80 Years of the United Nation

United Nations: A Symbol of Global Cooperation

The United Nations (UN) stands as a beacon of multilateralism and international cooperation, serving as a platform for dialogue and collective action to address global challenges. India’s deepening engagement with the UN reflects its unwavering commitment to multilateralism, peace, and shared progress for all nations.

India and the United Nations: A Strong Partnership

India has been an integral part of the UN’s journey since its inception. As the world’s largest democracy and an active member of the global community, India has consistently advanced UN objectives in areas such as:

• Peacekeeping and peacebuilding
• Sustainable development and poverty alleviation
• Climate action and disarmament
• Human rights and gender equality
• Health, migration, and cybersecurity
• Space cooperation and frontier technologies, including Artificial Intelligence

India’s conduct in the global arena is deeply rooted in the ancient ideal of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” – the world is one family – a principle that continues to guide its international outreach.

Milestones in India–UN Relations

India’s partnership with the UN is marked by several key milestones that highlight its leadership in global affairs:

Year	Milestone
1945	India became a signatory to the UN Charter
1948	Endorsed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
1950	Elected to the UN Security Council for the first time
1973	Acceded to the Biological Weapons Convention
1980	Ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
1993	Joined the Chemical Weapons Convention
2000	Adopted the Millennium Declaration
2007	2 October (Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary) declared the International Day of Non-Violence
2014	21 June declared the International Day of Yoga
2015	Endorsed the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and ratified the Paris Agreement
2021–22	Served its eighth term in the UN Security Council
2025	Hosted the Conference on Women Peacekeepers from the Global South in New Delhi

India’s Contributions to UN Peacekeeping

India remains one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping operations, with over 290,000 Indian peacekeepers having served in more than 50 missions worldwide.
In 2025, India hosted the Conference on Women Peacekeepers from the Global South, bringing together participants from 35 nations to strengthen gender-inclusive peace operations.

India’s Humanitarian Leadership

During the COVID-19 pandemic, India upheld its global responsibility by supplying essential medicines and vaccines to over 150 countries, reinforcing its philosophy of shared humanity and global solidarity.

At the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly (2025), India reaffirmed its belief that every nation capable of contributing to a better world must be empowered to do so.

Philatelic Journey with the United Nations

The Department of Posts, Government of India, has a long association with the United Nations through philately. Commemorative stamps have been released on the 9th (1954), 40th (1985), 50th (1995), and 75th (2020) anniversaries of the UN.

Collaborative issues include:

• 2016: Joint issue with the UN Postal Administration on the HeForShe solidarity movement
• 2018: UN Postal Administration’s Diwali commemorative stamp
• 2019: Definitive stamp honouring the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi

80 Years of the United Nations: A Philatelic Tribute

To mark 80 years of the United Nations, a nationwide stamp design competition was organized by the Department of Posts, in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs and MyGov.

Over 7.4 lakh students participated, expressing India’s vision of global leadership, peace, and multilateralism.

• The winning design by Ms. Shrestha Majumdar is featured on the commemorative stamp.
• Artworks by Ms. Anshika Jain and Ms. Rollie Sharma have been selected for the First Day Cover and Brochure, respectively.

This initiative reflects the creativity, optimism, and global outlook of young India.

Conclusion

The Department of Posts proudly releases this commemorative postage stamp celebrating 80 Years of the United Nations.
It stands as a symbol of India’s enduring commitment to peace, cooperation, and the shared ideals of the UN—honouring eight decades of partnership in building a more inclusive, sustainable, and harmonious world.