India Begins its Tenure as Non-permanent Member of UNSC

On January 1st, 2021, India began its two-year tenure as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Key Points

• India was the sole candidate from the Asia-Pacific region vying for a non-permanent membership. Its candidature was unanimously endorsed by the 55-member Asia-Pacific Group in June, 2020.
• Along with India, Norway, Kenya, Ireland and Mexico will join non-permanent members Estonia, Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia and Vietnam and the five permanent members China, France, Russia, U.K. and the U.S.
• India will be UNSC President in August 2021 and will preside over the council again for a month in 2022.
• This is the eighth time India has been elected a non-permanent member of the UNSC. Previously, it has been elected as a member for the period of 1950-1951, 1967-1968, 1972-1973, 1977-1978, 1984-1985, 1991-1992 and 2011-2012.
• India outlined counter-terrorism; peacekeeping; maritime security; reformed multilateralism; technology; women, youth and developmental issues, especially in the context of peace-building, as India’s priorities for the UNSC tenure.