A Security Council decision on a non-procedural matter needs nine votes including the concurring votes of the permanent members
Background
Article 27 of the UN Charter gives each Security Council member one vote.
Decisions on procedural matters need an affirmative vote of nine members.
Decisions on all other matters need nine members including the concurring votes of the permanent members.
The permanent members are China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States.
A permanent member that does not fully agree but does not wish to veto may abstain, and the resolution is adopted if it has nine favourable votes.
Charter article:
Article 27
Votes needed:
nine
Permanent members:
five
Why it matters for exams: Article 27 and the veto are staple questions on how the Security Council works.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Veto A permanent member's negative vote — A negative vote by a permanent member blocks a non-procedural decision.