India joined the international community as a founding member of the United Nations. In which year did India formally become a member state of the United Nations Organisation (UNO)?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: 1945

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The United Nations Organisation, usually abbreviated as UNO or simply UN, is the most important global organisation for peace, security and cooperation among nations. India is often described as a founding member of the United Nations, and many general knowledge questions ask for the year in which India officially became a member of the UN. Knowing this year is essential for students of history, civics and international relations, as it anchors Indias foreign policy journey in the post Second World War era.


Given Data / Assumptions:

    The country in question is India.
    The organisation is the United Nations Organisation, UNO.
    The task is to identify the year when India became a member of the UN.
    The provided years are 1945, 1947, 1949 and 1950.
    We assume the question refers to the original membership and not later changes after India became a republic.


Concept / Approach:
The United Nations was established in the closing months of the Second World War. The United Nations Charter was signed in 1945 and came into force later that year. India, though still under British rule, participated actively in the founding conference and is regarded as one of the original members. Therefore, India became a member in 1945, not in 1947 when it gained independence. Recognising that membership predates independence is a key conceptual point that helps avoid confusion in exams.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the United Nations Charter was signed in 1945 in San Francisco and came into force the same year. Step 2: India, then under British colonial rule but with its own international personality in some matters, joined as an original signatory in 1945. Step 3: Note that 1947 is the year of Indian independence, but membership of the UN was already secured two years earlier. Step 4: Years like 1949 and 1950 are significant in other contexts, such as the adoption of the Constitution and declaration of the Republic, but not for original UN membership. Step 5: Therefore, the correct year when India became a member of the United Nations is 1945.


Verification / Alternative check:
Students can verify this by looking at membership lists or timelines for the UN, where India is listed among the original members in 1945. Textbooks on modern Indian history and civics often mention that India was a founding member of the UN, which confirms that the year is the same as the UNs founding year. This cross check between national history and global history sources greatly reinforces the accuracy of this date in memory.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
1947: This is the year of Indias independence from British rule, but UN membership predates it, so this option is misleading.
1949: This year is linked with steps toward becoming a republic and other constitutional developments, but it is not the year of UN admission.
1950: India became a republic in 1950, but it was already an active member of the United Nations by then, so this option is incorrect for this question.


Common Pitfalls:
A very common mistake is to assume that international membership could only begin after independence in 1947. This leads many candidates to choose 1947 rather than 1945. Another pitfall is mixing up UN membership history with constitutional milestones like the date of the Constitution coming into effect. To avoid confusion, students should study an integrated timeline that includes global events such as the formation of the UN and national events like independence and the adoption of the Constitution, clearly noting which year corresponds to which event.


Final Answer:
India became a member state of the United Nations in the year 1945.

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