{"id":29481,"date":"2026-09-07T17:17:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T11:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/?p=29481"},"modified":"2026-09-07T17:17:00","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T11:47:00","slug":"india-and-un","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/india-and-un\/","title":{"rendered":"India and UN, Reforms, UN Security Council, Peacekeeping"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">India and UN relations date back to the UN\u2019s 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.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\r\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">India\u2019s 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.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">India and UN Relations<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">India has been an active participant in the <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/the-united-nations-un\/\" target=\"_blank\">United Nations (UN)<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> since its foundation, with its role evolving from supporting decolonisation and peacekeeping to advocating development, Global South interests and UN reform.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Founding Member (1945):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> India was among the 51 original signatories of the UN Charter, signed at San Francisco on 26 June 1945.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Peacekeeping &amp; Mediation (1950s):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> India played an early role in Korean War diplomacy and contributed troops to UNEF-I during the Suez Crisis (1956).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Decolonisation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> India strongly supported decolonisation, self-determination and the fight against apartheid through the UN.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>SDGs (2015):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> India committed to implementing the <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/sustainable-development-goals\/\" target=\"_blank\">Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, integrating them into national development priorities.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>UN Security Council (2021-22):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> India served as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, highlighting maritime security, counter-terrorism and multilateral reform.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">India and UN Security Council<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">India and UN Security Council (UNSC) reflect India\u2019s long-standing role in global peace and security. India has served as a non-permanent member eight times\u2014most recently in 2021\u201322\u2014and has consistently advocated greater representation of developing countries in the Council.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Repeated UNSC Membership:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> India has served eight terms: 1950\u201351, 1967\u201368, 1972\u201373, 1977\u201378, 1984\u201385, 1991\u201392, 2011\u201312 and 2021\u201322, demonstrating its sustained engagement with the Council.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Counter-Terrorism:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> UNSC membership gives India a platform to push for stronger international action against terrorism and terrorist financing; during its 2021\u201322 tenure, India chaired the Counter-Terrorism Committee.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Maritime Security: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Global Rule-Making:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> 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.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Voice of the Global South: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">India uses its position to draw attention to the issues that developing nations face, especially those related to development, equitable global governance, <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/terrorism\/\" target=\"_blank\">terrorism<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, and security risks associated with climate change.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">India and UN Peacekeeping<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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\u2019s commitment to international peace and security.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Major Troop Contributor:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> 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.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Women Peacekeepers:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> India has promoted women\u2019s 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.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Medical &amp; Humanitarian Support:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Indian contingents provide medical assistance, engineering support and humanitarian services to local communities alongside their security responsibilities.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Global Leadership:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> 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.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">India\u2019s Ministry of External Affairs specifically cites its peacekeeping record among the grounds for its permanent-membership claim.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Diplomatic Influence:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Peacekeeping expands India\u2019s engagement with conflict-affected regions, particularly Africa, while building partnerships and practical experience in peacebuilding.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">India and UN Agencies<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">India\u2019s 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:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">India and UNDP<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">UNDP\u2019s 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\u2019s role in strengthening India\u2019s digital public infrastructure and agricultural resilience.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">India and UNICEF<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">India and WHO<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">India and the <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/world-health-organisation\/\" target=\"_blank\">World Health Organisation (WHO)<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> have a long-standing health partnership covering disease surveillance, immunisation, health-system strengthening and emergency response. Its support for India\u2019s Antimicrobial-Resistance (AMR) response includes surveillance and state-level action plans, addressing the growing challenge of drug-resistant infections.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">India and FAO<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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\u2019s support includes the Sustainable Food Systems project in Punjab, Haryana, Odisha and Chhattisgarh, which promotes sustainable rice\u2013wheat systems while addressing soil degradation, excessive water use and climate risks.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">India and UN Reforms<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">India advocates comprehensive <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/un-reforms\/\" target=\"_blank\">UN reforms<\/a><\/strong>, 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.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Permanent UNSC Membership:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> India, citing its population, economic clout, democratic credentials, and long history of UN peacekeeping, seeks a permanent seat on an expanded Security Council.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Expansion of UNSC:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Supports expansion in both permanent and non-permanent categories, with greater representation for Asia, Africa and Latin America.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>G4 Coalition:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Works with Brazil, Germany and Japan through the G4 to push for comprehensive Security Council reform and expanded permanent membership.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Veto Reform:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> 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.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">India and UN Relation Challenges<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Veto &amp; P5 Dominance: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The P5\u2019s veto power can block substantive UNSC decisions, creating concerns about the Council\u2019s representativeness and effectiveness; India therefore supports a reformed Council.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For example, Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution in February 2022 condemning its invasion of Ukraine, preventing the resolution from being adopted.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Geopolitical Divergences:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> 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.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Terrorism Concerns:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> India seeks stronger international action against cross-border terrorism and terrorist financing, but differences among major powers can complicate consensus on designations and enforcement.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Multilateralism under Pressure:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Increasing geopolitical fragmentation and weakening international cooperation make collective action on climate change, conflicts, development and global governance more difficult.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Coffee Club Opposition:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> 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.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">India and UN Way Forward<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Accelerate UNSC Reform:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> 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.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Strengthen Global South Voice:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Use India\u2019s role as a bridge-builder to bring concerns of developing countries on debt, development, climate finance and food security into UN decision-making.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Deepen Peacekeeping Role:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Continue contributing troops and expertise while promoting technology, better protection of peacekeepers and stronger accountability in UN missions.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Lead Counter-Terrorism Efforts:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Push for transparent sanctions and listing mechanisms and stronger international cooperation against terrorist financing and emerging forms of terrorism.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Promote Effective Multilateralism:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Support a more transparent, accountable and efficient UN, ensuring that reforms improve its ability to respond to conflicts, climate change, pandemics and emerging challenges.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>India and UN relations date back to the founding of the UN in 1945, sharing a deep historical bond. Read about India and UN, reforms, UN Security Council, etc.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":29512,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[38,29],"tags":[1985,40,639],"class_list":["post-29481","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-upsc-notes","category-upsc-international-relations-and-institutions-notes","tag-india-and-un","tag-quest","tag-upsc-international-relations-and-institutions-notes"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29481","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29481"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29481\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29523,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29481\/revisions\/29523"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29512"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29481"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29481"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29481"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}