India has once again been elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), one of the world’s most important global rights bodies. This new term will run from 2026 to 2028, making it India’s seventh time serving on the Council. The election took place on Tuesday, and India’s victory was announced through an official post on social media.

India’s new three-year term will officially begin on January 1, 2026. After the announcement, Parvathaneni Harish, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, thanked all the countries that supported India in the election. He said the victory shows the world’s trust in India’s strong commitment to protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The UN Human Rights Council consists of 47 member countries, each elected by the UN General Assembly for a three-year term. To maintain fair representation from all parts of the world, the seats are divided among different regions: 13 are reserved for African nations, another 13 for countries from the Asia-Pacific region, 6 are allocated to Eastern European states, 8 go to countries from Latin America and the Caribbean, and the remaining 7 are assigned to Western European and other states.

India has a long history with the UNHRC. It has been a member almost continuously since the Council was created in 2006, except during three short breaks in 2011, 2018, and 2025. In fact, during the very first election in 2006, India received one of the highest numbers of votes, 173 out of 190.

Over the years, India has already served six terms on the Council:2006–2007, 2008–2010, 2012–2014, 2015–2017, 2019–2021, and 2022–2024. This time, India had to take a mandatory one-year break in 2025, as the rules do not allow countries to serve three terms in a row. After this break, India successfully returned for the 2026-28 term.

Along with India, several other countries have also been elected for the same term, including Angola, Chile, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Iraq, Italy, Mauritius, Pakistan, Slovenia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam.
India says it is ready to actively contribute to global discussions on human rights and work with other countries to uphold justice, equality, and freedom for all.