Opinion | United Nations Day 

Embracing our collective responsibility towards peace, justice, human rights, and sustainable progress for generations to come

Each year on 24 October, the world observes United Nations Day to remember that the United Nations (UN) was formed in 1945. The day is specifically observed as the anniversary of the coming into force of the UN Charter, the document that birthed an organization committed to upholding international peace, safeguarding human rights, and ensuring social and economic development among nations everywhere. Rising from the ruins of the Second World War, the UN was conceived as a hope maker a platform.

Since its creation, the UN has expanded from 51 members to 193, now representing almost every region of the world. It is still the most universal international organization in the world, reflecting humanity’s joint endeavour for peace, dignity, and equality.

The United Nations is crucial in responding to international challenges such as war, poverty, climate change, and inequality. Through its agencies like UNICEF, WHO, UNESCO, and UNDP, it has been at the forefront of humanitarian assistance, education, and development. It is also a stage where countries negotiate differences and coordinate the response to crises, and hence the pillar of global co-operation.

India has maintained a rich and historic connection with the United Nations since its inception. India was even a signatory to the Declaration by the United Nations in 1942, even before it achieved independence. Following independence in 1947, India became one of the earliest members of the international organization. India’s foreign policy has always been guided by the principles of the UN Charter, respect for sovereignty, peaceful settlement of disputes, and concern for humanity’s well-being.

India is one of the biggest contributors to UN peace missions. Since 1948, more than 250,000 Indian peacekeepers have been deployed in missions worldwide, from Congo and Lebanon to Sudan and Somalia. Indian soldiers are renowned for their professionalism and humanity, frequently being deployed into the most challenging theatres of conflict. In 2007, India created history by deploying the first-ever all-women peacekeeping unit to Liberia — a shining example of its commitment to empowerment and equality.

India’s foreign policy is profoundly rooted in the philosophy of non-violence (Ahimsa) and welfare of all (Sarvodaya) based on Mahatma Gandhi. These principles inform India’s interaction with the world, prioritizing dialogue as opposed to confrontation and cooperation as opposed to conflict. In recognition of this legacy, the UN adopted India’s proposal in 2007 to observe 2 October, Gandhi’s birth anniversary, as the International Day of Non-Violence — a tribute to a leader whose message continues to inspire the world toward peace an.

India is the world’s largest democracy, that of over 1.4 billion diverse people of different faiths, languages, and cultures. Its democratic culture embodies the UN Charter’s dream of equality and self-determination. India shows that democracy and development can go hand in hand, and freedom and stability can go together in a plural society.

Economically, India has emerged as a huge driving force for global growth. It is currently the world’s third-largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity, and it contributes hugely towards innovation and sustainability. Through these programs like Digital India, Make in India, and Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), the nation has emerged as a technology, renewable energy, and climate action leader. India’s proactive role in applying the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) clearly illustrates its passion for inc.

In the past months, the United Nations has been at the heart of unprecedented diplomatic advances in the Middle East. The world has reinvigorated efforts toward Palestinian statehood — an aspiration long endorsed by the UN Charter’s principle of self-determination. France and other nations officially recognized the State of Palestine in July 2025 at the UN General Assembly, a sign of increasing international support for a two-state solution and long-lasting peace in the region.

Encouraged by this momentum, a Gaza Peace Summit was convened recently at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, co-hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi. The summit was attended by the signing of a historic Peace Agreement, a significant step toward a permanent ceasefire and rebuilding of Gaza. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh represented India at the historic event as a special representative of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

MEA Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said after the summit:

“MoS MEA Kirti Vardhan Singh, who is a special representative of PM Narendra Modi, was present at the Gaza Peace Summit, which was co-hosted by Presidents Donald Trump and Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi at Sharm el-Sheikh. India welcomes the signing of the historic Peace Agreement and trusts that this will result in enduring peace in the region. This is a testament to India’s long-standing commitment to dialogue & diplomacy.”

This reflection evidences India’s unshakeable faith that dialogue and diplomacy alone are the only viable routes to peace. Through joining the Gaza Peace Summit, India reaffirmed its resolve for peaceful conflict resolution and its position as a bridge between cultures and regions. India’s equanimous diplomacy continues to foster stability, development, and respect across the globe.

India has also been a persistent champion of reform in the United Nations, especially in the Security Council whose membership does not represent contemporary realities. With its democratic background, sizeable population, emerging economy, and peacekeeping contributions, India has advocated for a new, representative, and fair world order of governance. These reforms, India feels, are necessary to make the UN an effective and participative organization that can deal with challenges of the times.

While the world celebrates United Nations Day, let us not forget that the UN’s mission of peace and cooperation can only be achieved when countries work together with good faith. India’s example the integration of the strength of democracy, the wisdom of non-violence, and the vision of inclusive development is an example of constructive global engagement. From peacekeeping to climate leadership and digital innovation, India still upholds the principles of the United Nations in words and action.

In an era where conflicts and crises push the world to its limits, India’s call for peace, equality, and dialogue brings a new hope. On this United Nations Day, let us not forget that durable peace is constructed not by force but by comprehension, not by fragmentation but by cooperation. As a living embodiment of one of the world’s oldest civilizations and the world’s largest democracy, India remains strongly committed to the vision of the UN a world where all nations and all people can live in dignity, freedom, and peace.

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