New York: India has been elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2026–2028 term, marking its seventh tenure on the Geneva-based body. The election was held on Tuesday at the UN General Assembly in New York. India’s three-year term will begin on January 1, 2026.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Parvathaneni Harish, expressed gratitude to member states for their strong support. “India was elected to the Human Rights Council for the term 2026–28 for the seventh time today,” he said in a post on social media.
“This reflects India’s steadfast commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms. We look forward to serving this objective during our tenure,” he added.
India was elected to the Human Rights Council for the term 2026-28 @UN for the seventh time today. Thank all delegations for their overwhelming support.
This election reflects India’s unwavering commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms. We look forward to serve this… pic.twitter.com/rvYj4jRKlY
— Parvathaneni Harish (@AmbHarishP) October 14, 2025
The Human Rights Council comprises 47 member states, elected by the General Assembly through a secret ballot for three-year terms. The seats are distributed regionally- 13 for African States, 13 for Asia-Pacific States, six for Eastern European States, eight for Latin American and Caribbean States, and seven for Western European and other States.
India, which completed its last term in 2024 after two consecutive stints, observed a one-year gap in line with the Council’s rule that prohibits three successive terms.
Since the Council’s establishment in 2006, India has been a member for six previous terms- 2006–2007, 2008–2010, 2012–2014, 2015–2017, 2019–2021, and 2022–2024, missing only three mandatory breaks in 2011, 2018, and 2025.
The @UN General Assembly has elected #India as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council (@UN_HRC) for a three-year term beginning on 1 January 2026. https://t.co/mVkVOU5epn pic.twitter.com/pBAXJPQiab
— UN Human Rights Council (@UN_HRC) October 14, 2025
In its first election in 2006, India secured one of the highest vote counts, winning 173 of 190 votes. Over the years, the country has consistently emphasized dialogue, inclusivity, and cooperation in advancing global human rights standards.
Alongside India, Angola, Chile, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Iraq, Italy, Mauritius, Pakistan, Slovenia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam were also elected to serve three-year terms starting January 1, 2026, the UNHRC announced.
