- The seat at the UN ECOSOC will help India work on its multilateral treaties with other similar nations, strengthening India’s commitment to multilateralism.
- India can use this platform to put out the global south priorities in front of the council, and call for fairer economic structures, technology transfer, and climate finance.
- ECOSOC’s term for India could witness issues with geopolitical rivalries, especially from countries opposing Indian influence, and the gathering of consensus amongst very diverse members.
In a diplomatic win, India gets elected to the UN ECOSOC for a three-year term, from 2026-28. The United Nations Economic and Social Council is one of the six principal bodies of the United Nations. It serves as an international forum for discussing economic, cultural, and environmental issues. Moreover, it also serves as a body that coordinates the workings of various other UN entities and makes recommendations to the UN Council and other member states. The UN ECOSOC also works on implementing the developmental goals that have been agreed upon by the member states.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), India’s EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar, announced that India was elected to the UN ECOSOC for the term 2026-28. He further said that India remains determined to advocate developmental issues and to strengthen the working of the body. Other countries that got elected into the council include Australia, Burundi, Chad, China, Ecuador, France, Lebanon, Mozambique, Norway, Peru, Sierra Leone, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Turkey, and Turkmenistan. The term of all the new members shall commence from 1st January, 2026. The recent election to the UN ECOSOC paves the way for India to gain global leadership in development. India’s seat at the council allows it to shape the international agenda regarding important policy issues like poverty, climate change, education, and health. Moreover, this seat can help India work on its multilateral treaties with other similar nations, strengthening India’s commitment to multilateralism.
This also proves an opportunity for India to represent the voice of the global south. India can use this platform to put out the global south priorities in front of the council, mentioning the lack of fairer economic structures, technology transfer, and climate finance in the global south. Moreover, such elections prove India’s credibility and strategic diplomacy in front of the world. India can leverage this trust to raise the issue of the need for structural reforms in the United Nations Security Council.
India has served in many positions in the United Nations bodies previously. Its re-election to the council strengthens the belief in global support for its participation in such international councils.
The United Nations ECOSOC is the sole body governing the global efforts to meet the SDGs by 2030. India’s election to the council would provide India with an opportunity to promote global sustainable development practices. India has made big strides in reducing hunger, poverty and increasing levels of education, while clean energy has been developing at a rapid pace. This was possible due to the effective implementation of programs like the Sarva-Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), MNREGA, and the International Solar Alliance, thus signalling that India is keen on achieving the SDGs by 2030. India can use these achievements to highlight the impact of sound policy-making and the successful implementation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) that led to the achievement of the targets.
ECOSOC’s term for India could witness potential issues such as the management of geopolitical rivalries, especially with countries opposing Indian influence, and the gathering of consensus amongst very diverse members. At the same time shall come the need for balancing the fast economic growth with climate goals, resourcing developments, and addressing inequalities within the Global South and domestically.
References:
- https://ecosoc.un.org/en
- https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/06/1164016
- https://www.un.org/en/about-us/un-charter/chapter-10
- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-elected-to-un-ecosoc-india-pledges-commitment-to-global-development-all-you-need-to-know/articleshow/121635434.cms
- https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-elected-to-un-economic-and-social-council-for-2026-28-term-2735923-2025-06-05
Archita Gaur is a postgraduate student at the School of International Studies, JNU. She specialises in the World Economy and has a strong interest in public policy, economic research, and governance. The views expressed are the author’s own.
Rajeev KS 
Megna Devkar