This definitely is good news.
With 184 out of the 192 valid votes cast, India has been elected as non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has conveyed his heartfelt gratitude to the global community for India’s membership of UNSC and has reiterated that India will work with all member countries to promote global peace, security, resilience and equity.
Member States elect India to the non-permanent seat of the Security Council for the term 2021-22 with overwhelming support.
India gets 184 out of the 192 valid votes polled. pic.twitter.com/Vd43CN41cY
— India at UN, NY (@IndiaUNNewYork) June 17, 2020
Here are some basic facts about UNSC and India’s role going forward:
UN Security Council is the only UN body that is empowered to make legally binding decisions including imposing sanctions and authorizing use of force if need be.
UNSC has five permanent members with veto powers – the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China – and 10 non-permanent members.
Besides permanency, Veto power is the most distinguishing factor between permanent and non permanent members.
India will now sit at the powerful UNSC for a period of two years beginning January 1 along with 5 permanent members and other non-permanent members including Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Estonia, Tunisia and Vietnam.
To be elected to the UNSC, a country needs at least two-thirds of votes in its favour from Member States present and voting in the Assembly.
India incidentally was the only candidate for the single seat from Asia-Pacific category.
India’s candidature was unanimously endorsed by 55-member grouping, including China and Pakistan, in June 2019.
India has previously been elected as a non-permanent member of UNSC seven times.
India has been in UNSC during 1950-1951, 1967-1968, 1972-1973, 1977-1978, 1984-1985, 1991-1992 and in 2011-2012 in the past.