India's Campaign for the 2028–29 United Nations Security Council Non-Permanent Seat

Recent Developments:

• India is set to launch its campaign for a 2028–29 Non-Permanent Seat in the United Nations Security Council, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening its role in global governance and advancing the interests of the Global South.
• The campaign comes amid growing geopolitical instability marked by the West Asia conflicts, Russia–Ukraine conflict, increasing geopolitical rivalry and divisions within multilateral institutions, making the election strategically significant.
• The election will test India's diplomatic outreach across the Global South, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation members, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation countries, African nations, Small Island Developing States and major Western partners.
• The campaign also reinforces India's long-standing demand for permanent membership of a reformed United Nations Security Council that reflects contemporary geopolitical realities.

Key Issues and Priorities for India's 2028–29 United Nations Security Council Bid:

Diplomatic Mobilisation:

• India will require extensive diplomatic engagement because Tajikistan is also contesting for the Asia–Pacific non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council, making the election competitive.
• India's diplomatic outreach aims to secure broad-based international support through sustained bilateral and multilateral engagement across different regions.

Building International Support:

• Reports indicate that Tajikistan enjoys support from several members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, increasing the electoral challenge for India.
• India will therefore need to expand support beyond traditional partners such as Fiji, the United States, Austria and Sri Lanka by strengthening engagement with countries across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Pacific and the Global South.

Leadership of the Global South:

• India seeks to project itself as a responsible and credible voice of the Global South by advocating issues relating to energy security, food security, fertiliser availability, sustainable development, climate justice and equitable global governance.
• Through its diplomatic engagement, India aims to promote the concerns and developmental priorities of developing countries within the global multilateral framework.

United Nations Security Council Reform:

• India will continue advocating the expansion and reform of the United Nations Security Council to make it more representative, democratic, transparent and reflective of present-day geopolitical realities.
• India maintains that the existing structure no longer adequately represents the contemporary distribution of global political and economic power.

Expanding Diplomatic Engagement:

• India's diplomatic outreach, including high-level engagements by the External Affairs Minister, has increasingly focused on the Gulf region, Caribbean countries and other strategic partners to broaden support ahead of the election.
• Such engagement also strengthens India's long-term diplomatic partnerships beyond the immediate election process.

Increasing Electoral Competition:

• The recent electoral victory of Kyrgyzstan over the Philippines for a United Nations Security Council seat demonstrates that elections have become increasingly competitive because of changing geopolitical alignments.
• The election also marked Kyrgyzstan's first-ever membership of the United Nations Security Council since joining the United Nations in 1992, highlighting the growing opportunities for emerging countries in multilateral diplomacy.

United Nations Security Council:

About the United Nations Security Council:

• The United Nations Security Council was established in 1945 under the Charter of the United Nations and is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations.
• It bears the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, including conflict prevention, peacekeeping, sanctions and authorisation of collective security measures.

Composition:

• The United Nations Security Council consists of 15 Member States, comprising 5 Permanent Members and 10 Non-Permanent Members.
• The Permanent Members are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, each possessing the Veto Power.
• The 10 Non-Permanent Members are elected by the United Nations General Assembly for a 2-year term and do not possess veto power.

Regional Distribution of Non-Permanent Seats:

• 5 seats are allocated to African and Asian States.
• 1 seat is allocated to Eastern European States.
• 2 seats are allocated to Latin American and Caribbean States.
• 2 seats are allocated to Western European and Other States.

Election of Non-Permanent Members:

• Elections are conducted every year through a secret ballot in the United Nations General Assembly.
• A candidate must secure a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting, even if it is the sole candidate for the seat.

Binding Authority:

• The United Nations Security Council is the only organ of the United Nations whose decisions are legally binding on all United Nations Member States under the Charter of the United Nations.
• Its resolutions may include peacekeeping operations, sanctions, diplomatic measures and authorisation of the use of force, making it the most influential decision-making body of the United Nations.

Way Forward:

Reforming the United Nations Security Council:

• The existing imbalance of power between the Permanent Members and the wider United Nations Membership should be addressed to make the United Nations Security Council more democratic, representative, transparent and legitimate.
• Comprehensive institutional reforms should ensure that the Council reflects contemporary geopolitical, economic and demographic realities rather than the international power structure that emerged after the Second World War.

Expansion of Membership:

• The United Nations Security Council should be expanded by providing greater representation to Africa, Latin America and the Global South, which remain under-represented in the existing structure.
• Countries such as India, Germany, Brazil and South Africa should be considered for permanent membership in recognition of their growing contributions to international peace, global governance, sustainable development and multilateral cooperation.

Improving Representation:

• Both Permanent and Non-Permanent Membership should be restructured to ensure equitable regional representation and greater participation of developing countries in global decision-making.
• A more inclusive Council would enhance the legitimacy, credibility and effectiveness of the United Nations Security Council in addressing emerging international challenges.

Reforming the Veto Power:

• The exercise of the Veto Power should be restricted in cases involving Genocide, War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity, Terrorism, Humanitarian Crises and Mass Atrocities, enabling the Council to respond more effectively to serious global emergencies.
• Reform of the veto mechanism would reduce institutional paralysis and strengthen the credibility of the United Nations Security Council.

Enhancing Transparency and Accountability:

• The working methods of the United Nations Security Council should become more transparent through open debates, wider consultations and greater participation of affected non-member states.
• Decisions relating to sanctions, peacekeeping operations and collective security measures should be implemented in a fair, impartial and consistent manner so that they are not perceived as serving the interests of only a few powerful countries.

India's Role in United Nations Security Council Reform:

• In September 2022, India renewed its campaign for United Nations Security Council Reform by convening meetings of the G4 Group and the L.69 Group on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
• As a leading voice of the Global South, India should continue articulating the concerns of developing countries regarding peace, security, development, climate justice and equitable global governance within the multilateral system.
• India's expanding diplomatic engagement, development partnerships and leadership in multilateral institutions can strengthen its long-term claim for Permanent Membership of a reformed United Nations Security Council.

Conclusion:

India's 2028–29 Campaign:

• India's campaign for the 2028–29 Non-Permanent Seat in the United Nations Security Council represents both a significant diplomatic opportunity and an important test of its global outreach.
• The campaign provides India with an opportunity to reinforce its image as a responsible stakeholder, leading voice of the Global South and strong advocate of multilateralism amid an increasingly fragmented international order.
• Beyond securing a non-permanent seat, India seeks to promote meaningful United Nations Security Council Reform, equitable representation, responsible use of the Veto Power and a more democratic, transparent and accountable multilateral system capable of addressing contemporary global challenges.

Value Addition for UPSC:

Important Facts about the United Nations Security Council:

• Established: 1945
• Legal Basis: Charter of the United Nations
• Principal Responsibility: Maintenance of International Peace and Security
• Total Membership: 15 Members
• Permanent Members: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States
• Non-Permanent Members: 10
• Tenure of Non-Permanent Members: 2 Years
• Electing Body: United Nations General Assembly
• Election Requirement: Two-Thirds Majority through Secret Ballot
• Unique Feature: Only United Nations organ whose resolutions are legally binding on all Member States

India and the United Nations Security Council at a Glance:

• Non-Permanent Membership: 1950–51, 1967–68, 1972–73, 1977–78, 1984–85, 1991–92, 2011–12 and 2021–22
• Permanent Membership Claim: Member of the G4 Group
• Major Priorities: Counter-Terrorism, Maritime Security, Peacekeeping Reforms, Multilateral Reform, Development-Oriented Security
• Recent Reform Initiative: Convening of G4 Group and L.69 Group Meetings during the United Nations General Assembly in 2022