International Organizations: UN and SAARC

2026-06-12

Exam Snapshot

The United Nations (UN) is the primary intergovernmental organization with six principal organs, while SAARC acts as the regional cooperation body for South Asia. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) serves as the UN's judicial arm and is a frequent subject of entrance questions.

Core Concept

• Principal Organs of the UN: General Assembly (all members), Security Council (peace and security), Economic and Social Council (coordination), Trusteeship Council (decolonization oversight), International Court of Justice (judicial settlement), and the Secretariat (administrative function).
• International Court of Justice (ICJ): Located at The Hague, Netherlands. It consists of 15 judges elected for 9-year terms. The elections occur in the General Assembly and Security Council.
• SAARC: Established in 1985 (Dhaka, Bangladesh) with 8 member states. The permanent secretariat is located in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Nepal Law Anchors

• Treaty Act, 2047: Governs how Nepal enters into and implements international treaties.
• Constitution of Nepal, Article 279: Deals with the ratification, accession, acceptance, and approval of treaties or agreements.

Confusable Terms

• UN Organs vs. Specialized Agencies: The UN has 6 organs; entities like the WHO, IMF, and ILO are 'Specialized Agencies' or related organizations, not primary organs.
• General Assembly vs. Security Council: General Assembly allows one vote per nation, while the Security Council has 5 permanent members (P5) with veto power.

MCQ Traps

• ICJ Judge Term: Candidates often mistake the term length for 5 or 6 years. It is strictly 9 years.
• Number of ICJ Judges: The court has 15 judges, not 11 or 12.
• SAARC HQ: Frequently confused with other regional bodies; remember it is in Kathmandu.

Example

A dispute regarding international water boundaries between two states is the type of case that would be adjudicated by the ICJ, provided both nations have accepted its jurisdiction. The legal framework for such acceptance in Nepal is guided by the Treaty Act and Article 279.

Memory Hook

Use the mnemonic G-S-E-T-I-S for the 6 organs: General Assembly, Security Council, ECOSOC, Trusteeship, ICJ, Secretariat.

Quick Revision

• UN Charter signing: 1945.
• ICJ judges: 15 members, 9-year terms.
• SAARC members: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.
• Permanent members of UNSC: USA, UK, France, Russia, China.
• ICJ location: Peace Palace, The Hague.