For how many years are the ten non permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) elected to serve?

Introduction / Context:
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is the most powerful organ of the United Nations, tasked with maintaining international peace and security. It consists of five permanent members and a number of non permanent members elected for fixed terms. This question focuses on the tenure of the ten non permanent members and is a standard point of general knowledge for international relations and competitive examinations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The UNSC has ten non permanent members at any given time.
These members are elected for a specific term by the General Assembly of the United Nations.
The options list possible tenures of 5, 4, 3 and 2 years.

Concept / Approach:
According to the United Nations Charter, non permanent members of the Security Council are elected for a term of two years. Elections are held each year for five of the ten seats, so that membership rotates and new countries can serve on the Council. There is also a rule that a retiring member is not immediately eligible for re election for the very next term. The correct conceptual answer is therefore a tenure of two years for each non permanent member.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the UNSC has fifteen members in total: five permanent and ten non permanent. Step 2: The ten non permanent members are elected by the General Assembly for terms of two years each, with half of them elected every year to ensure continuity. Step 3: Check the options: 5, 4, 3 and 2 years. The figure that matches the UN Charter for non permanent members is two years. Step 4: Longer terms such as five or four years would reduce rotation and do not match the actual practice of electing five new members every year. Step 5: Therefore, the correct answer is that non permanent members serve for two years.

Verification / Alternative check:
Textbooks on international relations and official UN information sources clearly state that non permanent members of the Security Council are elected for two year terms. They also explain the regional groupings and rotational pattern. Lists of past non permanent members often show each country serving for a two year block, for example 2021 to 2022 or 2023 to 2024, confirming that two years is the standard tenure.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
5 years: A five year term would significantly reduce rotation and increase the share of time large or influential countries might hold seats, which is not how the system is designed. 4 years: This would similarly slow down rotation and is not mentioned in any UN provisions for Security Council membership. 3 years: Although three years might seem like a compromise, the UN Charter specifies two year terms, not three.

Common Pitfalls:
Since five years is a common tenure for various elected offices in different countries, some learners mistakenly think the same applies to UN bodies. Others confuse the term length with that of some other international organisations. To avoid such mistakes, remember the specific structure of the Security Council: five permanent members with no fixed term, and ten non permanent members elected for two year terms, with five rotating off every year.

Final Answer:
Each non permanent member of the United Nations Security Council is elected to serve a term of 2 years.