India was elected to three key UN bodies on Wednesday: the UN Statistical Commission, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and the Programme Coordinating Board of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
In the UN Statistical Commission elections, India was elected by an overwhelming majority, receiving 46 of the total 53 votes on offer.
On the other hand, China and South Korea are still striving to secure their representation in the UN body via the lone vacant seat from the Indo-Pacific region.
While India won the vote through a secret ballot, the candidacy of countries like Argentina, the US, Ukraine, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and Tanzania was approved by acclamation.
All these nations will now become members of the UN Statistical Commission, starting January 1, 2024, for four years.
Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar congratulated the permanent mission of India to the UN in New York for the achievement.
A screenshot of S. Jaishankar's tweet
© Photo : Twitter/ @DrSJaishankar
The UN Statistical Commission is the apex organization of the world's statistical system. It brings together top statisticians of member states.
"India is returning to the Statistical Commission after a gap of two decades. The experience of India in the field of official statistics especially with regard to its diversity and demography is immense and will be a value addition to the functioning of the Statistical Commission," a statement from India's permanent mission to the UN read.
Also, India joined the Commission on Narcotic Drugs and the Programme Coordinating Board of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) as a member.
The commission's main task is to oversee the implementation of international drug control treaties besides providing "strategic direction" to the UNAIDS' global program on HIV/AIDS.