NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Political Science Chapter 4: International Organisations

These Class 12 Political Science Chapter 4 solutions cover International Organisations from Contemporary World Politics, the NCERT textbook for the 2026–27 session. The chapter explains the role of international organisations after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the founding and evolution of the United Nations (UN), the structure and powers of the Security Council including the veto power, the debate over UN reform after the Cold War, India’s case for permanent membership, the working of the UN in a unipolar world, and other key bodies such as the IMF, World Bank, WTO, IAEA, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Below you get step-by-step answers to all NCERT Exercises, key concepts, extra practice, MCQs, Assertion–Reason and FAQs.

Class: 12 Subject: Political Science Book: Contemporary World Politics Chapter: 4 Title: International Organisations Session: 2026–27
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Class 12 Political Science Chapter 4 – Overview

Chapter 4, International Organisations, examines why the world needs bodies like the United Nations even though they are often criticised as ineffective “talking shops.” An international organisation is not a super-state with authority over its members; it is created by and responds to states, and helps them resolve conflicts peacefully and cooperate on shared challenges like disease and global warming. The UN was founded in 1945 as a successor to the failed League of Nations to prevent war and promote development. The chapter studies the UN’s structure — the General Assembly, the Security Council (5 permanent + 10 non-permanent members), the Secretary-General and specialised agencies. After the Cold War, with the Soviet Union’s collapse and the US as the sole superpower, demands grew to reform the Security Council — its membership, the veto power, and its jurisdiction. The chapter discusses the criteria proposed for new members, India’s candidature for permanent membership, the working of the UN in a unipolar world, and other organisations such as the IMF, World Bank, WTO, IAEA, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Key Concepts & Terms

International organisation: a body created by and responsive to states (not a super-state); it comes into being when states agree to its creation, and helps member states resolve problems peacefully and cooperate on shared challenges.

United Nations (UN): founded on 24 October 1945 as a successor to the League of Nations; established immediately after the Second World War to prevent international conflict and facilitate cooperation. By 2011 it had 193 member states.

League of Nations: the international organisation born after the First World War to avoid war; despite initial success it failed to prevent the Second World War (1939–45).

General Assembly: the UN organ where all member states have one vote each and discuss global issues; war, peace and differences between states are debated here as well as in the Security Council.

Security Council: the UN organ chiefly responsible for international peace and security; it has five permanent members (USA, Russia, UK, France, China) and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms representing all continents.

Veto power: the privilege of the five permanent members to cast a negative vote that can stall a Security Council resolution even if all other members support it; the non-permanent members do not have it.

Secretary-General: the UN’s most visible public figure and representative head; the present (ninth) Secretary-General is António Guterres (since 1 January 2017).

UN reform — two kinds: (i) reform of the organisation’s structures and processes (mainly the Security Council); and (ii) a review of the issues within the UN’s jurisdiction (e.g. peacekeeping vs development priorities).

Unipolar world: the post-Cold-War order in which the US, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, is the sole superpower whose military, economic and financial power lets it ignore or dominate international organisations.

IMF: the International Monetary Fund, which oversees the international financial system; member states do not enjoy an equal say, as voting weight depends on financial contribution.

World Bank: created in 1944; focuses on developing countries through loans and grants for human development, agriculture, infrastructure and governance; criticised for attaching stringent conditions and forcing free-market reforms.

WTO: the World Trade Organisation, set up in 1995 as successor to the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT); it sets the rules for global trade.

IAEA: the International Atomic Energy Agency, established in 1957, which promotes peaceful use of nuclear energy and inspects facilities to prevent military misuse.

NGOs: Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are international non-governmental organisations that research and campaign for the protection of human rights worldwide.

NCERT “Exercises” — Full Solutions

All questions below are reproduced verbatim from the NCERT textbook’s end-of-chapter Exercises section. Answers are original, written in exam-ready style.

1. Mark correct or wrong against each of the following statements about the veto power. a. Only the permanent members of the Security Council possess the veto power. b. It’s a kind of negative power. c. The Secretary-General uses this power when not satisfied with any decision. d. One veto can stall a Security Council resolution.

ANSWER a. Correct. Only the five permanent members of the Security Council possess the veto power; the ten non-permanent members do not. b. Correct. The veto is a negative power — a permanent member casts a negative vote to block a decision. c. Wrong. The Secretary-General has no veto power. The veto belongs only to the five permanent members of the Security Council. d. Correct. A single negative vote (veto) by any permanent member can stall a Security Council resolution even if all other members vote in favour.

2. Mark correct or wrong against each of the following statements about the way the UN functions. a. All security and peace related issues are dealt with in the Security Council. b. Humanitarian policies are implemented by the main organs and specialised agencies spread across the globe. c. Having consensus among the five permanent members on security issues is vital for its implementation. d. The members of the General Assembly are automatically the members of all other principal organs and specialised agencies of the UN.

ANSWER a. Correct. Security and peace related issues are dealt with mainly in the Security Council (though they may also be discussed in the General Assembly). b. Correct. Humanitarian and social-economic policies are implemented by the UN’s principal organs and specialised agencies (WHO, UNDP, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNESCO, etc.) spread across the globe. c. Correct. Because any permanent member can veto a decision, consensus among the five permanent members on security issues is vital for a resolution to be implemented. d. Wrong. All members belong to the General Assembly, but they are not automatically members of all other principal organs and specialised agencies; the Security Council, for example, has only fifteen members.

3. Which among the following would give more weightage to India’s proposal for permanent membership in the Security Council? a. Nuclear capability b. It has been a member of the UN since its inception c. It is located in Asia d. India’s growing economic power and stable political system

ANSWER (d) India’s growing economic power and stable political system. India’s economic emergence on the world stage, together with the world’s largest democracy and a stable political system, strengthens its claim more than its nuclear capability (which actually worries some countries) or mere geographical location.

4. The UN agency concerned with the safety and peaceful use of nuclear technology is: a. The UN Committee on Disarmament b. International Atomic Energy Agency c. UN International Safeguard Committee d. None of the above

ANSWER (b) International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Established in 1957, the IAEA promotes the peaceful use of nuclear energy and inspects nuclear facilities worldwide to ensure civilian reactors are not used for military purposes.

5. WTO is serving as the successor to which of the following organisations a. General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs b. General Arrangement on Trade and Tariffs c. World Health Organisation d. UN Development Programme

ANSWER (a) General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT). The WTO was set up in 1995 as the successor to GATT, which had been created after the Second World War. The WTO sets the rules for global trade.

6. Fill in the blanks. a. The prime objective of the UN is ___________________________ b. The highest functionary of the UN is called_________________ c. The UN Security Council has _____ permanent and _____non-permanent members. d. ______________________ is the present UN Secretary-General.

ANSWER a. The prime objective of the UN is to prevent international conflict (war) and to facilitate cooperation among states. b. The highest functionary of the UN is called the Secretary-General. c. The UN Security Council has five (5) permanent and ten (10) non-permanent members. d. António Guterres is the present UN Secretary-General.

7. Match the principal organs and agencies of the UN with their functions:

ANSWER
Organ / AgencyFunction
1. Economic and Social Councilc. Looks into the economic and social welfare of the member countries
2. International Court of Justicee. Resolves disputes between and among member countries
3. International Atomic Energy Agencyd. Safety and peaceful use of nuclear technology
4. Security Councilb. Preservation of international peace and security
5. UN High Commission for Refugeesf. Provides shelter and medical help during emergencies
6. World Trade Organisationj. Facilitates free trade among member countries
7. International Monetary Funda. Oversees the global financial system
8. General Assemblyg. Debates and discusses global issues
9. World Health Organisationi. Providing good health for all
10. Secretariath. Administration and coordination of UN affairs

8. What are the functions of the Security Council?

ANSWER The Security Council is the principal UN organ responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security. Its main functions are: 1. To preserve international peace and security — to stop conflicts between states from escalating into war and, if war breaks out, to limit the extent of hostilities. 2. To investigate disputes that may lead to international friction and recommend methods of peaceful settlement. 3. To take collective measures — from economic sanctions to authorising the use of force — against aggression or threats to peace. 4. To deploy and oversee UN peacekeeping forces in conflict zones. 5. To take binding decisions: unlike General Assembly recommendations, Security Council decisions are binding on all member states, but require the consensus (no veto) of the five permanent members for implementation.

9. As a citizen of India, how would you support India’s candidature for the permanent membership of the Security Council? Justify your proposal.

ANSWER As a citizen of India, I would strongly support India’s candidature for permanent membership of the Security Council on the following grounds: 1. Population: India is the most populous country in the world, comprising almost one-fifth of humanity, so it deserves a voice in shaping decisions that affect so many people. 2. Largest democracy: India is the world’s largest democracy with a stable political system and a record of respecting democratic values and human rights. 3. Founding member and UN participation: India has been a member of the UN since its inception and has participated in virtually all UN initiatives, including a long and substantial record in UN peacekeeping efforts. 4. Economic emergence: India’s rapid economic growth and rising importance in world affairs justify its claim to a permanent seat. 5. Financial reliability: India has made regular financial contributions to the UN and never faltered on its payments. 6. More representative Council: India’s inclusion would make the Security Council more representative of the developing world and of contemporary political realities. For these reasons India’s candidature is well justified.

10. Critically evaluate the difficulties involved in implementing the suggested reforms to reconstruct the UN.

ANSWER While there is widespread support for UN reform, getting agreement on what to do is very difficult. The main difficulties are: 1. No consensus on the criteria: several criteria have been proposed for new permanent members — a major economic power, a major military power, a substantial contributor to the UN budget, a big population, a record of democracy and human rights, and geographical/cultural diversity. Each criterion has validity but also disadvantages, and states judge them by their own interests. 2. The veto problem: some demand that the veto of the five permanent members be abolished as undemocratic, but the permanent members are unlikely to agree to give up their privileged position. 3. Question of representation: there is no agreement on whether representation should be by continents, regions or levels of economic development, and the developing world itself is at many different levels. 4. Rivalries among aspirants: if India is included, other emerging powers like Brazil, Germany, Japan and South Africa would also claim seats, which many countries oppose; Pakistan and others are reluctant to see India become a veto-wielding member. 5. US dominance: in a unipolar world the US and its allies want budgetary and administrative reforms more than structural change, and the world may not be ready for radical steps even after the Cold War. Hence reform, though widely desired, is hard to implement.

11. Though the UN has failed in preventing wars and related miseries, nations prefer its continuation. What makes the UN an indispensable organisation?

ANSWER Despite its failures, the UN remains indispensable because no other body can perform its functions for the whole world. The reasons nations prefer its continuation are: 1. A forum for dialogue: the UN provides one place where over 190 nations can come together to discuss contentious issues and find peaceful solutions — “jaw-jaw is better than war-war.” Most conflicts are in fact resolved without going to war. 2. Cooperation on global challenges: issues such as disease eradication, global warming and terrorism can only be tackled when all countries cooperate; the UN provides the mechanisms, rules and bureaucracy to make cooperation possible. 3. Humanitarian and development work: through agencies like WHO, UNDP, UNHCR, UNICEF and UNESCO, the UN improves health, education, refugee relief and human rights across the world. 4. A check in a unipolar world: though it cannot “balance” US power, the UN provides an arena where US attitudes and policies can be debated and compromises shaped. 5. Growing interdependence: with more than seven billion people and rising planetary interdependence, it is hard to imagine the world functioning without the UN. As the founders said, the UN was not created to take humanity to heaven, but to save it from hell.

12. ‘Reforming the UN means restructuring of the Security Council’. Do you agree with this statement? Give arguments for or against this position.

ANSWER I partly agree with the statement but do not consider it complete. UN reform involves two basic kinds of change, of which Security Council restructuring is only one. Arguments in favour (restructuring the Council is central): the biggest debate on reform has been about the functioning and composition of the Security Council. It is said to no longer represent contemporary political realities, to reflect mainly Western values and interests, and to lack equitable representation. Reform here means increasing permanent and non-permanent membership (from Asia, Africa and South America) and addressing the veto, so that the Council mirrors today’s world. Arguments against (reform is more than the Council): reform also means a review of the issues within the UN’s jurisdiction — whether it should focus on peace and security missions or on development and humanitarian work (health, education, environment, human rights, gender and social justice). The 2005 summit added a Peacebuilding Commission, a Human Rights Council, the MDGs, condemnation of terrorism and a Democracy Fund. The US and Western countries also want budgetary and administrative reforms. Conclusion: restructuring the Security Council is the most important and most discussed part of UN reform, but it is not the whole of it; genuine reform must also improve the UN’s priorities, jurisdiction and administration.

Extra Practice Questions

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. What is an international organisation? Is it a super-state?

ANSWERAn international organisation is a body created by and responsive to states to help them resolve problems peacefully and cooperate. It is not a super-state with authority over its members; it comes into being only when states agree to its creation, and it depends on their support to function.

Q2. Why was the League of Nations formed, and why is the UN called its successor?

ANSWERThe League of Nations was formed after the First World War so that nations could deal with conflict and avoid war. Despite initial success, it failed to prevent the Second World War. The UN, founded in 1945, was created as its successor to achieve what the League could not — preventing international conflict and facilitating cooperation.

Q3. What was the resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1992 regarding the Security Council?

ANSWERIn 1992 the General Assembly adopted a resolution reflecting three main complaints: that the Security Council no longer represents contemporary political realities; that its decisions reflect only Western values and interests and are dominated by a few powers; and that it lacks equitable representation.

Q4. What is the IMF, and why do its members not enjoy an equal say?

ANSWERThe International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international organisation that oversees the financial institutions and regulations operating at the international level. Its members do not enjoy an equal say because voting power is linked to financial contribution; the G-7 countries together hold a large share of the votes, giving wealthier nations more influence.

Q5. Name any four specialised agencies of the UN that deal with social and economic issues.

ANSWERFour specialised agencies dealing with social and economic issues are the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Others include the UNHCR and UNHRC.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1. Explain how the structure of the UN reflected the realities of world politics after the Second World War, and how those realities have since changed.

ANSWERWhen the UN was established in 1945, its structure mirrored the power realities of the post-war world: the five most powerful victors of the Second World War — the USA, the USSR (now Russia), the UK, France and China — were made permanent members of the Security Council with veto power. After the Cold War, those realities changed sharply. The Soviet Union collapsed and the US emerged as the strongest power; the Russia–US relationship became more cooperative; China rose as a great power and India began growing rapidly; the economies of Asia grew at an unprecedented rate; many newly independent states joined the UN; and a whole new set of challenges — genocide, civil war, ethnic conflict, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, climate change and epidemics — confronted the world. Because the Council still reflects 1945 and not today’s world, there are strong demands to restructure it so that contemporary realities are better represented.

Q2. Discuss the steps decided at the 2005 UN summit to make the UN more relevant, and explain why they are contentious.

ANSWERWhen the UN completed 60 years in 2005, the heads of member states met and decided on several steps: the creation of a Peacebuilding Commission; acceptance of the international community’s responsibility when national governments fail to protect citizens from atrocities; the establishment of a Human Rights Council (operational since 19 June 2006); agreements to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); condemnation of terrorism in all its forms; the creation of a Democracy Fund; and an agreement to wind up the Trusteeship Council. These are contentious because they raise hard questions: which of the world’s many conflicts should a Peacebuilding Commission intervene in, and is intervention even desirable? Who decides the level of human-rights violation and the action to be taken? How realistic are ambitious goals like the MDGs for a still-developing world? Can there be agreement on a definition of terrorism, and how should the UN use funds to promote democracy? Thus, even reforms meant to strengthen the UN provoke deep disagreement.

Q3. “The UN is not a great balance to the US, yet it still serves an important purpose in a unipolar world.” Explain.

ANSWERUS power cannot be easily checked. After the disappearance of the Soviet Union, the US stands as the only superpower whose military and economic strength let it ignore the UN if it wishes. Within the UN itself, US influence is considerable: it is the single largest financial contributor, the UN headquarters lies on US territory, many UN officials are American nationals, and the US veto can block any move it dislikes and shape the choice of Secretary-General. For these reasons the UN cannot serve as a real counterweight to the US. Nevertheless, the UN still serves a vital purpose: in a unipolar world it brings the US and the rest of the world into discussion over many issues. It provides an arena where arguments against specific US attitudes and policies are heard and where compromises and concessions can be shaped. The UN is an imperfect body, but without it the world — given its growing interdependence — would be worse off, so its importance will only increase.

MCQs & Assertion–Reason

1. In which year was the United Nations founded?

(a) 1919    (b) 1939    (c) 1945    (d) 1950

2. The United Nations was founded as a successor to which organisation?

(a) The League of Nations    (b) The Warsaw Pact    (c) NATO    (d) The European Union

3. How many permanent members does the UN Security Council have?

(a) Three    (b) Five    (c) Ten    (d) Fifteen

4. Which of the following is NOT a permanent member of the Security Council?

(a) China    (b) France    (c) India    (d) Russia

5. Who is the present (ninth) Secretary-General of the UN?

(a) Kofi Annan    (b) Ban Ki-moon    (c) António Guterres    (d) Boutros Boutros-Ghali

6. The veto power in the Security Council is held by:

(a) all members    (b) only the non-permanent members    (c) only the five permanent members    (d) the Secretary-General

7. The World Bank was created during the Second World War in:

(a) 1944    (b) 1945    (c) 1957    (d) 1995

8. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was established in:

(a) 1945    (b) 1957    (c) 1965    (d) 1995

9. Non-permanent members of the Security Council are elected for a term of:

(a) one year    (b) two years    (c) five years    (d) ten years

10. Which of the following is an international NGO that campaigns for the protection of human rights?

(a) IMF    (b) WTO    (c) Amnesty International    (d) World Bank

Answer key: 1-(c), 2-(a), 3-(b), 4-(c), 5-(c), 6-(c), 7-(a), 8-(b), 9-(b), 10-(c).

For each Assertion–Reason question, choose: (A) Both true and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion; (B) Both true but the Reason is not the correct explanation; (C) Assertion true, Reason false; (D) Assertion false, Reason true.

A-R 1. Assertion: An international organisation is not a super-state with authority over its members.

Reason: It is created by and responds to states, coming into being only when states agree to its creation.

A-R 2. Assertion: A single veto can stall a Security Council resolution.

Reason: A permanent member can cast a negative vote that blocks a decision even if all other members support it.

A-R 3. Assertion: The members of the General Assembly are automatically members of all other principal organs of the UN.

Reason: The Security Council has only fifteen members, not all UN members.

A-R 4. Assertion: India has a strong claim to permanent membership of the Security Council.

Reason: India is the most populous country and the world’s largest democracy with a record of UN participation.

A-R 5. Assertion: The UN can act as a perfect balance against US dominance in a unipolar world.

Reason: The US is the single largest contributor to the UN and holds veto power within the Security Council.

Answer key: 1-(A), 2-(A), 3-(D), 4-(A), 5-(D).

Exam Tips & Common Mistakes

How to score full marks in this chapter

Memorise the key facts precisely: the UN was founded in 1945, the Security Council has 5 permanent + 10 non-permanent members, the five permanent members are the USA, Russia, UK, France and China, and only they hold the veto. Learn the two kinds of UN reform (structures/processes and jurisdiction) and the three complaints in the 1992 resolution. For India’s candidature, organise your answer around population, democracy, peacekeeping, economic emergence and financial reliability. Use the textbook’s own examples — the 2005 summit steps, the unipolar-world argument, and the roles of IMF, World Bank, WTO, IAEA, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch — to show depth.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Saying the Secretary-General holds veto power — only the five permanent members do.
  • Confusing the number of permanent members (5) with non-permanent members (10), or saying the Council has only five members in total (it has 15).
  • Calling the WTO a successor to the WHO or UNDP — it succeeded GATT.
  • Mixing up the founding years: UN 1945, World Bank 1944, IAEA 1957, WTO 1995.
  • Claiming the UN can fully “balance” US power — it provides an arena for dialogue but cannot counter US dominance.
  • Treating UN reform as only Security Council restructuring — reform also covers the UN’s jurisdiction and administration.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chapter 4 of Class 12 Political Science (Contemporary World Politics) about?

Chapter 4, International Organisations, explains the role of international organisations after the Cold War, the founding and structure of the United Nations, the Security Council and veto power, the debate over UN reform, India’s case for permanent membership, the UN in a unipolar world, and bodies like the IMF, World Bank, WTO, IAEA, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Who holds the veto power in the UN Security Council?

Only the five permanent members — the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France and China — hold the veto power. A single negative vote by any of them can stall a resolution even if every other member votes in favour. The ten non-permanent members do not have the veto.

Why does India want permanent membership of the Security Council?

India seeks permanent membership because it is the world’s most populous country and largest democracy, has been a UN member since its inception with a long peacekeeping record, has emerged as a major economic power, and has always paid its UN dues. Its inclusion would also make the Council more representative of the developing world.

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