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www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know News India Times (July 18, 2026 - July 24, 2026) July 24, 2026 18 India The Race for the UNSC: India Launches ‘SHANTI’ Campaign to Fix a ‘Fractured Global Order’ -UNITED NATIONS I ndia has launched a high-stakes campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Secu- rity Council (UNSC) for the 2028–29 term, navigat- ing a competitive electoral field that includes 57 – nation voting bloc. At the same time, New Delhi continues its long-term bid for a reformed Security Council that would include India among the Perma- nent Members on the Security Council in light of its global standing. Presenting a definitive six-point agenda to reform what he called a deeply fractured global order, India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, officially announced the bid on Monday, July 13, 2026, at the UN Headquarters in NewYork before an audience of international diplomats. The campaign, titled SHANTI, Securing Holistic Ad- vancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity, comes at a time of severe global gridlock, said Jaishankar speaking at the launch, and highlighting the critical contradiction in modern global affairs as a “profound paradox”. “Never before has the world possessed such im- mense capabilities to advance human welfare at this scale. At the same time, we are witnessing levels of conflict, violence and instability that threaten even those who may be very far away.” Jaishankar emphasized that the UN needs to lead the way through today’s global instability, making the upcoming Security Council elections highly critical. Arguing in support of India’s candidacy for the seat, Jaishankar stated that India’s bid rests on a forward-look- ing vision and a proven international track record. “One part of that is our vision of the priorities that the world and the United Nations must address,” Jaishankar said. “The other is a track record which enables the inter- national community to make its own judgment.” Jaishankar detailed six strategic priorities in support of the campaign, aligning India’s vision with targeted, practical proposals. Amplifying the Global South. India seeks to bring the spe- cific concerns of developing nations directly into peace and security decisions. “The Global South must play a greater role in determining our common future,” Jaishan- kar emphasized, adding that a reformed Council requires this bloc at the table. Reformed Multilateralism. Jaishankar listed India’s con- sistent call for a more democratic, representative, and effective UN framework, which will focus on dialogue, cooperation, and bridging deep institutional differences among member states. Future-Ready Peacekeeping. As one of the UN’s largest troop contributors, India is championing a technological- ly enabled, better-equipped, and realistically mandated peacekeeping force, Jaishankar reminded. This includes a strict focus on core objectives and an elevated role for women peacekeepers. Human-Centric AI Governance. India plans to promote an inclusive, secure vision for Artificial Intelligence aimed at the public good. However, Jaishankar stated, India remains “…equally determined to counter its misuse and threats to international peace and security.” Maritime Security. India will advocate for a free, open, and rules-based maritime order aligned with international law (UNCLOS). The focus will remain on securing the safe flow of global commerce, combating piracy, and leading regional disaster relief missions, he said. Combating Terrorism. India is pushing for sustained global efforts to block terror financing. Highlight- ing the need for accountability, Jaishankar called for “…a transparent sanctions regime with objective and evidence-based proposals” for listing terrorist groups. This campaign marks India’s bid to return to the UNSC for a ninth term as an elected non-permanent member, having last served during the 2021–22 cycle. The elections for the 2028–29 term will take place in June next year, and India faces a highly competi- tive race, with both India and Tajikistan vying for the single vacant seat allocated to the Asia-Pacific Group category. To win the seat, India must secure a two- thirds majority, at least 129 votes if all 193 UN mem- ber states vote, via a secret ballot in the UN General Assembly next year. While India holds massive geopolitical weight, Tajikistan has secured an early head start by locking in the formal endorsement of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), a powerful 57-member voting bloc. To counter this, India has mobilized an early, ag- gressive outreach campaign. Just before arriving in NewYork, Jaishankar toured several Gulf nations, in- cluding Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman, to leverage strong bilateral ties and win over OIC members. India is similarly intensifying its outreach to Caribbean and Af- rican nations to ensure a diverse, global coalition of votes. The competition is expected to intensify at upcom- ing Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summits, where both India and Tajikistan will actively lobby for Central Asian and Eurasian votes. However, India remains a strong contender. India has already locked in early support from global powers and regional allies, including the United States, Austria, Fiji, and Sri Lanka. Following the launch, Jaishankar also had a high-level, private bilateral meeting with UN Secretary-General An- tónio Guterres in the afternoon to discuss these multilat- eral priorities. India Unveils ‘SHANTI’ Agenda In High-Stakes Bid For UNSC Seat PHOTOS :X.COM/DRSJAISHANKAR India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, speaking at the UN on India’s SHANTI initiative. Scenes from the meeting at UN held by India to launch its SHANTI initiative for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council. By Archana Adalja Indian Court Asks Authorities To Intervene If Fasting Activist’s Condition Worsens A n Indian court directed authorities on Thursday to monitor the health of an activist who is on the 19th day of a hunger strike on a stage in central Delhi to demand the education minister quits, and to intervene if his condition deteriorates. It is the first time that a court has intervened in the protest, as concern over SonamWangchuk’s condition grows among his supporters. The instruction means he could be moved to a hospital if his health worsens. Wangchuk has been fasting in solidarity with India’s youth Cockroach Janta Party, which is staging a sit-in de- manding minister Dharmendra Pradhan step down over exam paper leaks that affected millions of students. The 59-year-old, who has said he will continue his strike until their demands are met, has lost more than 9 kg (20 pounds) since he began his fast but remains men- tally alert, a doctor attending to him told news agency ANI. Acting on a petition for authorities to force-feed Wangchuk before his condition worsens, a two-judge bench of the Delhi High Court asked officials to inter- vene depending on medical opinion. The court order comes days ahead of a march to parliament called by the CJP on July 20 from the venue of the hunger strike to press for Pradhan’s resignation and exam reforms. - Reuters PHOTO:REUTERS/BHAWIKA CHHABRA/FILE PHOTO Sonam Wangchuk, an Indian education reformer, who has been on hunger strike, rests on stage during a sit-in protest called by CJP demanding the resignation of Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, India, July 13, 2026.