Ms Jagjit Pavadia of India has been re-elected to the International Narcotics Board(INCB) for a third term. She secured the highest number of votes amongst the contestants. India was also elected to the several United Nations bodies.Elections were held on 9 April 2024 to fill vacancies in 17 subsidiaries of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). These vacancies were filled through election by secret ballot, nomination and acclamation.
Jagjit Pavadia’s third term at the INCB
- Jagjit Pavadia was re-elected for a third five-year term starting from March 2025- 2030. She was first elected to the International Narcotics Control Board in 2015. Pavadia was again re-elected for a five-year term from 2020 to 2025. She served as President of the Board in 2021-2022.
- This time, Pavadia secured the highest number of votes amongst the 24 candidates contesting for five posts. She got 41 votes out of the 53 voting members of ECOSOC.
- Pavadia has held various senior positions in the government of India. She has been the Narcotics Commissioner of India, worked in the Central Bureau of Narcotics (2006-2012), was the Commissioner of Legal Affairs (2001-2005), and was the Chief Vigilance Officer, Power Finance Corporation (1996-2001).
India elected to various UN Bodies
India was also elected to the various United Nations bodies. It was elected by acclamation to the
- Commission on the Status of Women (2025-2029);
- The United Nations Population Fund and
- The United Nations Office for Project Services ( 2025-2027)
- Executive Board of the United Nations Children’s Fund (2025-2027);
- Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme,
India was also elected to the
- Executive Board of the World Food Programme (2025-2027),
- Executive Board of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality,
- Empowerment of Women( 2025-2027).
International Narcotics Control Board
- The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) was set up in 1968 by the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961.
- INCB has 13 members elected by the Economic and Social Council for a period of five years. Ten members are elected from a list of government nominees. The other three members are experts in medical, pharmacological, or pharmaceutical experience from a list nominated by the World Health Organization (WHO).
- INCB basically cooperates with the world governments to ensure that adequate supplies of drugs are available for medical and scientific uses,
- Stopping the diversion of drugs from legal sources to illegal channels does not occur.
- Headquarters: Vienna, Austria
United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
- The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) was established by the United Nations Charter in 1945. ECOSOC is one of the six main organs of the United Nations. The other main organs of the United Nations are the Security Council, General Assembly, Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice and the UN Secretariat.
- The ECOSOC deals with economic, social, cultural and health matters, as well as fundamental freedoms and human rights.
- Members: It has 54 members, and the United Nations General Assembly elects them for a term of three years. One-third of the members are elected every year by the United Nations General Assembly.
- Headquarters: New York, United States of America