Introduction
India’s participation in multilateral diplomacy at the United Nations (UN), World Trade Organisation (WTO), and other global organisations shows its rise as a global power. As a founding member of both organisations, India sees many benefits from these global structures. As one of the largest democracies, India advocates for equitable representation, sustainable development, and collective security on global platforms. Its strategic partnerships and leadership in various coalitions underscore its commitment to addressing pressing global challenges.
India and the UN
The UN facilitates multilateral diplomacy by bringing member governments together to discuss global challenges. India and 50 other nations founded the UN on June 26, 1945. In the negotiations for the UN Charter, the Indian delegation proposed three provisions: promoting human rights as one of the UN’s goals (Article 1.3), penalising member states that failed to pay their assessed contributions (Article 19), and criteria for electing non-permanent members to the UN Security Council (Article 23). On 17 September 1947, a month after India’s independence from British colonial authority, Mrs. Vijayalakshmi Pandit headed the Indian delegation at the Second UN General Assembly Session and highlighted India’s primary interests. She stated “Ideology cannot be eaten or worn as clothing. We require food, clothing, shelter, education, and medical services. We realise we can only get them by working together and with the support of those who are luckier.”
India is a major UN peacekeeping contributor. Over 50 operations across continents have been completed by the Indian military as of 2023. India has traditionally supported UNSC revisions to reflect geopolitical realities. It proposes adding African and Asian states to permanent and non-permanent membership. India’s permanent membership application shows its growing economic and strategic power.
India supports the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, aligning its policies. India integrates global aims into domestic frameworks like “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” and “Make in India”. India promotes climate justice through the UNFCCC, arguing that wealthier nations should take more responsibility for their historical emissions. Through efforts like the International Solar Alliance, the government seeks economic prosperity and environmental sustainability. The first UN single-country South-South cooperation effort, the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, supports approximately 66 projects in 51 countries. Innovative technology help is provided by the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme to 161 partner countries.
GATT/WTO and India
The newly created UN was tasked with creating an “International Trade Organisation” (ITO). The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) mandated discussions for an ITO through a Preparatory Committee of 19 countries during its First Session in 1946. Only two developing nations were on the Preparatory Committee, including India. The Chinese Republic was another. On 22 August 1947, a week after India gained independence from British colonial control, 53 countries’ negotiators in Havana agreed on a draft ITO Charter. Signing the Havana Charter in March 1948. In November 1946, the US offered a “Multilateral Trade Agreement Embodying Tariff Concessions” to reduce tariffs while negotiating the Havana Charter for an ITO. These negotiations began on 8 April 1947 in Geneva, home to the UN Office in Europe. These discussions led to a General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) signed by 23 “Contracting Parties” on 30 October 1947, including India. MFN (non-discrimination) and native Treatment (equal treatment of foreign and native goods/services in the domestic market) are GATT principles. In 1950, the US Senate rejected the Havana Charter of the ITO, making the GATT the worldwide platform for regulating international trade in products until the WTO was established in 1995. After the June 1964 establishment of the Group of 77 (G-77) developing countries, India became a significant GATT spokesperson for developing countries. India requested for MFN tariff reductions to open developed country markets. India also supported trade measures under Article XXVIII of the GATT that governments utilised for economic development, such as import limits for balance-of-payments reasons, which some European nations had imposed after 1945. Following appeals for support for developing nations, the GATT added Chapter IV to the Agreement titled “Trade and Development” in 1965 to allow for special and differential treatment for developing countries in international commerce. On 28 November 1979, the GATT unanimously adopted the “Enabling Clause for Developing Countries,” a huge victory for India and other G-77 Contracting Parties. This ruling permitted emerging countries, such as the Generalised System of Preferences of 15 countries, including the US and EU, to receive non-discriminatory treatment.[1]
India had an “out of the box” role in the Uruguay Round’s final phase when the proposed General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) framework was conceptualised and negotiated. The GATS is important to India since only four delegations—the US, European Communities, Brazil, and India—made 44% of the negotiation proposals on trade in services during the Uruguay Round. India’s contributions to the final GATS text on expanded participation of developing countries (Art IV) and progressive liberalisation (Art XIX) let developing nations like India participate in the rising global trade in services after 1995.
India negotiates agricultural subsidies, intellectual property rights (TRIPS), and services trade. It supports special provisions for developing countries to preserve their agriculture sectors from unfair competition and opposes strict intellectual property regulations that could limit medical availability. India regularly leads poor countries in WTO negotiations, calling for collective negotiating leverage against developed nations’ domination. India has urged for WTO reforms to alleviate supply chain disruptions and guarantee fair access to vaccines through TRIPS waiver discussions to improve vaccine production capacity worldwide in light of COVID-19’s impact on global commerce.
Other Multilateral Engagements Beyond UN and WTO
India engages in regional organisations and coalitions that shape global governance outside the UN and WTO.
G20 Leadership: In 2023, India’s G20 presidency emphasised the promotion of global collaboration and sustainable development. Significant contributions encompassed advancing digital transformation, championing climate action, and improving food security. India underscored the significance of inclusive growth, especially for developing countries, by advocating for reforms in international financial institutions. The presidency emphasised the necessity for fair access to vaccines and healthcare services following the pandemic. Additionally, India convened other ministerial meetings and working groups to tackle urgent global challenges, including energy transition and sustainable urbanisation, with the objective of fostering a resilient global economy.
International Solar Alliance (ISA): Launched by India at COP21 in Paris, ISA promotes solar energy use among member countries through technology transfer and capacity building, highlighting India’s worldwide renewable energy leadership.
[1] Source: Distinguished Lectures Details (Ambassador (Retd.) Asoke Kumar Mukerji, NLSIU, Bangalore on July 22, 2022)
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