Unconventional Committees in MUNs

For decades, Model United Nations (MUN) was defined by formal speeches and structured resolutions. However, the landscape is shifting. While classic committees like the Security Council and the General Assembly remain fundamental, the rise of Unconventional Committees in MUN is redefining the experience by trading formal MUN Rules of Procedure for fast-paced and interactive environments.

Today, delegates might navigate a G-20 simulation to handle global tensions, participate in an IPL Auction for resource management, or pitch ideas at an Entrepreneurs Summit. By focusing on real-world problem-solving and application-based debate, these specialized MUN formats help participants master leadership and negotiation. This shift toward unique committee settings ensures the next generation is ready for the unpredictable nature of modern diplomacy.

What Are Unconventional Committees in MUN? 

Unconventional committees are non-traditional MUN simulations or crisis-based bodies operating outside standard UN rules of procedure, often featuring rapid-response mechanics, individualized portfolio powers, and topics that go beyond those of traditional UN bodies. They place delegates in boardrooms, auctions, crisis cabinets, and innovation forums, rather than only in diplomatic negotiations. These simulations focus on building skills that extend beyond policy writing, such as strategic thinking, negotiation, collaboration, leadership under pressure, and real-world decision making.

Here are five distinctive committees gaining popularity in modern MUN conferences: 

1. G20 Summit Simulation 

The G20 (Group of Twenty) Summit is the premier forum for international economic cooperation, where delegates take on the roles of leaders or finance ministers of the world’s 19 largest economies, alongside the European Union and the African Union, including Argentina, China, India, and the United States. The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) offers a deep dive into the G20's role in global governance.

• Debate Style and Agenda: Rules of Procedure (ROP) are often more flexible and discussion-driven, allowing delegates to collaborate more directly on real-world issues like artificial intelligence, trade, climate finance, debt relief, digital economy, and geopolitical stability. 

The sessions include opening statements, agenda setting, brainstorming sessions, negotiations, and drafting a communiqué outlining collective decisions, requiring more brainstorming and negotiation skills.  

2. IPL Auction Committee 

Lights, camera, auction! The Indian Premier League (IPL) auction committee is one of the most unique MUN committee ideas in a conference. They serve as the primary means for franchises to build their preferred teams, showcase tactical acumen, and adjust long-term strategies. The committee follows a structure similar to the real IPL auction, beginning with an opening ceremony, followed by player presentations with statistics, timed bidding rounds, and a final team review. 

• Portfolios & Agenda: Participants become team owners or auctioneers, representing franchises like the Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Kolkata Knight Riders, focusing on a Mega Auction scenario, where franchises must build a squad from scratch within a fixed budget, often ₹100 crores. 

The goal is to build the strongest team without exhausting financial resources, and for this, participants must analyze player performance data, build balanced team combinations, use Right to Match (RTM) cards strategically, and manage budgets effectively.

3. Entrepreneurs Summit 

“Sharks, I’m here to seek ₹50 lakhs for 10% equity…” 

A pitch you would expect on a show with investors like Vineeta Singh, co-founder of SUGAR Cosmetics, not inside a MUN committee. The Entrepreneurs Summit replaces diplomatic negotiations with discussions on innovation and investment, functioning as a blend of Shark Tank and a policy-making simulation where delegates explore real-world entrepreneurial challenges by taking on roles of start-up founders, venture capitalists, investors, policymakers, and industry leaders. 

• Agenda and Session flow (ROP): Debates may include topics on start-up ecosystems, youth and women entrepreneurship, technology innovation, and funding access for developing economies. The committee typically includes idea pitching, brainstorming sessions, negotiations, partnerships, and drafting a joint framework for innovation. 

Evaluating market opportunities, identifying viable business ideas, and building investment partnerships are the keys. Delegates benefit from researching global start-up trends and emerging technologies before the conference.  

4. Historical Crisis Committee (HCC) 

HCC is a specialized crisis-based committee that enables delegates to take on the roles of influential historical figures and revisit defining global events, making it one of the most dynamic and unconventional committees in MUN. Unlike traditional MUN committees, HCC operates without standard parliamentary procedure. Instead, it follows a dynamic format shaped by continuous crisis updates, directives, and moderated negotiations, as seen in platforms like Oxford Global Historical Crisis simulations.

• Portfolios and Agenda: Delegates are assigned specific political or military portfolios and are expected to make decisions that can dramatically shift the course of events. Agendas include revisiting the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attacks, the Korean War, the Partition of India in 1947, and the fall of the Soviet Union. 

• Preparation Tips: In a small, high-stakes committee, fast-paced networking is crucial; delegates must find allies quickly to co-sign directives. As situations evolve rapidly, strong research and the ability to analyze bias and policy perspectives are covered in How to Research for MUN: Sources, Bias, and Policy Thinking? become essential, along with the flexibility to adapt as “news” shifts the course of debate. 

5. Junior MUN committees

Junior MUN committees are designed to introduce younger delegates to the Model UN format through simplified agendas and guided discussions. In a more friendly and supportive environment, these committees place a strong emphasis on the development of confidence, basic research skills, public speaking skills, and beginner debate skills. Agendas are often tailored to be relatable, allowing early learners to have a basic understanding of global issues at an introductory level.

For a deeper understanding of how these committees work, explore our blog,

Junior MUN for Students in India: Shaping Future Diplomats, where the MUN journey begins in its simplest, most impactful form.

Innovative MUN Committees in Practice

Several conferences across the country now reflect this evolution. The City One Initiative, in collaboration with leading schools in India, has played a key role in introducing innovative MUN formats into mainstream MUN conferences. Recent conferences reflecting this shift include:  

Genesis MUN: Co-curated by Genesis Global School, Noida, and City One Initiative, this conference combined non-traditional and discussion-driven committee formats. The IPL Auction simulation alongside conventional UN bodies allowed delegates to engage in competitive, real-world simulations outside standard diplomacy, emphasizing flexible procedures, strategic team building, and financial decision-making. 

SPPS MUN: Satya Prakash Public School, Jabalpur, collaborated with City One Initiative to feature an Entrepreneurs Summit committee focused on innovation and emerging technologies. This committee exposed delegates to business-driven decision-making outside traditional MUN settings. Participants engaged in idea pitching, investment conversations, and cooperative problem-solving while exploring the role of artificial intelligence in start-up ecosystems. 

TISA MUN: Working together, The International School in Agra and City One Initiative created an IPL Auction committee to replicate the quick-moving environment of professional sports management. This format differed from typical policy discussions by demanding immediate decisions from delegates, who had to adjust to competitive offers and quickly modify their approaches.

The integration of unconventional committees in MUN marks a major turning point for the Model UN Conferences in India. By moving away from formal speeches, these formats offer a hands-on way to learn that reflects the fast-paced nature of the modern world. Together, these conferences demonstrate how City One Initiative is integrating unconventional committees into MUN culture, helping to create more diverse and accessible simulation experiences for the youth.

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