration of current affairs with institutional knowledge, frequent overlap with bilateral relations and domestic policies.

Common UPSC Traps (3–5 factual traps)

Trap: India is a member of APEC – Fact: India is not a member of APEC; it was invited as an observer in 1993 but has not joined due to geographic criteria (Asia-Pacific rim) and lack of consensus among members.

Trap: BRICS has a common currency – Fact: BRICS does not have a common currency; discussions on local currency trade and payment systems began at 2023 Johannesburg Summit, but no implementation yet.

Trap: SCO is a military alliance like NATO – Fact: SCO is primarily a regional cooperation organization focused on security, economic, and cultural cooperation; it lacks NATO’s collective defense clause (Article 5 equivalent).

Trap: India signed the UN Charter as an independent nation – Fact: India signed the UN Charter in June 1945 while still under British rule; it was admitted as a founding member on October 24, 1945, before independence in 1947.

Practice MCQs (5–7 questions)

Question: Which of the following statements about the New Development Bank (NDB) is correct?
A) It was established during the 5th BRICS Summit in Durban.
B) Its initial authorized capital is $200 billion, with equal contribution from all members.
C) The first President of NDB was from India.
D) It exclusively funds renewable energy projects in BRICS countries.
Answer: C
Explanation: K.V. Kamath, an Indian national, was the first President of NDB, appointed in 2015.
Why others fail: A is wrong because NDB was established at the 6th BRICS Summit (Fortaleza, 2014), not Durban.

Question: India became a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in:
A) 2015
B) 2016
C) 2017
D) 2018
Answer: C
Explanation: India and Pakistan became full members of SCO at the Astana Summit in June 2017.
Why others fail: 2016 is tempting as it was the year of the Tashkent Summit, but membership was granted in 2017.

Question: Which of the following groups did India NOT join during 2016–2018?
A) Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)
B) Wassenaar Arrangement
C) Australia Group
D) Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
Answer: D
Explanation: India joined MTCR (2016), Wassenaar (2017), and Australia Group (2018), but NSG membership is pending due to China’s opposition.
Why others fail: D is correct; many assume NSG entry due to progress in other export control regimes.

Question: The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) was announced during:
A) G20 Summit 2022 in Bali
B) G20 Summit 2023 in New Delhi
C) G7 Summit 2023 in Hiroshima
D) SCO Summit 2023 in Samarkand
Answer: C
Explanation: IMEC was announced at the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, in September 2023, under India’s G20 presidency.
Why others fail: B is tempting as IMEC was discussed during G20, but officially launched at G7.

Question: Which of the following best describes India’s status in the International Solar Alliance (ISA)?
A) Observer
B) Founding member and host of secretariat
C) Member only if ratified by Parliament
D) Not a member due to non-ratification of framework agreement
Answer: B
Explanation: India co-founded ISA with France in 2015; the ISA secretariat is headquartered in Gurugram, India.
Why others fail: A is incorrect; India is not an observer but a founding and leading member.

Last?Minute Revision (20–25 one?liners)

• India signed UN Charter in 1945, before independence (1947).
• India served on UNSC for 8 terms: 1950–51, 1967–68, 1972–73, 1977–78, 1984–85, 1991–92, 2011–12, 2021–22.
• G20 established in 1999; first leaders’ summit 2008 (Washington).
• India hosted G20 in 2023; theme: “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”.
• BRICS first summit: 2009, Yekaterinburg, Russia.
• South Africa joined BRICS in 2011, completing the acronym.
• New Development Bank (NDB) established 2014, Fortaleza Declaration.
• NDB headquarters: Shanghai, China.
• SCO founded 2001; original members: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.
• India became full SCO member: June 2017, Astana Summit.
• SCO RATS: Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure, Tashkent.
• India participated in SCO military exercise “Peace Mission” first in 2018.
• India proposed Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) in 1996.
• Paris Agreement: adopted 2015, entered into force 2016; India ratified October 2, 2016.
• India launched International Solar Alliance (ISA) with France at COP21 (2015).
• ISA headquarters: Gurugram, India.
• India is not a member of APEC.
• India withdrew from RCEP negotiations in 2019.
• India joined MTCR: 2016; Wassenaar: 2017; Australia Group: 2018.
• India not in NSG due to China’s opposition.
• Look East Policy launched 1991; Act East Policy formalized 2014.
• BIMSTEC founded 1997; headquarters: Dhaka.
• CDRI launched 2019, UN Climate Action Summit, New York.
• FATF grey list: Pakistan was on it 2018–2022.
• Verify from standard source: Current NDC targets under Paris Agreement (2022 update: 50% non-fossil capacity by 2030).