External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar officially launched India’s campaign for election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028–29 term at United Nations Headquarters, New York.
India stated that its candidature would be guided by dialogue, cooperation, multilateralism, bridging global differences, and advancing the interests of the Global South.
India’s UNSC Campaign (2028–29)
Campaign Theme
During the launch, India unveiled its campaign theme: “SHANTI – Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity”. SHANTI=
Securing
Holistic
Advancement through
Norms,
Trust and
Integrity
The theme reflects India’s commitment towards:
- International peace and security.
- Multilateral cooperation.
- Dialogue-based conflict resolution.
- Trust among nations.
- Rule-based international order.
- Representation of the Global South.
Election for 2028–29 Term
Background
- Elections for the 2028–29 non-permanent UNSC term will be held in June 2027.
- India will contest from the Asia-Pacific Group.
- India’s competitor is Tajikistan.
- Only one seat is available for the Asia-Pacific Group during this election cycle.
India’s Membership in UN Security Council
India has served as a non-permanent member of the UNSC eight times.
| Term | Year |
| 1st | 1950–1951 |
| 2nd | 1967–1968 |
| 3rd | 1972–1973 |
| 4th | 1977–1978 |
| 5th | 1984–1985 |
| 6th | 1991–1992 |
| 7th | 2011–2012 |
| 8th | 2021–2022 |
If elected, 2028–29 would become India’s ninth term as a non-permanent member.
United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, established under the UN Charter. It has the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.
- Composition: The UNSC consists of 15 members.
- Permanent Members (P5): Russia, China, United States, France, United Kingdom, These members possess Veto Power.
Non-Permanent Members
- 10 members
- Elected by the UN General Assembly
- Serve two-year terms
- No immediate consecutive re-election.
Distribution of Non-Permanent Seats: The 10 elected seats are distributed regionally-
| Region | Seats |
| African & Asian States | 5 |
| Eastern European States | 1 |
| Latin American & Caribbean States | 2 |
| Western European & Other States | 2 |
Election Process
- Conducted annually by the UN General Assembly.
- Elections are held through secret ballot.
- Candidates require a two-thirds majority of members present and voting.
- At present, this generally requires 128 votes, even if a candidate is uncontested.
Every year:
- Five non-permanent members are elected.
- Each serves a two-year term.
Presidency of UNSC
- Rotates among the 15 members.
- Changes every month.
- Rotation follows the English alphabetical order of member states.
Powers and Functions of UNSC
The Security Council:
- Maintains international peace and security.
- Determines the existence of:
- Threats to peace.
- Breaches of peace.
- Acts of aggression.
- Calls upon parties to settle disputes peacefully.
- Recommends methods or terms for peaceful settlement.
- Imposes:
- Economic sanctions.
- Diplomatic sanctions.
- Arms embargoes.
- Can authorize the use of military force when necessary.
- Adopts binding resolutions, which all UN Member States are obligated to implement under the UN Charter.
Historical Facts
- UNSC established: 1945 under the UN Charter.
- First meeting: 17 January 1946.
- Venue: Church House, Westminster, London.
- Current Headquarters: United Nations Headquarters, New York City.
- A representative of each member must remain available at UN Headquarters to enable emergency meetings.
India’s Position on UNSC Reforms
India has consistently advocated for:
- Expansion of both permanent and non-permanent membership.
- Greater representation for: Africa, Developing countries, Asia, Latin America.
- Reform of the UNSC to reflect contemporary geopolitical realities.
- Permanent membership for India.
- India is also a member of the G4 Group, comprising: Germany, India, Brazil, Japan. The G4 jointly advocates reform of the UNSC and expansion of permanent membership.