India Elected to UN ECOSOC for 2026–2028 Three-Year Term

India has been elected to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) by the United Nations General Assembly on 4 June 2025. India was one of 18 countries to be elected for a term of three years starting from 1 January 2026. India secured 181 votes out of the 189 countries that voted in the election. 

193 countries are members of the United Nations General Assembly.

The ECOSOC is one of the six main organs of the United Nations, and it plays an important role in recommending policies related to economic and social issues.

Election of ECOSOC Members 

The ECOSOC is a 54 member body of the United Nations. One-third of the members, or 18, are elected annually by the United Nations General Assembly through secret ballots.

The ECOSOC membership is divided among the United Nations member countries grouped geographically. 

There are five regional groups;

• Asia-Pacific States- allotted 11 seats;
• African States - 14 seats,
• Eastern European States- 6 seats,
• Latin American and Caribbean States- 10 seats and 
• Western European and other States- 13 seats.

The countries belonging to the group stand for election for the quota of seats allocated to their groups.

Thus, India contested for the Asia Pacific Group, and four seats were allocated to the group for the 2025 election.

To be successful, a candidate has to secure at least two-thirds of the valid votes cast.

Newly Elected Members of the ECOSOC for a three-year term(2026-28)

The following is the list of countries elected for a three-year term starting 1 January 2026.

African States (four seats)

• Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Burundi and Chad

Asia-Pacific States (four seats) 

• Lebanon, Turkmenistan, India and China

Eastern European States (three seats)
Croatia, Ukraine and Russia

Latin American and Caribbean States (three seats)

• Ecuador, Peru and Saint Kitts and Nevis

Western European and other States (four seats)

• Australia, Norway, Turkiye and Finland

By elections 

The United States of America and Germany were elected in a by-election to replace Italy and Liechtenstein, respectively.

About the ECOSOC 

The United Nations Charter created it as one of the six principal organs of the United Nations.

Established - 26 June 1945

It is the main forum where discussion on the world’s economic and social issues takes place.

It convenes annual ministerial reviews to monitor progress on internationally agreed development goals and a biennial Development Cooperation Forum.

Headquarters- New York City, United States

Members - 54 countries