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India elected to ‘highest’ UN statistical body for four-year term: Foreign minister

India elected to ‘highest’ UN statistical body for four-year term: Foreign minister

S Jaishankar

In a historic triumph, India was swiftly elected to the United Nations Statistical Commission for a four-year term in a "competitive" election in which China and South Korea are still battling for the final Asia Pacific seat.

India received 46 out of 53 votes. A second candidate has yet to be determined between South Korea and China, and voting will resume later in the day for the remaining Asia Pacific States member.

Argentina, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Ukraine, the United Republic of Tanzania, and the United States of America were elected by acclamation for a four-year term beginning January 1, 2024.

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“India elected to the highest UN statistical body for a 4-year term beginning on 1 January 2024! Congrats Team @IndiaUNNewYork for coming through so strongly in a competitive election,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in a tweet on Wednesday.

He went on to say that India's "expertise in statistics, diversity, and demography has earned it a seat on the UN Statistical Commission."

The current Asia-Pacific States members are Japan (2024), Samoa (2024), Kuwait, and the Republic of Korea, whose terms expire this year.

The United Nations statistics Commission, founded in 1947, is the highest organisation of the global statistics system, bringing together Chief Statisticians from all member countries.

It is the top decision-making organisation for international statistical activity, responsible for creating statistical standards and developing concepts and methodologies, as well as implementing them at the national and international levels.

The Commission is made up of 24 United Nations member countries chosen by the UN Economic and Social Council based on an equitable geographical distribution.

Five members are from African countries, four from Asia-Pacific countries, four from Eastern European countries, four from Latin American and Caribbean countries, and seven from Western European and other countries.

(With inputs from agencies)

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