How to host a Model UN or Model G20 conference at your school: a planning guide for principals

What does hosting a Model UN or Model G20 conference involve?

A Model UN conference is made of plenary or committee meetings, in which delegates simulate one of the UN organs. Each delegate is assigned a UN Member State and represents its views, not their own. A Chair runs each committee under rules of procedure, and the committee drafts resolutions; resolutions about agenda items are adopted by vote or by consensus (UN).

The UN says it is important to have “a competent and reliable team”; this guide calls that student team the secretariat. The UN’s page for organisers covers establishing a team, logistics, workshops, and joining a conference or hosting one; for hosting, it points to Chapter 4 of the United Nations Guide to Model UN (UN).

Many Model UN simulations use “Parliamentary Procedure” rules, in which delegates vote on motions, the UN says; at the UN itself, most agreements are made by consensus. It adds: “Although time is limited at MUN conferences, prioritizing the Consensus-Building Model as much as possible creates a more realistic and dynamic conference for all participants” (UN).

One Young India runs a Model G20. Our rules page says it runs on Rules of Procedure “adapted for how the G20 works: by consensus, toward a joint communiqué”, in seven stages from roll call to adoption, with committees in the Sherpa Track and the Finance Track.

Should the school host a Model UN, a Model G20 or both?

Our rules page says: “Most Model UNs end in a vote: a simple majority passes a resolution, and the Security Council hands five countries a veto.” Model G20, it says, adopts by consensus, with no vote on the communiqué and no veto. A Model UN can also run by consensus, which the UN encourages (UN).

The practical difference is the body being simulated and the outcome document: a resolution or a communiqué. Our comparison page says: “Both are worth doing.” This guide makes no claim that one is better.

The choice turns on what students should practise: debate and voting under parliamentary procedure, which the UN says many Model UN simulations use, or negotiation toward one agreed text. A first-time host may keep to one format, a few committees and its own students, and try the other another year.

What does it take from the school?

The UN says a simulation at a school “may need a teacher to serve as an advisor, especially at the high school or secondary school level”, and that organisers should check the school’s guidelines on clubs. A team that fits the work has a lead teacher, a faculty adviser per committee where staff allow, office and IT support, and a staff member to lead safeguarding for the event.

Approval starts with management; the UN says a statement of purpose may help explain to administrators, teachers and students why the school wants to start a Model UN. The NCPCR manual says school management should hold periodic planning meetings on school safety.

For CBSE schools, Circular No. 01/2022 lists the NCPCR manual and says heads of schools are “directed to adhere with the provisions and procedures contained in” the guidelines it lists (CBSE); how that bears on an event outside school hours is a question for the safeguarding lead and counsel.

The school books one room per committee, a hall for opening and closing, a secretariat room and a quiet room near the first aid kit, for the conference and the Week 10 mock committee.

Money is a set of lines, not a figure this guide can give: printing, certificates, food, sound and projection, transport for visiting delegates, travel for any guest, and a contingency line. The UN “does not provide financial assistance of any kind for students participating in Model UN events and activities” (UN).

A suggested structure for the student secretariat, not a rule. The school decides how many students each role needs.

How should the school handle safeguarding and consent?

This is not legal advice; the school should take its own. In short, with each point explained below as a question for the safeguarding lead and counsel:

• Name a staff member to lead safeguarding for the event (this guide’s suggestion), with a clear line of reporting for staff (NCPCR checklist) and a platform for parents to raise concerns (NCPCR manual).
• Verify staff and volunteers before they work with students, and get each parent’s permission for late-night or overnight sessions (NCPCR manual).
• Have counsel read the data notice and the consent form (see the data questions below).

Questions the safety documents raise

• Who is accountable? The Ministry of Education’s release of 23 August 2024 says its Guidelines on School Safety and Security, 2021 “contain provisions for fixing the accountability of the school management” and are “advisory in nature”; its headline says the Ministry “directs all States/UT to implement” them. States and UTs may adapt and notify them (PIB). What has the school’s State or UT notified?
• Who needs verification? The NCPCR manual, a compilation of 22 existing and approved manuals and guidelines, says “School should ensure Police verification of the school employees and connected staff in schools”. Its checklist asks about a verification protocol for “teaching, non-teaching, contractual, voluntary and other staff, before they are allowed to work with the children” (NCPCR). Does that include event volunteers and vendors?
• Visitors, supervision and late sessions? The manual says parents and visitors should be let in only “after verifying their identity”, that “All children must be escorted during travel for school outings”, and that permission “must be obtained from each child’s parent / family member” for activities “such as field trips, late-night activities, and overnight trips”. Supervising visiting delegates between sessions is a question for the safeguarding lead and counsel.
• Whose transport? The manual says each school should designate one transport manager or coordinator. For CBSE schools, Circular No. 01/2022 says “The school must ensure the safety and security of the students in school bus and other school transportation”; another of its measures speaks of students “safe and secure in the school premises during the school hours” (CBSE).
• Who receives a concern? The NCPCR manual names the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, and says that two sections of the Act “cast a duty on the teachers and management of the educational system to report instances of child sexual abuse”. Who is the named contact at the event?
• Cameras and conduct? The checklist asks whether the school has a policy on monitoring the use of cameras, including webcams, by staff or children, and about bullying. A signed delegate code of conduct is this guide’s suggestion.

What the data protection law says, and when

Forms, photographs and recordings raise questions under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. It defines a “child” as “an individual who has not completed the age of eighteen years”; for a child, the “Data Principal” “includes the parents or lawful guardian of such a child” (Gazette).

• Section 5(1): a request for consent “shall be accompanied or preceded by a notice” of the personal data, its purpose, how to exercise the Data Principal’s rights and how to complain to the Board. Rule 3 asks for “an itemised description of such personal data”.
• Section 6(1): consent “shall be free, specific, informed, unconditional and unambiguous with a clear affirmative action”, limited to the data necessary for the purpose. Under section 6(4), it may be withdrawn at any time.
• Section 9(1): before processing any personal data of a child, the Data Fiduciary shall “obtain verifiable consent of the parent of such child”, in the manner Rule 10 sets out.
• Section 8(7): unless retention “is necessary for compliance with any law”, a Data Fiduciary shall erase personal data when consent is withdrawn or “as soon as it is reasonable to assume that the specified purpose is no longer being served”.

These sections come into force eighteen months after the commencement notification was published in the Gazette; the notification is dated 13 November 2025 (Gazette). By our count, that is in May 2027; the school’s counsel can confirm the exact date. Rules 3 and 10 of the DPDP Rules, 2025 also start eighteen months after publication (Gazette).

Questions for counsel: is the school a “Data Fiduciary”, one who “determines the purpose and means of processing of personal data”? What should the form collect, with what notice? How is consent recorded? What happens to forms, photographs and recordings afterwards? Which duties apply on the event’s dates?

One more question: does the Rules’ Fourth Schedule class for “A Data Fiduciary who is an educational institution”, limited to “tracking and behavioural monitoring” for its educational activities or in the interests of the safety of “children enrolled with such institution”, bear on visiting delegates (Gazette)?

How should the school explain it to parents?

The note below covers what parents need: the event, the student’s part, the cost, what is collected and why, and whom to contact. The school fills the blanks; its counsel should read the consent wording first.

What does a 12-week term plan look like?

The 12 weeks are this guide’s own, not an official timeline, with the conference in Week 12.

A suggested plan. The right-hand column names the official document behind any rule or legal step in that week; the rest is planning advice.

What do students need before the first committee session?

A guide for each thing delegates and chairs need:

• Rules. The UN publishes the General Assembly’s rules and the Security Council’s provisional rules; ours: MUN rules of procedure, explained.
• Position papers. The MUN position paper format, or a Model G20 position paper.
• Drafting. In a Model UN, resolutions about agenda items are adopted by vote or by consensus: how to write one.
• Chairing. The UN points chairs to records of the language a Chair uses: how to chair an MUN committee.
• Opening speeches. How to give an MUN opening speech.
• Consensus language. For a Model G20, One Young India’s Model G20 training module.

What should the school check before paying an outside organiser?

Before paying an organiser to run a conference or take delegates, the school can ask:

• What does each delegate’s fee pay for, line by line?
• Do awards come with the fee?
• Does anyone promise anything about admissions?
• What is the refund policy, in writing?
• Who holds the students’ data, for what purpose, and for how long?
• Is a deadline pressing the school to pay before it has these answers?
• Does the conference claim UN backing? The UN says it “does not recognize, certify or endorse Model UN conferences”, and no conference may use its emblem to imply an affiliation. Asked about an entry fee, it says students may contact the organisers directly.

If the school wants help, where does One Young India fit?

We run programmes in this area, so weigh this section with that in mind. Each offer below is described as its own page describes it.

The Model G20 school edition

It is a turnkey way for a school to host its own economic-diplomacy summit for its students, Grades 8 to 12, in person or online, built around the G20’s agenda and decided by consensus. One Young India supplies the committees, rules and training. Model G20 is an independent educational programme, not affiliated with the G20.

The school’s student secretariat is trained to chair, and its students run a summit that ends in a signed communiqué.

Participants earn a joint certificate from One Young India and FLAME University.

For the school edition, the school enquires, and One Young India shares dates, formats and what hosting takes. Hosting starts with a conversation, not a booking. Enquire to host.

Our editions page lists past school editions, from 2024 to October 2026, hosted by The School of Raya, Bengaluru; Manav Mangal Smart School, Mohali; Learning Paths School, Mohali; Scottish High International School, Gurgaon; Indus International School, Pune; and Mayo College, Ajmer. Where it gives a length, each ran two or three days.

Become a Learnacy School

The Learnacy Schools network is “A network, not an association”, of schools who teach the syllabus, then teach past it, with “No membership fee, no dues, ever”. A school affirms a charter of six convictions, tells One Young India how it already teaches for curiosity, and receives the charter and the seal.

A member school gets priority to host its own edition of a One Young India programme. Become a partner school.

Our answers to this guide’s checklist, for the school edition:

• Fee. Ask for a per-delegate breakdown in writing before paying.
• Awards and admissions. Our page makes no promise about admissions. Does an award come with the fee? The page does not state this; ask before paying.
• Refunds. Refunds for programme bookings follow our Refunds & Cancellations page. The school edition page does not say how this applies to a hosted edition; ask in writing.
• Students’ data. Who holds it, and for how long? The page does not state this; ask in writing before paying.
• Affiliation. The programme is independent and not affiliated with the G20, as stated above.

Common questions

What is MUN in school?

MUN is Model United Nations: students are assigned a UN Member State and represent its views, not their own. The UN says Model UN simulations “engage hundreds of thousands of students each year”.

How to prepare for MUN in school?

Students research their assigned country, learn the rules and practise speaking; the UN suggests mini simulations for practice. Our guide to preparing for a conference covers each step.

How to start a Model UN club at school?

A club runs all year (our club guide covers it); this guide covers one conference. The UN says a school club may need a teacher as an adviser, and that organisers should check the school’s own guidelines on clubs. Its logistics questions: where and when to meet, what resources the club needs and how members will communicate. It adds: “It is important to have a regular meeting schedule”.

Does a school need the UN’s permission to host a Model UN?

The UN’s own FAQ asks “Do I need to register with or be certified by the United Nations when organizing a Model UN conference?” and answers: “No. The United Nations does not register or certify Model UN clubs. Model UN clubs and conferences operate independently from the United Nations.”

How is a Model G20 different from a Model UN?

Many Model UNs decide by majority vote (in a Security Council simulation, five countries hold a veto), and the UN notes that most decisions adopted by the real General Assembly are made by consensus. Model G20, our rules page says, adopts by consensus toward a joint communiqué, with no vote on the communiqué and no veto.

Sources

1. United Nations, Model United Nations.
2. United Nations, Getting Started with Model United Nations.
3. United Nations, Model UN Guide.
4. United Nations, Model United Nations, Frequently Asked Questions.
5. United Nations, Model United Nations, Sample Documents.
6. Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Education directs all States/UT to implement “Guidelines on School Safety and Security” to ensure safety and security of children in schools, 23 August 2024.
7. National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), Manual on Safety and Security of Children in Schools, 2021 (PDF).
8. Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Circular No. 01/2022, Safety of Children in Schools, 5 January 2022 (PDF).
9. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (No. 22 of 2023), Gazette of India Extraordinary, 11 August 2023 (PDF).
10. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Notification G.S.R. 843(E), 13 November 2025, on the commencement of the Act (PDF).
11. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Notification G.S.R. 846(E), the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, 13 November 2025 (PDF).
12. One Young India (our own pages): Model G20 Rules of Procedure, the delegate rulebook; Model G20 vs Model UN (MUN), how they compare.

Related

• Preparing for a Model G20 or Model UN conference
• How to chair an MUN committee
• How to start an MUN club at school
• Youth parliament at school: how it works in India