MAINS Current Affairs includes A Contested UNSC Seat Poses a Test for India & BRICS Needs to Address CBAM Consequences

International Relations

1. A Contested UNSC Seat Poses a Test for India

Context: India faces a diplomatic challenge in securing a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028–29 term.

• Tajikistan has also announced its candidature for the Asia-Pacific seat ahead of the 2027 election, making the contest more competitive.
• The situation tests India’s ability to balance its diplomatic ambitions, regional partnerships and its role as a representative of the Global South.

About the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

• Purpose: The UNSC is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and has primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.
• First session: 17 January 1946, held in Westminster, London.
• Headquarters: New York City, United States.
• Membership: The Council consists of 15 members.

Composition of the UNSC

• Five permanent members (P5):
  • China
  • France
  • Russia
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
• These five members possess veto power over substantive Council decisions.
• Ten non-permanent members: They are elected by the UN General Assembly for two-year terms and do not possess veto power.

Election of Non-Permanent Members

• Every year, the UN General Assembly elects five non-permanent members to the Security Council for a two-year term.
• The ten non-permanent seats are allocated according to regional representation.
• Voting requirement: A candidate must secure a two-thirds majority of the votes cast by member states present and voting in the General Assembly.
• Elections take place through a secret ballot, with the UN’s 193 member states participating.
• More than 50 UN member states have never served on the Security Council.
• India’s record: India has served eight terms as a non-permanent member, most recently during 2021–22, and is seeking its ninth term for 2028–29.

Significance of India’s UNSC Candidature

1. Advancing United Nations Reform

• India can use its candidature to renew calls for restructuring the Security Council.
• It can advocate a Council that reflects contemporary geopolitical realities rather than the power distribution that existed at the end of the Second World War.
• India’s campaign can also highlight the need to give developing countries a greater role in global decision-making.

2. Representing the Global South

• India can raise issues affecting developing countries, including:
  • Development finance.
  • Climate finance and climate justice.
  • Food and energy security.
  • Sovereign equality.
  • Fair representation in international institutions.
• A stronger Indian presence would provide an additional platform for bringing these concerns into discussions on international peace and security.

Why Are Reforms in the UNSC Necessary?

1. Inadequate Representation

• When the United Nations was established in 1945, the Security Council had 11 members out of 51 UN member states, representing approximately 22% of the membership.
• Today, the UN has 193 member states, while the Security Council continues to have only 15 members, representing fewer than 8% of the total membership.
• The expansion of the UN membership has not been matched by a corresponding enlargement of the Council.

2. Difficulty in Addressing International Conflicts

• The existing composition of the Council has raised concerns about its capacity to respond effectively to major international conflicts.
• Geopolitical rivalries and disagreements among permanent members can obstruct collective action on peace and security issues.

3. Changes in the Global Order

• The international system has undergone substantial political, economic and strategic changes since 1945.
• Emerging powers and developing countries have acquired greater importance in global affairs.
• These changes strengthen the case for revising permanent membership to reflect contemporary realities.

4. Unequal Distribution of Veto Power

• Veto power is restricted to the five permanent members.
• The use of the veto has obstructed or delayed Council action on major international crises, including conflicts involving Ukraine and Gaza.
• The ten elected members have no equivalent power, creating an institutional imbalance in decision-making authority.

5. Imbalance in Regional Representation

• The current composition reflects the geopolitical balance that prevailed when the UN was established.
• According to the source, Europe accounts for approximately 5% of the world’s population but controls 33% of the Council’s seats in a given year, excluding Russia from this calculation.
• Such disparities raise questions about equitable geographical representation.

6. Questions of Legitimacy

• The concentration of decision-making authority in five permanent members creates a perception of institutional inequality.
• The exclusive possession of veto power by these states can undermine confidence in the Council’s impartiality and representativeness.
• Reform is therefore important for strengthening the legitimacy, credibility and effectiveness of the UN system.

India’s Case for Permanent Membership of the UNSC

1. Strategic Influence

• Permanent membership would enhance India’s diplomatic visibility and influence amid intensifying geopolitical competition and changing global alliances.
• It would give India a more enduring role in decisions concerning international peace and security.

2. Demographic Weight

• India is the world’s largest democracy and represents approximately one-sixth of the global population.
• Its demographic significance strengthens the argument that the composition of global institutions should reflect the interests of a broader share of humanity.

3. Economic Strength

• India ranks among the world’s top three economies in purchasing power parity (PPP).
• The source places India’s estimated 2026 GDP at around $20 trillion in PPP terms.
• India’s economic importance extends to international trade, technology supply chains, energy markets and development finance.

4. Military Capabilities

• India possesses one of the world’s largest armed forces and is among the major global defence spenders.
• Its defence budget for 2026 is reported in the source at a record $86 billion.
• India is also among the limited number of countries possessing a credible nuclear triad, strengthening its strategic significance.

5. Contribution to International Peace and Security

• India has contributed personnel to UN peacekeeping operations since 1948 and has been among the major troop-contributing countries.
• Indian peacekeepers have also suffered substantial fatalities while carrying out UN-mandated missions.
• These contributions demonstrate India’s commitment to multilateralism and the maintenance of international peace and security.

6. Leadership of the Global South

• India has supported international cooperation through initiatives such as:
  • International Solar Alliance (ISA).
  • Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA).
  • India’s G20 presidency.
  • The AI Impact Summit in the Global South, as cited in the source.
• These initiatives demonstrate India’s efforts to build partnerships and promote the interests of developing countries in global governance.

7. Role in Maritime Security

• India plays an important role in maintaining maritime security in the Indian Ocean region.
• It supports freedom of navigation and adherence to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
• Its engagement with institutions such as the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) reinforces its participation in the rules-based maritime order.

Challenges to UNSC Reform

1. Complex Amendment Procedure

• Reforming the Security Council requires approval by a two-thirds majority of the UN General Assembly.
• The amendments must also be ratified by all five permanent members.
• This requirement gives the existing permanent members considerable influence over changes to the institution and makes reform difficult to achieve.

2. Opposition from the Coffee Club

• The Uniting for Consensus (UfC) movement, commonly known as the Coffee Club, emerged in the 1990s in opposition to proposals for expanding permanent membership of the UNSC.
• Led by Italy, the group seeks to counter proposals for additional permanent seats, including those advanced by the G4 countries: Brazil, Germany, India and Japan.
• Opposition from this group complicates efforts to build consensus around the expansion of permanent membership.

3. Disagreement over Veto Rights

• There is no broad consensus on whether newly added permanent members should receive veto powers.
• Granting veto rights could make agreement on reform more difficult, while denying them could create a new category of permanent members with unequal authority.
• Resolving this issue remains a major obstacle to a comprehensive restructuring of the Council.

Way Ahead

1. Adopt a Pragmatic Diplomatic Approach

• India should pursue its candidature while balancing its ambition for a Security Council seat with its longstanding partnership with Tajikistan.
• Its approach should preserve regional relationships and maintain its credibility among developing countries.
• Diplomatic engagement should remain constructive, even amid competition for the Asia-Pacific seat.

2. Continue Championing Global South Priorities

• India should consistently raise the concerns of developing countries, including:
  • Equitable representation in global institutions.
  • Greater access to development finance.
  • Climate justice.
  • Food and energy security.
  • Reform of global governance structures.
• Sustained engagement on these issues can strengthen India’s standing as a voice for a more inclusive international order.

3. Build Broader International Consensus

• India should continue working with the G4 and other supportive countries to generate wider backing for UNSC reform.
• It should engage countries across regional groups and address concerns about representation, veto powers and the structure of an expanded Council.
• A coordinated diplomatic effort is essential to advance the case for permanent membership.

4. Promote a Representative and Effective Security Council

• India should advocate a reformed Council that reflects contemporary geopolitical realities and provides fairer representation to developing countries.
• Reform efforts should aim to improve the Council’s legitimacy, inclusiveness and capacity to respond to international crises.

Conclusion

India’s candidature for the 2028–29 non-permanent UNSC term presents both a diplomatic challenge and an opportunity to strengthen its role in global governance. However, winning an elected seat and securing permanent membership are distinct objectives. India must combine pragmatic diplomacy with sustained advocacy for institutional reform, equitable representation and the interests of the Global South. Ultimately, a more representative and effective Security Council is essential for strengthening the legitimacy of multilateralism in a changing world.

International Relations – Climate Change

2. BRICS Needs to Address CBAM Consequences

Context: India’s 2026 BRICS chairship has renewed discussions on unilateral climate-linked trade measures, particularly the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

• The debate highlights the need for common carbon-accounting standards to prevent fragmented climate regulations from creating unfair trade barriers for developing economies.
• BRICS has an opportunity to move beyond expressing concerns and develop practical mechanisms for cooperation on carbon measurement, verification and recognition.

About the Climate Agenda and Global Trade

• Climate policy and international trade are becoming increasingly interconnected, as environmental regulations increasingly influence market access, industrial competitiveness and global supply chains.
• Countries are introducing measures such as carbon pricing, deforestation regulations, sustainability due-diligence requirements and product-level emissions standards.
• For BRICS economies, which seek to achieve rapid industrialisation while reducing emissions intensity, fragmented climate-related trade rules can create significant challenges.
• Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC):
  • This principle recognises that countries differ in their historical contributions to climate change and their respective financial, technological and developmental capacities.
  • It provides an important basis for ensuring that climate action does not impose disproportionate burdens on developing countries.

BRICS Climate Agenda for Rules-Based Cooperation

• The BRICS Declaration (2026) reiterates established positions on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Paris Agreement, CBDR-RC, climate finance, biodiversity, forests and opposition to unilateral climate measures.
• However, repeatedly restating existing positions may divert attention from developing practical mechanisms and measurable outcomes.
• The declaration also recognises the value of traditional knowledge, indigenous and local practices, and community experience in climate adaptation.
• This approach is particularly relevant to countries such as India, Brazil and China, where traditional ecological knowledge continues to contribute to environmental management and adaptation.
• BRICS can build on these commitments by shifting towards:
  • Common carbon-accounting methodologies.
  • Mutual recognition of emissions measurement and verification systems.
  • Technical cooperation among member countries.
  • Practical mechanisms for implementing shared climate principles.

Unilateral Climate Measures and Protectionism: EU and BRICS

• BRICS has expressed concern that unilateral climate-related trade measures may become discriminatory or protectionist, particularly when they impose disproportionate compliance costs on developing-country producers.
• The Rio Declaration (2025) specifically highlighted concerns regarding deforestation regulations, due-diligence requirements, taxes and other unilateral measures.
• The European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and sustainability due-diligence requirements illustrate the growing integration of environmental compliance into international supply chains.

Implications for Exporters

• Traceability: Exporters may need to demonstrate the origin and movement of raw materials throughout their supply chains.
• Documentation: Businesses must maintain records and supporting evidence to establish compliance with applicable environmental requirements.
• Verification: Independent checks may be required to validate environmental claims and reported data.
• Emissions information: Producers may need to collect and disclose detailed information about the greenhouse-gas emissions associated with their products.

The central challenge is to distinguish legitimate environmental protection from measures that impose excessive costs, create unequal market access or disadvantage developing-country producers.

Why Does Carbon Accounting Matter?

• Carbon accounting is a critical missing link in the BRICS climate-trade agenda.
• The Rio Declaration (2025) proposed mutually recognised methodologies and standards for assessing greenhouse-gas emissions. It also welcomed principles supporting fair, inclusive and transparent carbon accounting for product and facility footprints.
• Different jurisdictions may use different methods to calculate the emissions embedded in the same product.
• Such differences can produce different reported carbon values for identical goods, increasing uncertainty, compliance expenses and the risk of inconsistent treatment in international markets.

Key Elements of a Common BRICS Carbon-Accounting Framework

A common framework could reduce duplication, improve comparability and make it easier for exporters to demonstrate compliance across multiple markets.

Cap-and-Trade: One Size Does Not Fit All

• Conventional cap-and-trade systems are designed around limits on emissions and the trading of emission allowances. Their operation in advanced economies often reflects established carbon markets and the scarcity of permitted emissions.
• Developing economies face a different challenge: they must expand industrial production and improve living standards while simultaneously reducing the emissions intensity of economic activity.
• Therefore, carbon-pricing models developed in advanced economies cannot automatically be transferred to developing countries without considering their developmental conditions.

India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS)

• India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) illustrates an alternative approach that includes an emissions-intensity orientation.
• Recognising qualifying domestic carbon-pricing mechanisms could help avoid unnecessary duplication between different systems.
• However, exporters would still need reliable emissions data, clearly defined accounting boundaries and independent verification to demonstrate compliance.

Key principle: International climate cooperation should recognise equivalent environmental outcomes rather than require every country to adopt an identical policy framework.

CBAM and India’s Export Challenge

• The European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) entered its definitive phase in January 2026, according to the source.
• Initially, the mechanism covers sectors including:
  • Iron and steel.
• CBAM links obligations on imports to the greenhouse-gas emissions embedded in covered products.

Major Concerns for Indian Exporters

1. Compliance Costs

• The challenge extends beyond the carbon price itself to the wider system of emissions monitoring, reporting and verification.
• Smaller businesses may struggle to bear the costs of collecting data, maintaining records and obtaining third-party verification.

2. Pressure on Industrial Competitiveness

• Additional compliance expenses may affect the competitiveness of Indian products in the European market.
• Firms with limited technical and financial resources could face greater difficulties in meeting the required standards.

3. Potential Expansion of Product Coverage

• The proposed expansion of CBAM coverage could increase the exposure of Indian exports to carbon-related trade requirements.
• Steel and aluminium are particularly relevant sectors in this context.

4. Need for Recognition of Domestic Methodologies

• India needs to strengthen its domestic carbon-market infrastructure and emissions-accounting capabilities.
• At the same time, it must engage internationally to seek recognition of credible Indian methodologies and verification systems.

Thus, India’s response requires both stronger domestic preparedness and sustained diplomatic engagement on the international rules governing carbon-related trade measures.

Way Forward for BRICS

1. Use Multilateral Forums for Cooperation

• BRICS should use COP31 and other multilateral platforms to promote a cooperative approach to climate-related trade regulation.
• It should advocate arrangements that reconcile climate objectives with development needs and fair market access.

2. Operationalise Common Carbon-Accounting Principles

• BRICS should translate the principles outlined in its declarations into practical standards.
• Implementation can proceed sector by sector, beginning with areas where differences in emissions calculations create significant trade-related difficulties.

3. Establish Mutual Recognition Mechanisms

• Member countries should work towards mutual recognition of emissions data, certification procedures and verification systems.
• Such arrangements could reduce repetitive assessments and improve the comparability of product-level emissions information.

4. Develop Equivalence Frameworks for Carbon Pricing

• BRICS should explore ways to assess whether different national carbon-pricing systems deliver comparable environmental outcomes.
• This would allow cooperation without forcing countries to adopt identical carbon-market structures.

5. Provide Technical Assistance to MSMEs

• Small businesses and developing-country exporters require support to comply with increasingly complex environmental requirements.
• BRICS cooperation should include technical guidance, capacity-building, affordable emissions measurement tools and assistance with verification and reporting.

6. Preserve Climate and Trade Principles

• Climate-related trade measures should be consistent with the principles of the Paris Agreement, CBDR-RC and World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.
• Greater transparency and international cooperation can help prevent environmental objectives from being used to justify unjustified trade restrictions.

7. Integrate Traditional Knowledge into Adaptation

• BRICS should strengthen cooperation involving indigenous knowledge, local practices and community-based adaptation.
• This can support locally appropriate climate responses while recognising the experience of communities that are directly affected by environmental change.

Conclusion

BRICS faces a choice between remaining a platform that repeatedly opposes unilateral climate measures and becoming a rule-making coalition for the Global South. Developing a credible, transparent and mutually recognised carbon-accounting framework would help reduce compliance uncertainty, improve trade competitiveness and strengthen climate cooperation. Such an approach can reconcile environmental ambition with the developmental needs of emerging economies and contribute to a fairer, more inclusive global trading system.

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