STD X – HISTORY & CIVICS

CHAPTER 13 + 14 + 15 – THE UNITED NATION, AGENCIES OF

THE UN & NON-ALLIGNED MOVEMENT – SUMMARY
Syllabus
United Nations:
▪ The objectives of the UN
▪ The composition and functions of the General Assembly, the Security Council and the
International Court of Justice.
Major Agencies of the United Nations:
▪ UNICEF, WHO and UNESCO – functions only
Non-Aligned Movement:
• Brief Meaning, Objectives, Panchsheel, Names of the architects of the NAM

❖ United Nations: United Nations was established on 24th October, 1945

➢ The objectives of the UN:
• To maintain international peace and security:
• To develop friendly relations among nations:
• To achieve international cooperation:
➢ Composition & Functions of General Assembly:
▪ Composition: All the members of the UN constitute the General
Assembly. Each member state is represented by 5 members, but each
state has 1 vote.
▪ Functions:
• To make recommendations on peaceful settlements of disputes.
• To appoint the Secretary general on the recommendation of the
Security Council
➢ Composition and Functions of the Security Council:
▪ Composition: The Security Council has 5 permanent members – UK,
USA, USSR, France and China and 10 non – permanent members.
▪ Functions:
• To investigate any dispute or situation that might lead to
international friction.
• To take military action against an aggressor.
➢ Composition and Functions of the International Court of Justice:
• Composition: It consists of 15 judges elected for a term of 9 years,
elected by the General Assembly and the Security Council sitting
independently of each other.
• Functions:

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 STD X – HISTORY & CIVICS

• To entertain a dispute if the states concerned agree to take the

issue to it.
• To entertain disputes pertaining to the interpretation of
international law.
• The five organs of the UN and the sixteen specialized agencies of
the UN are authorized to request advisory opinions of the Court.

❖ Major Agencies of the United Nations:

➢ UNICEF: United Nations Children Fund
▪ Functions:
• Provides help to children and mothers in emergencies arising from
natural calamities, civil strife’s & epidemics.
• Makes efforts to prevent diseases like T.B, malaria, eye diseases,
skin diseases, etc.
➢ WHO: World Health Organization
▪ Functions:
• It aims at fighting diseases and preventing them from spreading.
Malaria eradication is the world’s biggest health programme.
• Publishes health journals like – the ‘Bulletin of the World Health
Organization’ to create health consciousness.
➢ UNESCO: United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural
Organization
▪ Functions:
• Removal of illiteracy by encouraging adult education, distance
education & open school system.
• Emphasis on education of women and girls.

❖ Non-Aligned Movement:
➢ Meaning of NAM: Non – alignment is the international policy of a
sovereign state according to which it does not align itself with any of the
power blocs and at the same time actively participates in the world
affairs to promote international peace, harmony and cooperation.
➢ Objectives of NAM:
▪ To oppose colonialism, imperialism and racial discrimination.
▪ To encourage friendly relations among countries.
▪ To advocate peaceful settlement of disputes.

[Date] 2
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 STD X – HISTORY & CIVICS

➢ Panchsheel: In 1954, India and China signed an agreement containing five

principles of peaceful co-existence. These principles were collectively
known as ‘Panchsheel’ and they became guidelines for the Non-aligned
Movement to evolve.
➢ Names of the architects of the NAM: The founders of the NAM were:
▪ President Gamel Abdel Nasser of Egypt
▪ President Joseph Broze Tito of Yugoslavia
▪ Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru of India.

[Date] 3
Hasmita Shah, B/203, Gokul Divine, Off S.V.Road, Irla, VIle Parle (West), Mumbai 400056.
Mob:9699926941