India and United Nation

• India has been a founding member of the United Nations (UN) and has used multilateral diplomacy as a key tool of its foreign policy since 1945.

• India’s negotiation strategy with the UN is rooted in non-alignment, peaceful coexistence, and the promotion of global equity and South-South cooperation.

• India consistently advocates for multilateralism, reform of global governance, and greater participation of developing countries in international decision-making.

• India has supported and promoted the UN Charter principles of sovereign equality, non-intervention, and peaceful settlement of disputes.

• India has been a strong proponent of UN reform, especially in the UN Security Council (UNSC), where it demands permanent membership as part of the G4 coalition (India, Germany, Brazil, Japan).

• India argues that the current UNSC structure, formed in 1945, no longer reflects contemporary geopolitical realities, and that countries like India, with over 1.4 billion population, significant economic strength, and a long peacekeeping history, deserve a permanent seat.

• India has participated in more than 49 UN peacekeeping missions and contributed over 200,000 troops, making it one of the largest troop-contributing countries (TCCs) in the world.

• In negotiations, India highlights its historical contributions to global peace and security as a justification for greater role and representation.

• India employs coalition diplomacy, aligning with groups like the G-77, NAM (Non-Aligned Movement), BRICS, and IBSA, to strengthen its voice in multilateral negotiations and rally support for its positions.

• India’s negotiation strategy in the UN also focuses on development issues, pushing for equitable progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate justice.

• At the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), India emphasizes the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) and equity, insisting that developed nations must bear historical responsibility for emissions.

• In the Paris Agreement 2015, India negotiated successfully to retain CBDR and nationally determined contributions (NDCs), protecting its developmental space.

• India’s proposal of “Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE)” was accepted in the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 and later endorsed by the UN Secretary-General, showcasing India’s ability to set global agendas.

• On terrorism, India has persistently pushed for the adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) since 1996, which remains stalled due to lack of consensus on the definition of terrorism.

• India uses bilateral and multilateral lobbying within the UN to name and shame state sponsors of terrorism, especially focusing on Pakistan’s role in cross-border terrorism.

• India has been successful in listing terrorists under the UN Security Council’s 1267 Sanctions Committee, including the designation of Masood Azhar (JeM leader) in 2019, after intense diplomatic negotiations and China’s earlier blockades.

• India takes a principled stance on nuclear disarmament, opposing the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as discriminatory, while affirming support for a universal, non-discriminatory disarmament framework.

• At the Conference on Disarmament (CD) in Geneva, India continues to negotiate for a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT) with strong verification mechanisms and non-retroactive clauses.

• India’s strategy also emphasizes its status as a responsible nuclear power and seeks entry into export control regimes, including the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), where it has gained support from most countries except China.

• On human rights, India uses a balanced approach — engaging actively with the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) while resisting external interference in its internal affairs, especially on Jammu & Kashmir.

• India has strongly opposed country-specific resolutions and calls for constructive dialogue rather than naming and shaming mechanisms.

• India has been elected to the UNHRC multiple times (2006–2007, 2007–2010, 2011–2014, 2015–2017, 2019–2021, 2022–2024), reflecting its global diplomatic acceptance.

• India also negotiates actively in the UN General Assembly’s Sixth Committee (Legal) on issues of international law, including cybersecurity, space law, and universal jurisdiction.

• India has pushed for a global framework on cybersecurity, emphasizing non-militarization of cyberspace, sovereignty, and capacity-building for developing countries.

• India has consistently supported the UN’s development agenda, and was an early adopter of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

• India’s flagship schemes like Swachh Bharat, Ayushman Bharat, Digital India, and International Solar Alliance (ISA) have been aligned with UN SDGs and have received international recognition.

• The ISA, launched by India and France at COP21 in 2015, was recognized as a UN-affiliated international organization in 2017, reflecting India’s ability to institutionalize global climate partnerships.

• India has also played a key role in UN peacebuilding architecture, advocating for inclusive state-building, women’s participation, and local capacity enhancement.

• In the COVID-19 pandemic, India negotiated for equitable vaccine access, supported the TRIPS waiver at the WTO, and launched the “Vaccine Maitri” initiative, providing vaccines to over 100 countries.

• India co-sponsored a UN resolution for global solidarity against COVID-19, and was among the first to call for global ceasefire during the crisis.

• India advocates for Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as a global public good at the UN, especially during G20 presidency (2023), where it aligned its agenda with UN SDGs.

• India’s negotiation style at the UN is characterized by diplomatic pragmatism, quiet lobbying, building coalitions, and leveraging its democratic credentials and development success stories.

• India has been elected to the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member 8 times (1950–51, 1967–68, 1972–73, 1977–78, 1984–85, 1991–92, 2011–12, 2021–22), where it pushes for peacekeeping reforms, counterterrorism, and maritime security.

• During its latest term (2021–2022), India presided over the UNSC in August 2021, organizing key signature events on maritime security, peacekeeping, and counterterrorism, with PM Modi chairing the meeting — the first time an Indian PM chaired a UNSC meeting.

• India is an active negotiator in UNESCO, especially on preserving intangible cultural heritage, education for sustainable development, and gender equality in education.

• India’s soft power diplomacy, such as promoting Yoga Day (UN Resolution 69/131, adopted in 2014), is part of its UN negotiation strategy to project civilizational influence and build cultural capital.

• India’s permanent mission to the UN in New York, led by experienced diplomats, plays a vital role in real-time negotiations, UNGA voting alignments, and coalition building on critical resolutions.