Highlights:
- India becomes a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council
- India’s election was unopposed as 184 out of 193 members were in favour of India
- India will sit in the powerful UN Security Council for two years
On Thursday, the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi said that he was “deeply grateful” as India was elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. India got 184 votes out of 193 member General Assembly in the election which was held on Wednesday.
PM Modi, after the results of the election at the UN Security Council tweeted, “Deeply grateful for the overwhelming support shown by the global community for India’s membership of the UN Security Council. India will work with all member countries to promote global peace, security, resilience and equity.”
Deeply grateful for the overwhelming support shown by the global community for India's membership of the @UN Security Council. India will work with all member countries to promote global peace, security, resilience and equity.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 18, 2020
Apart from India, Ireland, Mexico, and Norway were also elected to the UN Security Council, however, the 193 UN Members states returned to voting today as they need to fill another vacant seat as there was no clear winner.
The UN Security Council has the power to make legal binding decision such as authorising the use of force or imposing sanctions. The Security Council of the UN Body has 5 permanent members who have the veto power. These 5 members are Britain, China, France, Russin and the US. There are also 10 non-permanent members.
Apart from India, Ireland, Mexico, and Norway were also elected to the UN Security Council, however, the 193 UN Members states returned to voting today as they need to fill another vacant seat as there was no clear winner.
The UN Security Council has the power to make legal binding decision such as authorising the use of force or imposing sanctions. The Security Council of the UN Body has 5 permanent members who have the veto power. These 5 members are Britain, China, France, Russin and the US. There are also 10 non-permanent members.
India’s Permanent Mission to the UN tweeted, “Member States elect India to the non-permanent seat of the Security Council for the term 2021-22 with overwhelming support,”.
India’s Permanent Mission to the UN tweeted, “Member States elect India to the non-permanent seat of the Security Council for the term 2021-22 with overwhelming support,”.
Member States elect India to the non-permanent seat of the Security Council for the term 2021-22 with overwhelming support.
— India at UN, NY (@IndiaUNNewYork) June 17, 2020
India gets 184 out of the 192 valid votes polled. pic.twitter.com/Vd43CN41cY
India will take its seat as one of the non-[ermanent UN Security Council member in the 1st of January 2021 for a period of 2 years, India will be joined by 5 permanent members and non-permanent members Estonia, Niger, Saint Vincent, Vietnam, Tunisia and the Grenadines.
In order to be elected to the Security Council, the candidate country needs a 2/3 majority in the ballots of the Member States which are currently present and voting in the Assembly. After operating virtually since March this year, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, diplomats have returned to the General Assembly hall on Wednesday wearing face masks and ensuring social distancing was followed even while casting their secret ballots at the allotted time.
India was the only candidate for the lone seat from the Asia-Pacific group. India’s candidature was unanimously endorsed by the 55 member grouping, which also included China and Pakistan, last year in June.
This, however, is not the first time India has been elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. India was a part of the council in the following years as well:
- 1950-1951
- 1967-1968
- 1972-1973
- 1977-1978
- 1984-1985
- 1991-1992
- 2011-2012
This will be the eighth time India will serve as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
