The United Nations Organisation was established to maintain peace and promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom. With reference to this, explain the following:

(a) The composition of the Security Council.

(b) The functions of the Security Council related to maintaining world peace.

(c) The role of UNESCO in the development of Science and Technology.

(a) The Security Council consists of 15 members.

1. It has five permanent members —
   1. China
   2. France
   3. Russia
   4. Britain
   5. The United States of America
2. The regional representation of the ten non-permanent members is:
   
   • Afro-Asian countries — 5
   • Latin American countries — 2
   • West European and other countries — 2
   • East European countries — 1.
3. The ten non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly by a two-third majority for a term of two years.
4. A retiring member is not eligible for immediate re-election.
5. The Presidency of the Council rotates monthly, according to the English alphabetical listing of its member States.

(b) The functions of the Security Council related to maintaining world peace are as follows:

1. To maintain international peace and security in accordance with the principles and purposes of the United Nations.
2. To investigate any dispute or situation which might lead to international friction and to take military action against an aggressor.
3. To recommend methods of adjusting such disputes or the terms of settlement.
4. To formulate plans for the establishment of a system to regulate armaments.
5. To determine the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression and to recommend what action should be taken.
6. To call on Members to apply economic sanctions and other measures not involving the use of force to prevent or stop aggression.
7. To take military action against an aggressor.

(c) The scientific activities undertaken by the UNESCO are:

1. UNESCO organises seminars and conferences of scientists of various countries and circulates information through journals, press and exhibitions. Courier' is the official monthly magazine of UNESCO. Its Hindi and Tamil editions are available in India.
2. It promotes basic research in fields like Geology, Mathematics, Physics and Oceanography. As a result, it finances engineering and technology schemes in a number of developing countries.
3. It helps in correcting the imbalance in scientific and technological manpower that exists, because 90% of trained manpower is concentrated in the industrialised countries.
4. It encourages the study of social sciences in order to focus attention on combating all forms of discrimination, improving the status of women and helping the youth in solving their problems.