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www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know News India Times (January 24, 2026 - January 30, 2026) January 30, 2026 18 India’s 77th Republic Day India @United Nations: Celebrating The Spirit Of Democracy On The World Stage resilience to technology, business development and education. India also shares its expertise in development, tech- nology, health and education through the Fund and other UN agencies. CONTRIBUTION TO UN PEACEKEEPING – India’s participa- tion in UN peacekeeping dates back to 1953, with the UN operation in Korea. Since then, India has played a significant role in UN Peacekeeping, contributing over 290,000 peacekeepers across more than 50 UN missions. Currently, over 5,000 Indian peacekeepers are actively deployed in nine missions, placing it among the top troop-contributing countries, according to the EAM. India has also empowered other Global South nations to enhance their peacekeeping capabilities. Through its Centre for UN Peacekeeping, India offers training and capacity-building programs, including specialized courses for women peacekeepers, and initiatives carried out for ASEAN nations in 2023. Security Council Permanent Membership – All this, yet India has not been able to acquire a seat as a per- manent member of the UN Security Council. This is not least because of the machinations of Beijing and Islam- abad using the issue of the state of Jammu & Kashmir which Pakistan unlawfully occupies notwithstanding UN’s 1946 resolution requiring it to withdraw troops and not fund terrorism. That is a subject for another detailed examination. As per the UN Charter, the Security Council was envisaged as the apex body meant to safeguard interna- tional peace and security. The five permanent members, China, France, the Russian Federation, the United King- dom, and the United States each hold the veto power, alongside ten non-permanent members elected for two year terms. In January 2021, India became a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 8th time. It has been seeking a permanent seat on the UN Security Council as a member of the G4, an organization com- posed of Brazil, Germany, Japan and India, all of whom are currently seeking permanent seats. On its part, India thinks it qualifies for the permanent seat as the world’s largest liberal democracy. It is also the world’s fifth largest economy and third largest in terms of purchasing power parity. India is the largest contribu- tor of troops to the UN peacekeeping missions. India has been seeking permanent membership for too long, and its concern was voiced very aptly by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the UN General Assembly on September 26, 2020. “… For how long will India be kept out of the deci- sion-making structures of the United Nations? Reform in the responses, in the processes, and in the very character of the UN is the need of the hour…,” Modi had said. With a conservative perspective, India has always accepted the UN as a governing body which would do good for every member in the world. It is time now for the UN to also accept it as family in the same spirit, it feels. Regardless of permanent membership, the demo- cratic republic of India will continue to abide by the UN Charter and further its goals, as stated by India’s Exter- nal Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar. “…Guided by the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the belief that the world is one family, India will continue to contribute meaningfully to the cause of UN peacekeeping.” PHOTO:COURTESY INDIA’S EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTRY PHOTO:COURTESY GOVERNMENT OF INDIA PHOTO.LICENSED UNDERTHE GOVERNMENT OPEN DATA LICENSE A group of Indian Women Peacekeepers. Cultural Dance at the Republic Day Parade 2025. - Continued From Page 16 R ecently the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean Noel Barrot, while meeting the Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, made an interesting observation that France was heading the G7 ( in which India has been a perma- nent invitee for over a decade) and India was the chair of BRICS in 2026 and both strategic partners had great possibility of cooperation for enhancing multilateral- ism. Both countries believe and subscribe to it. President Macron further under- scored “India is going to be President of BRICS . I want to work with India to build bridges. BRICS countries must not be- come anti-G7 and G7 must not become anti-BRICS.” This is a recognition of the growing heft of the BRICS and emerging multipo- larity and need for collaborative rather than conflictual approaches.There is in- deed a real convergence possibility in an idealistic scenario as the G7 dominates in global finance, technology and high value added services and controls major global institutions and currencies while BRICS could be the new pivot for economic growth with commodities, consumption and huge markets with manufacturing and manpower and are key partners in global value supply chains. India and EU strategic partnership will be further strengthened with the signing of the Trade Agreement and visit of EU leadership as Chief Guest on this Republic Day 2026-a distinct honor and affirmation of special partnership. This statement is significant since the unilateralism has become the major currency in international discourse with most recent example being the regime change in Venezuela and President Trump walking out of 66 international agreements or organizations. BRICS 2026- Implications For A Multipolar World By Anil Trigunayat Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, China’s Premier Li Qiang, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and other leaders, attend the opening meeting of BRICS Summit, at the Museum of Modern Art (MAM) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil July 6, 2025. PHOTO:REUTERS/RICARDO MORAES - Continued On Page 26