Relevance: GS II (International Relations) | Source: The Hindu / Indian Express

1. What is the ‘Board of Peace’?

Recently, United States President Donald Trump started a new international group called the Board of Peace.

• The Original Idea: It was first created to help rebuild Gaza and stop the war there. This Gaza plan was even supported by the United Nations (UN) through a special rule called Resolution 2803.
• The New Goal: Now, the US wants this board to step in and solve all major global conflicts, not just Gaza.
• The Big Fear: Many experts worry this board is trying to become a “parallel UN” that listens only to the US. Because of this, big powers like Russia, China, France, and the UK have refused to join.

2. Who is Inside the Board?

• The Members: So far, major Middle Eastern countries (like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Israel) and US allies have joined. Most importantly for us, Pakistan is also a full member.
• The Money: The board has already collected $17 billion for Gaza’s relief, with the US alone promising $10 billion.
• The Boss: Donald Trump is the Chairman of the board and holds the final power to accept or reject any decisions.

3. What is India Doing? (The ‘Observer’ Choice)

India attended the board’s first official meeting in February 2026, but made a very clever diplomatic choice. India joined only as a “Guest” or Observer, not as a full member.

Why did India do this?

• Safe Distance: Being an observer gives India a “ringside view.” We can listen to the talks without being forced to follow the board’s controversial rules or pay huge membership fees.
• The Pakistan Factor: Because Pakistan is a full member, India needs to be present in the room to strictly ensure they do not bring up the Kashmir issue in front of the world.
• Protecting Independence: India strongly believes that global problems should be solved by the United Nations. By not becoming a full member of this US-led board, India protects its independent foreign policy (Strategic Autonomy).

(Note: Peace in the Middle East is highly crucial for the success of India’s upcoming IMEC trade route)

UPSC Value Box

Key Concept	Simple Explanation for UPSC
Observer Status	A diplomatic position where a country can attend meetings and watch what is happening, but does not have voting rights or legal commitments.
UNSC Resolution 2803	The official United Nations rule passed in late 2025 that originally supported the Gaza ceasefire plan and the creation of the Board of Peace.
Strategic Autonomy	India’s core foreign policy: making independent decisions based strictly on what is best for India, rather than blindly following superpowers like the US or Russia.

With reference to the recently established ‘Board of Peace’ and international diplomacy, consider the following statements:

1. The Board of Peace is a specialized agency operating directly under the administrative control of the United Nations General Assembly.
2. The foundational framework for Gaza’s reconstruction under this initiative was supported by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803.
3. India has joined the Board of Peace as a permanent, full-time member to actively vote on global conflict resolutions.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (b)