# Op-ed: A contested UNSC race with Tajikistan tests India's standing with the Global South URL: https://upsc.help/current-affairs/2026-10-16/unsc-2028-seat-tajikistan-oped/ Date: 16 October 2026 (2026-10-16) Source: The Hindu, Page 8 UPSC papers: GS2 Publisher: upsc.help (Pratidin), free and open-source UPSC Civil Services current affairs. Not affiliated with UPSC. Every fact was checked against the source reports by a separate review before publishing. **In one line:** An op-ed in The Hindu (16 October 2026) argues that India's contest with Tajikistan for a 2028-29 UNSC seat tests whether India can balance its ambitions with solidarity among developing countries. An opinion article in The Hindu on 16 October 2026 examines India's bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2028-29. The election is due in June 2027, and India faces a contest with Tajikistan for the Asia-Pacific seat. Because a candidate needs a two-thirds majority of members present and voting, India would need at least 129 votes if all 193 UN General Assembly members vote. The author notes that Tajikistan had announced its candidacy earlier and had been expected to be the group's consensus choice. India has served eight terms: 1950-51, 1967-68, 1972-73, 1977-78, 1984-85, 1991-92, 2011-12 and 2021-22. It usually wins as a consensus candidate, taking 187 votes in 2010 and 184 in 2020, but it lost contested elections to Pakistan in 1975 and Japan in 1996. India's case, as the article sets out, is that COVID-19 disrupted its 2021-22 term and that it wants to push counter-terrorism and UN reform before 2029. The author argues that India's size and experience do not guarantee victory, that its repeated terms could count against it, and that Tajikistan can present itself as the voice of countries that have never served. Tajikistan is said to have support from Central Asian states and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The article lays out three options: contest the election, persuade Tajikistan to withdraw (as Kazakhstan did in 2010 and Afghanistan in 2013 to clear India's path), or withdraw India's own bid and seek Tajikistan's support for a later election. It notes that meetings between Indian and Tajik leaders in September 2026 produced no withdrawal, and that Tajikistan once hosted Indian facilities at Ayni and Farkhor. The author suggests that stepping aside could show restraint and win credibility with the Global South, though it could also be seen as a setback. The larger goal, the article argues, is permanent membership of a reformed Council, not another temporary seat. ## Prelims facts - The election for UNSC non-permanent seats for 2028-29 is due in June 2027; India and Tajikistan are contesting the Asia-Pacific seat. - A candidate needs two-thirds of members present and voting: 129 votes if all 193 members vote. - India has served eight non-permanent terms, most recently 2021-22, and lost contested elections in 1975 (to Pakistan) and 1996 (to Japan). - Under Article 23 of the UN Charter, non-permanent members serve two-year terms and a retiring member is not eligible for immediate re-election. - The op-ed argues that India's long-term aim is a permanent seat in a reformed Council, and that winning trust among developing nations may matter more than one election. ## Quick recall - **When is the election for the 2028-29 UNSC non-permanent seats?** June 2027. - **Who is India's rival for the Asia-Pacific seat for 2028-29?** Tajikistan. - **How many votes does a candidate need if all 193 members vote?** 129, a two-thirds majority. - **How many non-permanent terms has India served?** Eight; the latest was 2021-22. - **Which contested UNSC elections did India lose?** 1975 to Pakistan and 1996 to Japan. - **When was the Security Council expanded from 11 to 15 members?** 1965, its only expansion. - **Which countries stepped aside for India's 2011-12 and 2021-22 terms?** Kazakhstan (2010) and Afghanistan (2013). - **Which Article of the UN Charter governs elected members?** Article 23. ## Prelims practice question Consider the following statements about elections to the UN Security Council: 1. Non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms. 2. A retiring non-permanent member is eligible for immediate re-election. 3. A candidate needs a two-thirds majority of members present and voting, even if unopposed. Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only. 1 and 3 are correct. 2 is incorrect: Article 23 of the UN Charter bars a retiring non-permanent member from immediate re-election. ## UPSC previous-year questions this connects to - UPSC Mains 2015, GS2: Discuss the impediments India is facing in its pursuit of a permanent seat in UNSC. (https://upsc.help/pyq/q011-impediments-india-facing-pursuit-permanent-seat-unsc/) How to use this story in the answer: Use the India-Tajikistan contest to illustrate how equitable-representation politics and bloc voting complicate India's path to a permanent seat. - UPSC Mains 2025, GS2: "The reform process in the United Nations remains unresolved, because of the delicate imbalance of East and West and entanglement of the USA vs. Russo-Chinese alliance." Examine and critically evaluate the East-West policy confrontations in this regard. (https://upsc.help/pyq/q012-reform-process-united-nations-remains-unresolved-because/) ## Mains practice question Frequent non-permanent terms strengthen India's case for a permanent seat, but contests with smaller states carry diplomatic costs. Discuss with reference to India's bid for the 2028-29 UN Security Council term. (250 words) ### Model answer India seeks a ninth non-permanent UNSC term for 2028-29, with the election due in June 2027, but faces a contest with Tajikistan for the Asia-Pacific seat. ## How terms help India's claim - Eight terms (most recently 2021-22) show sustained contribution, as Article 23 of the UN Charter asks of candidates. - Wide margins (187 votes in 2010, 184 in 2020) signal broad support. - Terms let India shape agendas on counter-terrorism and reformed multilateralism. ## The diplomatic costs of a contest - India needs 129 of 193 votes; contested races are uncertain, as losses to Pakistan (1975) and Japan (1996) show. - India's repeated terms could count against it; Tajikistan can present itself as the voice of countries that have never served. - Tajikistan reportedly has Central Asian and OIC backing; India risks appearing to crowd out a smaller Global South partner. - Tajikistan matters strategically, having hosted Indian facilities at Ayni and Farkhor. ## Options - Contest and campaign in Africa, Latin America and South Asia, which may decide the result. - Negotiate Tajikistan's withdrawal, as Kazakhstan (2010) and Afghanistan (2013) did. - Step aside in return for Tajik support later, showing restraint. ## Way forward - Weigh the cost and benefit of another term against the larger goal of permanent membership. - Deepen engagement with developing countries on climate justice, food security and development finance. As the op-ed argues, building trust among developing nations may serve India's permanent-seat ambition better than winning a single election. ## The basics ## Why this matters The UN Security Council is the only UN body whose decisions bind all member states. India has long sought a permanent seat and has served often as an elected member. A contested race for 2028-29 raises a question UPSC likes: how should a rising power balance its ambitions with solidarity among developing countries? ## Who sits on the Council The Council grew from 11 to 15 members in 1965, its only expansion. The rules for elected members are in Article 23 of the UN Charter. ## How an election works Deadlocks are possible: in 1979 Cuba and Colombia stayed deadlocked for over 150 rounds before Mexico was chosen. Read more in Non-permanent seats and regional groups. ## India's record ## The dilemma India's terms help its case for a permanent seat in a reformed Council (see Security Council reform and the G4). But a fight with a smaller state can look like a big power crowding out the Global South. India-Tajikistan relations add a strategic layer. ## Sources - https://superkalam.com/current-affairs/16-10-2026/a-contested-unsc-seat-poses-a-test-for-india-pg8-cc5caf90-e2ec-45c8-811f-92b21881b937 - https://vajiramandravi.com/current-affairs/?p=129170 - https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indias-bid-for-unsc-non-permanent-seat-for-2028-29 - https://anantamias.com/current-affairs/a-contested-unsc-seat-poses-a-test-for-india/