India is increasingly abstaining, rather than voting ‘yes’ or ‘no’ at the United Nations, with 44% abstentions in 2025, the highest in its U.N. history, reflecting changes in both global geopolitics and the complexity of U.N. resolutions.
- An analysis of over 5,500 resolutions voted on by India at the U.N. from 1946 to June 2025 shows that India’s annual percentage of ‘yes’ votes has dropped to 56%, the lowest since 1955.
- Abstentions have increased to 44%, the highest ever in India’s U.N. voting history.
Voting System in the UN Security Council
- One Member, One Vote: Every UNSC member (15 total) has one vote.
- Procedural Matters: Decisions on procedural issues require the support of 9 members, with no veto required.
- Substantive Matters: Decisions on non-procedural (substantive) issues require 9 affirmative votes, including the concurrence of all 5 permanent members.
- Right to Veto
- The Permanent Five (P5) members — China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US — hold veto power.
- Function: A single negative vote by any P5 member blocks the adoption of a resolution on substantive matters.
- A P5 member abstaining does not block a resolution. Thus, a resolution can pass with 9 affirmative votes even if some P5 members abstain.
- Under Chapter VI (peaceful settlement of disputes), a country involved in the dispute must abstain from voting.
Abstention: Choosing neither ‘yes’ nor ‘no’ in a vote, effectively withholding support or opposition. |
Historical Voting Trends
- 1946–Late 1960s: India’s voting was volatile; ‘yes’ votes ranged from 20% to 100%, and abstentions from 0% to 40%.
- 1970–1994: The volatility reduced. ‘Yes’ votes ranged between 74%–96%, and abstentions between 8%–19%.
- Mid-1990s–2019: Voting pattern stabilized further with ‘yes’ votes between 75%–83% and abstentions 10%–17%.
- The current rise in abstentions began around 2019.
India’s Abstention from UN Resolutions
- 2017 – Abstained UNHRC resolution condemning Myanmar military’s actions against Rohingya Muslims.
- 2021 – Abstained on UNGA resolution calling for an arms embargo on Myanmar’s military junta.
- 2022 (Dec) – Abstained UNSC resolution condemning Myanmar’s military regime.
- 2022 (Dec) – Abstained on UNGA resolution seeking ICJ opinion on Israel’s occupation of Palestine.
- 2022 (Feb onwards) – Abstained on all UN resolutions condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Reasons Behind Increased Abstentions
- Growing divisions among major global powers mean finding consensus is harder, leading countries like India to abstain more often rather than be compelled into binary positions.
- Complexity of resolutions: Modern U.N. resolutions often cover several issues, making unequivocal support or opposition difficult.
- In such cases, India may agree with some parts but not others, making a clear ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote impractical — hence, abstention becomes the preferred option.
- India’s stance: Abstentions allow India to maintain diplomatic flexibility and express independent positioning.
Implications for Diplomacy and Policy
- Strategic Autonomy: Abstaining provides India with the flexibility to navigate complex international alignments and safeguard its interests amid geopolitical rifts.
- Avoidance of Direct Confrontation: By choosing abstention, India avoids aligning too closely with one side, especially when the resolution involves polarised narratives or divergent international opinions.
- Domestic Political Criticism: Opposition parties accuse the government of moral abdication, particularly when abstentions relate to issues involving human rights, democracy, or humanitarian crises.
- Erosion of Global Moral Leadership: Frequent abstentions may weaken India’s moral authority and its image as a responsible global power.
- India’s UNSC Aspirations: India’s repeated abstentions on high-profile issues could undermine its case for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
21 Jul 2025
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