India To Serve As UNSC President For August 2021; How Presidency Is Decided In Security Council?

India will serve as the president of the powerful 15-nation body for two months in its two-year term: for the month of August 2021, and for a month again in 2022.

(FILES) In this file photo taken on September 20, 2017 an official looks at the empty chairs of leaders ahead of their participation in an open debate of the United Nations Security Council in New York. - (Photo by Stephane LEMOUTON / POOL / AFP)

New Delhi: India will serve as the president of the most powerful body the United Nations Security Council in the month of August 2021. India was elected to the UNSC’s non-permanent body with an overwhelming majority on Thursday, in a first-of-its kind election in which 192 nations cast their votes. India will serve as the president of the powerful 15-nation body for two months in its two-year term: for the month of August 2021, and for a month again in 2022. How is presidency tenure decided? The presidency of the UN Security Council is held by each of the members in turn for one month, following the English alphabetical order of the member states' names. Tunisia will begin 2021 as the President of the Council in January, followed by a month each for the rest of the year by the UK, the US, Vietnam, China, Estonia, France, India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico and Niger. India will be getting a rotational presidency. The office of UN spokesperson stated that India would assume the rotating presidency of the council for the month of August next year. India, Norway, Ireland, Mexico and Kenya were elected as the non-permanent members of the UNSC for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2021 on Wednesday. Composition of the UNSC for 2021-2022 Newly-elected members: India, Ireland, Kenya, Norway and Mexico Five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the UK and the US Non-permanent members: Estonia, Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia and Vietnam. India’s eighth term at UNSC This is the eighth time that India will sit at the Council's horseshoe-shaped table. Previously, India was elected for the years 1950-1951, 1967-1968, 1972-1973, 1977-1978, 1984-1985, 1991-1992 and most recently in 2011-2012. India, candidate from the Asia-Pacific States, won 184 votes out of the 192 votes. Also Watch: (inputs from PTI).