India prioritizes peacekeeping in UN Security Council bid

India has designated peacekeeping as a primary focus in its bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2028-2029 term. Representing the Asia Pacific region, India’s candidacy is supported by a manifesto titled ‘Shanti’ (Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust, and Integrity).

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, P. Harish, emphasized that peacekeeping is “irreplaceable to this Council’s core purpose.” He highlighted India’s history as a major troop contributor, noting that the nation has deployed nearly 300,000 personnel across more than 50 missions, with 184 peacekeepers losing their lives in the line of duty.

To improve effectiveness, Harish proposed several reforms, including providing troop- and police-contributing countries with a structured voice in shaping mandates through prior consultation. He also advocated for aligning mission mandates with host state priorities to prevent missions from becoming “long-term auxiliary political instruments” and called for the rationalization of mandates to reduce waste.