On June 4, 2025, India was elected to the United Nations (UN) Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for a three-year term from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2028. The election was held at the UN Headquarters in New York City, the United States of America (USA).
- India was elected as one of the 18 new member nations to ECOSOC by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), reaffirming its commitment to multilateral diplomacy and sustainable development initiatives.
- India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Parvathaneni Harish, who assumed office in September 2024, play a pivotal role in representing India’s interests and contributions within the council.
Note: This marks India’s 18th term on ECOSOC, having previously served from 2008–2020.
Election Details:
i.India contested under the Asia-Pacific States group, which had 4 seats open for election.
ii.India received 181 out of 187 valid votes, showing strong global backing. From the Asia-Pacific group, China (180 votes), Lebanon (183 votes), and Turkmenistan (183 votes) were also elected.
iii.Other Regional Electees:
- African States: Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Burundi and Chad.
- Eastern European States: Croatia, Ukraine, Russia.
- Latin American & Caribbean States: Ecuador, Peru, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
- Western European & Other States: Australia, Norway, Türkiye and Finland.
iv.Additionally, in by-elections within the Western European and Other States group, Germany was elected for a one-year term beginning on January 1, 2026, replacing Liechtenstein, and the United States of America(USA)was elected for a two-year term starting the same date, replacing Italy.
About United Nations (UN) Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC):
i.ECOSOC is one of the six principal organs of the UN. It works to advance the three core pillars of sustainable development: economic progress, social welfare, and environmental protection.
ii.It comprises 54 member nations, with 18 members elected each year by the UNGA for staggered three-year terms.
Key Functions:
i.Serves as the central platform for debating global challenges, forging consensus, and coordinating efforts to achieve internationally agreed goals including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
ii.Coordinates 15 specialized UN agencies, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and International Labour Organization (ILO), and oversees 8 functional commissions and 5 regional bodies
iii.Hosts the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) to review SDG implementation and facilitates joint sessions with institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB).
President – His Excellency Bob Rae
Headquarters – New York City, the United States of America(USA)
Established – 1945
