Why in the News?

India abstained from a UN General Assembly resolution calling for Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories within 12 months. India emphasized its commitment to dialogue and diplomacy, stressing the need to build bridges rather than widen divides.

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)

• It is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the UN.
• Headquarters: New York
• All 193 Member States of the UN are represented in the General Assembly, making it the only UN body with universal representation.
• Each year, in September, all UN members meet in the General Assembly Hall in New York for the annual General Assembly session and general debate, which many heads of state attend and address.
• Decisions on important questions, such as those on peace and security, admission of new members and budgetary matters, require a two-thirds majority of the General Assembly.
• Decisions on other questions are by simple majority.
• The President of the General Assembly is elected each year by assembly to serve a one-year term of office.
• 6 Main Committees: Draft resolutions can be prepared for the General Assembly by its six main committees:
  • Disarmament and International Security
  • Economic and Financial
  • Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural
  • Special Political and Decolonization
  • Administrative and Budgetary
  • Legal

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