India elected to UN Statistical Commission for 4-year term

Tags: International News

India has been elected as a member of the UN Statistical Commission, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs and the Programme Coordinating Board of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. 

An overview of the news

• India was elected to the highest statistical body of the United Nations for a term of 4 years starting from 1 January 2024.

• India was elected as a member of this commission 20 years ago in 2004.

• In the highly competitive election for membership of the Statistical Commission, India secured 46 out of 53 votes in a secret ballot.

• India, along with South Korea, the United Arab Emirates and China, was in the fray for two seats in the Asia Pacific states category.

• In the first round of voting, South Korea got 23 votes while China got 19 and the United Arab Emirates got 15 votes.

• In the second round, China and South Korea got 25 votes each.

• South Korea was elected for the second seat through a draw of lots after two inconclusive rounds of secret-balloting.

United Nations Statistical Commission

• It was established in 1947.

• It is the apex body of the global statistical system which brings together the chief statisticians of the member states around the world.

• It is the supreme decision-making body for international statistical activities.

• It is responsible for the establishment of statistical standards and the development of concepts and methods, including the implementation of statistical activities at national and international levels.

• It oversees the work of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), and is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs

• It was established in 1946 by Resolution 9(I) of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC),

• It assists ECOSOC in monitoring the application of international drug control treaties.