India has been re-elected as a member of the executive board of the UN educational, scientific and cultural organization (UNESCO)
- The election was held at the 39th session of the general conference of UNESCO in Paris
- The General Conference consists of the representatives of the States Members of the organisation.
- It is organised every two years, and is attended by the Member States and Associate Members, together with observers for non-Member States, intergovernmental organisations and non- governmental organisations (NGOs)
- Each country has one vote, irrespective of its size or the extent of its contribution to the budget.
- The General Conference decides the policies and the main lines of work of the organisation.
- Its duty is to set the programmes and the budget of the UNESCO.
- It also elects the Members of the Executive Board and appoints every four years
About UNESCO
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) which is based in Paris.
- It aims to contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through educational, scientific, and cultural reforms
- UNESCO pursues its objectives through five major programs: education, natural sciences, social/human sciences, culture and communication/information.
- UNESCO has 195 member states and ten associate members.
- The first General Conference took place from 19 November to 10 December 1946 and elected Dr. Julian Huxley to Director-General.
- The Constitution was amended in November 1954 when the General Conference resolved that members of the Executive Board would be representatives of the governments of the States of which they are nationals and would not, as before, act in their personal capacity.
- Irina Bokova is the present Director-General.
