India and UN, Reforms, UN Security Council, Peacekeeping

India and UN relations date back to the UN’s founding in 1945, with India emerging as an active supporter of multilateralism, international peace and development. India has contributed significantly to UN peacekeeping, SDG implementation, climate action and global health, while advocating greater representation of developing countries in global institutions.
India’s engagement with the UN is significant for advancing its strategic interests and Global South priorities, but faces challenges such as UN Security Council reform, geopolitical rivalries, veto-based decision-making and limited representation of developing countries. India therefore continues to seek a more representative, inclusive and effective multilateral system.

India and UN Relations

India has been an active participant in the United Nations (UN) since its foundation, with its role evolving from supporting decolonisation and peacekeeping to advocating development, Global South interests and UN reform.

• Founding Member (1945): India was among the 51 original signatories of the UN Charter, signed at San Francisco on 26 June 1945.
• Peacekeeping & Mediation (1950s): India played an early role in Korean War diplomacy and contributed troops to UNEF-I during the Suez Crisis (1956).
• Decolonisation: India strongly supported decolonisation, self-determination and the fight against apartheid through the UN.
• SDGs (2015): India committed to implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), integrating them into national development priorities.
• UN Security Council (2021-22): India served as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, highlighting maritime security, counter-terrorism and multilateral reform.

India and UN Security Council

India and UN Security Council (UNSC) reflect India’s long-standing role in global peace and security. India has served as a non-permanent member eight times—most recently in 2021–22—and has consistently advocated greater representation of developing countries in the Council.

• Repeated UNSC Membership: India has served eight terms: 1950–51, 1967–68, 1972–73, 1977–78, 1984–85, 1991–92, 2011–12 and 2021–22, demonstrating its sustained engagement with the Council.
• Counter-Terrorism: UNSC membership gives India a platform to push for stronger international action against terrorism and terrorist financing; during its 2021–22 tenure, India chaired the Counter-Terrorism Committee.
  • A notable outcome was the 2023 designation of Abdul Rehman Makki, a Lashkar-e-Taiba figure involved in attacks including the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, on the UN sanctions list.
• Maritime Security: During its presidency in 2021, India spearheaded the UNSC's first high-level discussion on maritime security, demonstrating its ability to bring Indian Ocean and maritime security issues to the attention of the world.
• Global Rule-Making: By taking part, India can have an impact on decisions about international peace and security, including those pertaining to conflicts, peacekeeping, terrorism, and new security issues.
• Voice of the Global South: India uses its position to draw attention to the issues that developing nations face, especially those related to development, equitable global governance, terrorism, and security risks associated with climate change.

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India and UN Peacekeeping

India and UN peacekeeping have a long-standing association, with India emerging as one of the largest and most consistent contributors of troops and personnel to UN peace operations. Indian peacekeepers have served in missions across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, reflecting India’s commitment to international peace and security.

• Major Troop Contributor: India is one of the biggest cumulative contributors in the world, having sent more than 290,000 troops to more than 50 UN peacekeeping operations.
• Women Peacekeepers: India has promoted women’s participation in peacekeeping, including the deployment of an all-women Formed Police Unit to Liberia in 2007, one of the first such deployments by a UN member state.
• Medical & Humanitarian Support: Indian contingents provide medical assistance, engineering support and humanitarian services to local communities alongside their security responsibilities.
• Global Leadership: India's consistent participation in UN peacekeeping enhances its reputation as a responsible participant in global peace and security and bolsters its claim to a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
  • India’s Ministry of External Affairs specifically cites its peacekeeping record among the grounds for its permanent-membership claim.
• Diplomatic Influence: Peacekeeping expands India’s engagement with conflict-affected regions, particularly Africa, while building partnerships and practical experience in peacebuilding.

India and UN Agencies

India’s partnership with UN agencies covers health, child welfare, food security, gender equality and sustainable agriculture. Their interventions combine international expertise with Indian government programmes and local institutions. Some of them are as follows:

India and UNDP

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) helps in sustainable Development by supporting SDG localisation, poverty reduction and climate resilience; its work with Indian governments on integrating SDGs into planning helps convert global goals into state-level development priorities.

• UNDP’s support to U-WIN has strengthened digital immunisation tracking, while its collaboration on the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) has helped expand crop-insurance coverage, demonstrating UNDP’s role in strengthening India’s digital public infrastructure and agricultural resilience. 

India and UNICEF

Since 1949, India and UNICEF have worked together to promote child rights, health, nutrition, education, and protection. India reported zero polio cases in 2012 and was certified polio-free in 2014 because of UNICEF's support of the country's polio eradication campaign, which strengthened immunisation and social mobilisation.

India and WHO

India and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have a long-standing health partnership covering disease surveillance, immunisation, health-system strengthening and emergency response. Its support for India’s Antimicrobial-Resistance (AMR) response includes surveillance and state-level action plans, addressing the growing challenge of drug-resistant infections.

India and FAO

India and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) have a long-standing partnership focused on food security, sustainable agriculture, natural-resource management and resilient food systems. FAO’s support includes the Sustainable Food Systems project in Punjab, Haryana, Odisha and Chhattisgarh, which promotes sustainable rice–wheat systems while addressing soil degradation, excessive water use and climate risks.

India and UN Reforms

India advocates comprehensive UN reforms, particularly the Security Council, to make global governance more representative, inclusive and reflective of contemporary geopolitical realities. India also stresses greater participation of developing countries.

• Permanent UNSC Membership: India, citing its population, economic clout, democratic credentials, and long history of UN peacekeeping, seeks a permanent seat on an expanded Security Council.
• Expansion of UNSC: Supports expansion in both permanent and non-permanent categories, with greater representation for Asia, Africa and Latin America.
• G4 Coalition: Works with Brazil, Germany and Japan through the G4 to push for comprehensive Security Council reform and expanded permanent membership.
• Veto Reform: The P5 (China, France, Russia, UK and USA) currently enjoy veto power. India seeks equal treatment for any new permanent members in a reformed Security Council, rather than creating a second-class of permanent members without veto rights.

India and UN Relation Challenges

India and UN relations are shaped by shared interests in peace, development and multilateralism, but differences over UN reform, geopolitical conflicts, and the functioning of global institutions remain important challenges between India and the United Nations.

• Veto & P5 Dominance: The P5’s veto power can block substantive UNSC decisions, creating concerns about the Council’s representativeness and effectiveness; India therefore supports a reformed Council.
  • For example, Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution in February 2022 condemning its invasion of Ukraine, preventing the resolution from being adopted.
• Geopolitical Divergences: Conflicting positions of major powers on issues such as Ukraine and Gaza make consensus difficult, requiring India to balance its strategic interests with its commitment to multilateralism.
• Terrorism Concerns: India seeks stronger international action against cross-border terrorism and terrorist financing, but differences among major powers can complicate consensus on designations and enforcement.
• Multilateralism under Pressure: Increasing geopolitical fragmentation and weakening international cooperation make collective action on climate change, conflicts, development and global governance more difficult.
• Coffee Club Opposition: The Uniting for Consensus (UfC) group, led by countries such as Italy and including Pakistan, opposes the creation of new permanent seats and instead favours expanding the non-permanent category.

India and UN Way Forward

India can strengthen its engagement with the UN by combining its reform agenda, Global South leadership and practical contributions with a stronger focus on emerging global challenges.

• Accelerate UNSC Reform: Build wider support through the G4 and L.69 for expansion of the Security Council in both permanent and non-permanent categories, making it more representative of present-day realities.
• Strengthen Global South Voice: Use India’s role as a bridge-builder to bring concerns of developing countries on debt, development, climate finance and food security into UN decision-making.
• Deepen Peacekeeping Role: Continue contributing troops and expertise while promoting technology, better protection of peacekeepers and stronger accountability in UN missions.
• Lead Counter-Terrorism Efforts: Push for transparent sanctions and listing mechanisms and stronger international cooperation against terrorist financing and emerging forms of terrorism.
• Promote Effective Multilateralism: Support a more transparent, accountable and efficient UN, ensuring that reforms improve its ability to respond to conflicts, climate change, pandemics and emerging challenges.