Policy Update
Simona Miriam Hughes
Background:
On 13 July 2026, India officially launched its campaign for a non-permament seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the term 2028-2029. External Affairs minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar inaugurated the campaign at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, highlighting India’s long standing commitment to multilateralism, international peace and the reform of global governance institutions. The campaign reflects India’s objective of contributing constructively to international peace and security while representing the interests of the developing world.
India’s campaign is anchored in the theme “SHANTI – Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity,” reflecting New Delhi’s emphasis on rules-based multilateralism, trust-building, and integrity in global governance. For the 2028–29 term, India is competing with Tajikistan for the single seat allocated to the Asia-Pacific Group, with elections scheduled for June 2027. This makes the campaign particularly significant as India seeks to secure another term while simultaneously advancing its longer-term demand for permanent UNSC membership.
The launch also coincides with the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and comes at a time when geopolitical conflicts, climate challenges, terrorism, and technological disruptions are testing the effectiveness of the current multilateral system. India argues that the Security Council must become more representative of contemporary global realities, particularly by providing greater representation to developing countries. Having previously served eight terms as a non-permanent member, India seeks to continue advocating for inclusive decision-making, equitable development, and a rules-based international order.
Functioning:
India’s UNSC campaign is built around diplomatic outreach to all UN member states through sustained bilateral engagements, regional partnerships, and participation in multilateral forums. The Ministry of External Affairs coordinates India’s diplomatic efforts while emphasizing the country’s consistent contributions to UN peacekeeping operations, humanitarian assistance, sustainable development, and counter-terrorism initiatives. Rather than focusing solely on securing votes, the campaign projects India’s broader vision of a more democratic and effective United Nations capable of responding to emerging global challenges.
The campaign also reinforces India’s long-standing position on comprehensive UNSC reform. India maintains that the existing structure no longer reflects the distribution of global political and economic power. Through platforms such as the G4 grouping and engagement with developing nations, India advocates expansion in both permanent and non-permanent categories of membership. The campaign therefore functions both as an electoral effort for the 2028–29 seat and as part of India’s wider diplomatic strategy to promote institutional reforms that enhance the legitimacy and effectiveness of the Security Council.
Performance:
India enters the 2028–29 campaign with a strong diplomatic record, developed over the past several years. The G4—India, Brazil, Germany and Japan—jointly support each other’s bids for permanent UNSC seats and advocate expansion of both permanent and non-permanent membership to make the Council more representative. However, their bids face regional opposition, particularly from countries such as Pakistan against India, Italy/Spain against Germany, Mexico/Argentina against Brazil, and South Korea against Japan, making consensus on UNSC reform politically difficult.
During its 2021–2022 tenure on the Security Council, India chaired important committees relating to counter-terrorism and peacekeeping reforms while promoting principles such as accountability, transparency, and respect for international law. Since then, India’s global diplomatic engagement has expanded through its G20 Presidency, leadership in the Global South, humanitarian assistance during crises, and growing strategic partnerships across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Indo-Pacific, especially in the United States, France, Russia, United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Brazil, Australia, United Arab Emirates, and South Africa.
India’s UNSC credentials are strengthened by its extensive peacekeeping contributions, with 4,268 uniformed personnel deployed across missions such as MONUSCO, UNIFIL and UNMISS, alongside its chairing of the Counter-Terrorism, Taliban Sanctions and Libya Sanctions Committees during 2021–22. Its strategic partnerships with the US, France, Russia, Japan, Australia and the EU, as well as platforms like the Quad and BRICS, further enhance its diplomatic reach.
Official statements indicate that India’s campaign enjoys considerable goodwill because of its reputation as a responsible stakeholder in international affairs. India’s continued status as one of the largest troop contributors to UN peacekeeping missions, its development partnerships with numerous countries, and its advocacy for climate action and sustainable development strengthen its candidature. These achievements collectively demonstrate India’s increasing ability to shape global governance discussions beyond regional concerns.
Impact:
The launch of India’s UNSC campaign has reinforced its image as a leading voice of the Global South and a strong advocate of multilateral reform. By emphasizing dialogue, peaceful conflict resolution, and inclusive decision-making, India seeks to bridge differences between developed and developing nations while promoting a more balanced international order. The campaign also strengthens India’s diplomatic engagement with African, Caribbean, Pacific, and Latin American countries whose support remains critical during UN elections.
Beyond electoral objectives, the campaign contributes to India’s broader foreign policy vision of becoming a leading global power with greater influence in international institutions. India’s emphasis on reforming the Security Council resonates with many member states that view the existing system as outdated and insufficiently representative. Consequently, the campaign enhances India’s diplomatic credibility while simultaneously advancing international discussions on UN reform, equitable representation, and effective global governance.
Emerging Issues:
Despite India’s strong diplomatic credentials, several challenges continue to influence the success of its campaign and its broader objective of Security Council reform.The reform debate is complicated by competing models, particularly the G4 proposal and the African Union’s Ezulwini Consensus, as well as the unresolved question of whether new permanent members should receive veto powers. The requirement of ratification by all P5 members further contributes to delays, while India must navigate its strong strategic partnerships with the US, France, Russia, UK and others alongside China’s more cautious position on expanding permanent membership.
India also faces regional competition and concerns over its perceived strategic alignments, with some countries questioning whether New Delhi’s ‘strategic autonomy’ translates into a genuinely neutral position. Electoral support may therefore involve political reciprocity, with countries weighing India’s UNSC bid against their own diplomatic and regional interests.
The most significant issue at hand is the slow pace of comprehensive UNSC reform, as disagreements among member states and resistance from some permanent members continue to delay meaningful institutional changes.
At the same time, increasing geopolitical competition among major powers has made consensus-building within the United Nations more difficult, creating obstacles for reform-oriented initiatives. Another emerging concern is the growing expectation among developing countries for greater representation and a stronger voice in global decision-making, placing additional responsibility on India to effectively represent the interests of the Global South.
Furthermore, while India enjoys diplomatic goodwill through its peacekeeping contributions, development partnerships and multilateral engagement, translating this support into electoral backing requires sustained diplomatic outreach and continued engagement with UN member states. Addressing these challenges through consistent diplomacy, coalition-building, and advocacy for inclusive global governance will be essential for both India’s 2028–29 campaign and its long-term vision of a reformed United Nations.
Way Forward:
India’s campaign for the 2028–29 UNSC seat represents more than an electoral exercise; it reflects the country’s broader vision of a reformed, inclusive, and effective multilateral system. As global challenges become increasingly interconnected, India’s emphasis on dialogue, sustainable development, counter-terrorism, and equitable representation positions it as an important contributor to international peace and security.
Going forward, India should continue expanding diplomatic engagement with all regional groups, strengthen partnerships with developing countries, and sustain its advocacy for comprehensive Security Council reform. Combining electoral success with meaningful institutional reform will reinforce India’s role as a responsible global actor and support the creation of a more representative and effective United Nations aligned with contemporary global realities.
Selected References and Important Links:
Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. (2026, July 13). Address by EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar at the launch of India’s campaign for United Nations Security Council 2028–29. Government of India. Ministry of External Affairs
NDTV. (2026, July 14). India launches official campaign for UN Security Council 2028–29 seat; Jaishankar unveils SHANTI vision. NDTV. NDTV article
NDTV. (2026, July 14). Jaishankar meets Guterres as India formally launches UNSC 2028–29 bid in New York. NDTV. NDTV website
Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations, New York. (2026, July 13). Launch of India’s UNSC 2028–29 campaign on 13 July 2026 by EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar. Government of India. Permanent Mission of India to the UN
Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations, New York. (2026, July 13). Address by EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar at the launch of India’s campaign for United Nations Security Council 2028–29 [Speech]. Government of India. Speech PDF
The Hindu. (2026, July 14). EAM Jaishankar launches India’s UNSC campaign for 2028–29 term. The Hindu. The Hindu article
About the Contributor:
Simona Miriam Hughes is a research and editorial associate intern at IMPRI. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in International Relations at Loyola College and has worked in several Non Governmental Organisations during her Undergraduate years. She has attended the 2025 Global Citizenship programme which is associated with the Washington DC university
Acknowledgement:
The author would like to thank IMPRI and the reviewers for their valuable feedback and continuous support and encouragement in all the activities up until now
Reviewers:
Madhuritha B and Vibha Sethi
Disclaimer:
The content in the article belongs solely to the author and not exactly related to the organization
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