India's Voting Strategy at the United Nations

In recent years, India's voting strategy at the United Nations has evolved, leading to an increase in abstentions and a decrease in 'yes' votes. This shift reflects India's approach to navigating an increasingly polarized international landscape.

Historical Voting Pattern

• From 1946 to June 2025, India's annual 'yes' votes at the U.N. have decreased to 56%, the lowest since 1955.
• Conversely, the annual percentage of abstentions has risen to 44%, marking the highest in India's history at the U.N.
• Before 2019, India maintained a stable voting pattern with 'yes' votes between 75% and 83% and abstentions between 10% and 17%.

Reasons for Increased Abstentions

• Former diplomats suggest that the rise in abstentions helps India establish its own position on various global issues.
• An increasingly polarized world contributes to this strategic shift.
• U.N. resolutions have become more complex, often comprising multiple aspects within a single resolution.

Implications of Abstentions

• Abstentions provide India the flexibility to express its stance without aligning strictly with any major power bloc.
• This approach allows India to avoid taking sides in contentious resolutions that might include agreeable and disagreeable provisions.