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India’s UN Voting Pattern – Rising Abstentions Reflect Strategic Diplomacy Shift

July 21, 2025

India’s UN Voting Pattern Latest News

A recent analysis of different resolutions in the United Nations that India voted on between 1946 and June 2025 shows that the annual percentage of ‘yes’ votes by India has fallen to 56%, the lowest since 1955.

Introduction

India’s voting behaviour at the United Nations has undergone a significant transformation, with the share of abstentions touching an all-time high in 2025.
An analysis of over 5,500 resolutions between 1946 and June 2025 reveals that the proportion of ‘yes’ votes by India has fallen to 56%, the lowest since 1955, while abstentions have surged to 44%.
This shift marks a strategic recalibration in India’s foreign policy, reflecting both the complexities of multilateral diplomacy and the country’s evolving positioning as a middle power in a polarised international system.

Historical Trends in India’s UN Voting

India’s approach to voting at the UN has seen distinct phases over the decades:
- 1946-Late 1960s: Voting patterns were highly volatile, with ‘yes’ votes swinging from 20% to 100%, and abstentions ranging from 0% to 40%.
- 1970-1994: The era saw greater consistency, with ‘yes’ votes between 74% and 96%, and abstentions more limited, between 8% and 19%.
- Mid-1990s-2019: India’s voting behaviour became even more stable, with ‘yes’ votes between 75% and 83%, and abstentions between 10% and 17%.
- Post-2019: A marked shift began, with increasing abstentions and declining ‘yes’ votes, culminating in a record 44% abstention rate in 2025.
This evolution reflects both changing global dynamics and India’s desire for greater strategic autonomy.

Reasons Behind the Strategic Shift

A More Polarised Global Order
- A former Indian envoy to the UN attributes this shift to intensifying polarisation between major powers in the global system.
- This has reduced incentives for consensus-building and increased pressure on countries to take definitive sides, something India is keen to avoid.
Complexity of UN Resolutions
- Another former Indian Permanent Representative to the UN, notes that modern resolutions often resemble “Christmas trees” with multiple, sometimes conflicting, provisions bundled together.
- This structural complexity makes it difficult for India to fully endorse or reject a resolution, making abstention a pragmatic choice.
Voice of an Emerging Power
- Abstention is increasingly seen not as indecision but as an assertion of sovereign diplomatic judgment. It allows India to convey nuanced positions without being seen as aligning blindly with any bloc, be it the West, the China-Russia axis, or others.
- Experts highlight that for middle powers like India, abstentions are a useful tool to navigate contentious issues while maintaining strategic flexibility.

Global Implications and Perception

India’s increased abstentions carry both symbolic and strategic implications:
- Sign of Autonomy: By abstaining more often, India signals its independence from binary Cold War-style alignments, reinforcing its non-aligned heritage while adapting to contemporary geopolitics.
- Potential Friction: However, this posture may also lead to ambiguity or disappointment among allies expecting stronger support, especially in value-laden resolutions on human rights, security, or conflict.
- Balancing Act: India must walk a fine line between preserving strategic autonomy and protecting its credibility as a responsible global actor.

Abstention in Practice: Examples and Impacts

While the study does not name specific resolutions, India’s abstentions in recent years have often involved contentious issues like:
- Resolutions on the Russia-Ukraine conflict
- Human rights violations in Myanmar or China
- Votes involving Israel-Palestine disputes
- In each case, India has used abstention to avoid alienating key partners while subtly signalling its concerns or strategic interests.

Future Outlook for India’s UN Diplomacy

India’s shift toward strategic abstention is likely to continue, especially as it seeks a more assertive role in global governance (e.g., UNSC permanent membership) while balancing ties with competing powers.
As global tensions rise, India’s role as a “balancing power” may increasingly rely on such nuanced diplomacy, where abstention is not a retreat but a recalibration.

Source: TH

UN Voting Pattern FAQs

Q1: What recent change has occurred in India’s voting pattern at the UN?

Ans: India’s share of abstentions reached an all-time high of 44% in 2025, while ‘yes’ votes declined to 56%.

Q2: Why are UN resolutions becoming harder for India to vote on?

Ans: Resolutions now often include multiple, complex provisions, making it difficult to fully support or oppose them.

Q3: How does abstention benefit India diplomatically?

Ans: Abstention allows India to express nuanced positions without aligning with any single geopolitical bloc.

Q4: What global trend is influencing India’s increased abstentions?

Ans: A more polarised international environment is reducing space for consensus and increasing pressure to take sides.

Q5: How has India’s UN voting evolved over the decades?

Ans: India’s voting has shifted from volatility to stability and now to increased abstentions post-2019, reflecting a strategic shift.

Why Food Inflation Is Likely to Stay Low in India

July 21, 2025

Food Inflation in India Latest News

India’s consumer price index inflation fell to 2.1% in June—lower than the US (2.7%) and UK (3.6%). The gap was even more notable in food inflation, with India recording a decline of 1.1%, while the US and UK saw increases of 3% and 4.5%, respectively.
This marks the lowest retail and food inflation since January 2019 and is a significant relief for the Reserve Bank of India, which had struggled with high inflation through 2023–2024.
The turnaround was driven by a surplus monsoon in 2024, leading to bumper kharif and rabi harvests, easing food prices from early 2025.

Food Inflation in India

Food inflation in India refers to the rate at which the prices of food items increase over a specific period, typically measured year-on-year.
It is a critical component of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which tracks changes in the cost of living.

Key Features

Measured by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) through the CPI.
Covers essential food items like cereals, pulses, vegetables, fruits, milk, eggs, meat, and edible oils.
Affects household budgets, particularly for lower- and middle-income groups where food is a major expense.

Wheat Stocks Rebound, Ensuring Cereal Stability

Thanks to abundant rainfall during the 2024 monsoon season—7.6% above normal—favourable soil moisture and improved water reserves led to a strong wheat harvest.
Wheat stocks in government godowns, which were critically low at 282.61 lakh tonnes (lt) on July 1 last year, have now risen to 358.78 lt—a four-year high.
Procurement also surged to 300.35 lt during the April–June marketing season, up from 266.05 lt in 2024 and just 187.92 lt in 2022.
Coupled with record-high rice stocks, this has placed India in a comfortable cereal supply position.
The government now has ample reserves to support the public distribution system and intervene in the market to control prices—unlike the situation just months ago.

Strong Monsoon, Shifting Crop Patterns, and Inflation Control

The 2025 monsoon has brought much-needed relief, arriving early over Kerala on May 24 and delivering cumulative rainfall 7.1% above the long-period average (LPA) by July 20.
Most regions have received above-normal rain, boosting sowing in major kharif crops—except arhar (pigeon pea), soyabean, and cotton.
- Almost all states/regions – barring Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh, Marathwada, Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh – have received above-par rains.
However, these dips are due to low market prices and pest concerns, not inadequate rainfall.
Farmers are shifting acreage to maize, which is now more profitable due to its use in ethanol, feed, and starch industries.
Despite reduced planting in some pulses and oilseeds, food inflation is expected to remain under control, thanks to record imports.
- In 2024–25, India imported 72.56 lakh tonnes (lt) of pulses and 164.13 lt of vegetable oils.
The government has extended zero-duty imports on key pulses till March 2026 and recently slashed duties on major edible oils, ensuring sufficient supply and price stability in the months ahead.

Fertiliser Shortage Poses Risk Despite Strong Monsoon Start

While the 2025 monsoon has boosted early kharif sowing, concerns remain about its potential weakening and a growing fertiliser shortfall.
Adequate rains have increased fertiliser demand, but opening stocks of key nutrients like urea and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) as of July 1 are significantly lower than last year.
- Urea stocks have fallen from 103 lakh tonnes (lt) to 61.22 lt, and DAP from 19.18 lt to 12.98 lt.
The decline is mainly due to reduced imports, especially from China, which imposed export restrictions.
- Chinese exports of urea to India dropped from 21.48 lt to just 1.04 lt, and DAP from 22.87 lt to 8.43 lt.
This supply squeeze has driven up DAP prices from $525 to $810 per tonne.
It remains uncertain whether the fertiliser shortage will affect crop yields, but it adds a layer of risk to an otherwise promising agricultural season.

Source: IE | RT

Food Inflation in India FAQs

Q1: Why is India’s food inflation low in 2025?

Ans: Due to surplus monsoon, bumper kharif and rabi harvests, record cereal stocks, and large imports of pulses and oils.

Q2: How has monsoon helped control prices?

Ans: Above-normal rainfall improved sowing and yields, boosting supplies and easing pressure on food prices.

Q3: What crops saw acreage decline?

Ans: Arhar, soyabean, and cotton saw reduced acreage due to low prices and pest risks, not water shortage.

Q4: How is the government managing inflation risks?

Ans: By allowing duty-free imports of key pulses and slashing import duties on edible oils to stabilize domestic supplies.

Q5: What risks could still affect inflation?

Ans: Fertiliser shortages and possible monsoon weakening could pose challenges, though current crop and import conditions are favorable.

Indian Army’s AI Roadmap: Battlefield Innovation by 2026–27

July 21, 2025

Indian Army AI Roadmap Latest News

The Indian Army has formulated a comprehensive roadmap to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Big Data Analytics by 2026–27.
Key focus areas include drone swarming, real-time battlefield surveillance, combat simulations for troop training, information warfare, and data-driven decision-making—aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and strategic capabilities.

Key Benefits of Military AI

Faster, Smarter Decisions - AI speeds up battlefield analysis and decision-making, providing commanders a “decision advantage” by processing sensor data and recommending actions in seconds.
Force Multiplication and Efficiency - Autonomous systems handle repetitive or dangerous tasks without fatigue, improving logistics, surveillance, and resource allocation with minimal manpower.
Reduced Risk to Soldiers - AI-driven drones and robots can perform high-risk operations like reconnaissance, mine-clearing, and casualty evacuation, saving human lives.
Cost-Effectiveness and Scalability - AI platforms, particularly drones and software, are often cheaper and easier to scale than traditional systems—offering a cost-effective military edge.
Greater Precision and Less Collateral Damage - AI-enhanced targeting may increase strike accuracy and help avoid civilian casualties, provided systems are rigorously trained and validated.
Strategic Deterrence and Wargaming - Advanced AI capabilities can deter adversaries and simulate complex war scenarios, giving military planners a strategic and predictive edge.

Major Risks of Military AI

Loss of Human Control and Escalation Risks - Autonomous systems may act at machine speed, triggering unintended conflict before human intervention is possible—especially dangerous in nuclear scenarios.
Cyber Vulnerabilities and AI Hacking - AI systems can be spoofed or hacked, leading to misidentification, system failure, or even turning weapons against their operators.
Unintended Civilian Harm - AI errors in complex environments may result in wrongful targeting and civilian casualties, especially due to unpredictable “black box” behavior.
Bias and Authoritarian Misuse - AI trained on flawed or biased data may discriminate, misidentify targets, or be misused for domestic repression and unlawful killings.
Arms Race and Strategic Instability - A global AI arms race could lead to rushed deployments, accidents, and heightened tensions due to miscalculation or lack of transparency.

Indian Army’s AI Roadmap: Transforming Warfare by 2026–27

The Indian Army has drawn up an ambitious roadmap to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Big Data Analytics into its operations by 2026–27.
The plan aims to enhance battlefield awareness, speed up decision-making, and modernise various facets of military functioning, from combat to logistics.
The push for rapid AI integration was accelerated by lessons from Operation Sindoor, a cross-border strike in May 2025 on terror targets in Pakistan and PoK.
Following this, the Army has decided to fast-track AI deployment across combat and support functions.

Immediate Priorities: Enhanced Battlefield Awareness

One of the key priorities is improving real-time battlefield awareness using AI tools that can process vast amounts of data rapidly.
These tools include:
- Text summarisers powered by Large Language Models (LLMs)
- AI-driven chatbots and voice-to-text systems
- Facial recognition and anomaly detection algorithms
- Data fusion tools that analyse and integrate feeds from drones, satellites, aircraft, and ground sensors for real-time insights

Wide-Ranging Applications of AI

The roadmap outlines tactical, operational, and strategic objectives for AI use, including:
- Combat and surveillance: Counter-intelligence, adversary mapping, and drone-based monitoring
- Decision support systems: Operational planning, threat detection, and wargaming simulations
- Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) and social media analysis: Monitoring public sentiment and adversary movements
- Logistics and maintenance: AI-based supply chain optimisation, predictive maintenance, and GPS-denied navigation

Modernisation of Equipment and Collaboration

To ensure long-term integration, AI features will be embedded in the General Staff Qualitative Requirements—technical benchmarks for all new equipment.
The Army also plans to retrofit AI into select legacy platforms.
An AI lab is being established at DGIS for model development and will coordinate efforts with the Navy and Air Force.
Additionally, the Army seeks increased collaboration with industry and academia to foster innovation and accelerate adoption.

Formation of AI Task Force

An AI Task Force under the Directorate General of Information Systems (DGIS) is being established.
This body, comprising representatives from other Army directorates, will oversee:
- Technology implementation
- Training and capacity building
- Data sharing and system integration
- Maintenance and support
- Research and development
- Integration of AI in procurement processes

Source: IE | TS2

Indian Army AI roadmap FAQs

Q1: What is the Indian Army’s AI roadmap?

Ans: It’s a strategic plan to integrate AI, ML, and Big Data into military operations, surveillance, and decision-making by 2026–27.

Q2: What triggered India’s military AI push?

Ans: Lessons from Operation Sindoor accelerated the push for AI-led warfare, logistics, and surveillance systems across the armed forces.

Q3: Which tools will improve battlefield awareness?

Ans: AI-powered chatbots, LLM text summarisers, facial recognition, and data fusion tools from drones and satellites will enhance awareness.

Q4: What are the key risks of military AI?

Ans: Risks include cyberattacks, unintended escalation, algorithmic bias, and reduced human control in fast-paced autonomous systems.

Q5: Will AI be retrofitted into old systems?

Ans: Yes, the Army plans to retrofit AI into select legacy equipment and embed AI features in all new procurement specs.