ECOSOC membership is allocated based on equitable geographical representation across 5 regional groups: Africa, Asia-Pacific, Eastern European, Latin American & Caribbean, and Western European and other States. 

• India was elected in the Asia-Pacific States category (it has 4 seats) along with Lebanon, Turkmenistan, China.

About UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

• Headquarter: New York (USA)
• Genesis: The UN Charter established ECOSOC in 1945 as one of the six main organs of the United Nations.
• Nature: It is the central platform for fostering debate and innovative thinking, forging consensus on ways forward, and coordinating efforts to achieve internationally agreed-upon goals.
• Members: It consists of 54 members, 18 of which are elected each year by the General Assembly for a three-year term; Each member has one vote.

Functions of ECOSOC

• Coordination: ECOSOC coordinates the work of the 14 UN specialized agencies, ten functional commissions and five regional commissions.
• Policy Recommendation: It receives reports from nine UN funds and programmes and issues policy recommendations to the UN system and to Member States. 
• Under the UN Charter, ECOSOC is responsible for:
  • Promote higher standards of living, full employment, and economic and social progress
  • Identify solutions to international economic, social and health problems; 
  • Facilitate international cultural and educational cooperation; 
  • Encourage universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.