India’s effort to secure a permanent seat on the UN Security Council is receiving support, but its human rights track is a cause for concern about its readiness for the role. Its engagement with UN human rights bodies offers insight into this issue. India’s record on human rights is concerning, especially when it comes to its own people. The UNHRC, which is responsible for advancing and defending human rights around the world, has been an essential platform for holding member states responsible. India has been a part of the UNHRC for 16 of the Council’s 18 years and has thus been subject to scrutiny regarding its compliance with international human rights standards. India’s engagement with this body has often been characterized by defensive posture instead of constructive cooperation. India’s domestic human rights issues have been a source of alarm due to the presence of approximately 25 statements from UN human rights experts and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) since 2019. These worries have focused on systemic problems including discriminatory legislation, such the anti-conversion laws that target religious organizations, growing violence against religious minorities, and limitations on the right to free speech. However, the fact that India has mostly ignored these suggestions casts doubt on its commitment to upholding the values of accountability and openness.
Serious Human Rights Violations in India
India’s human rights deficiencies are emphasized even more by its lackluster performance in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism. The UPR is a peer assessment mechanism that assesses each UN member state’s human rights record and makes suggestions for improvement. In its most recent UPR, several countries asked India to take action to protect religious minorities and confront the increasing tide of hate speech and communal violence. Notably, India has been encouraged to ratify the UN Convention Against Torture, which it signed in 1997 but has failed to do. Despite repeated promises to ratify this important pact, India has remained dormant, even while recorded violations continue. This unwillingness to interact with international human rights forums undermines India’s credibility as a country that values human rights, which is a necessary condition for a UNSC permanent member. Since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took power in 2014, India has completed only two visits from UN Special Rapporteurs, with 19 requests still pending, some unanswered since 1999. The lack of cooperation with these vital UN mechanisms speaks to a deeper issue: India’s reluctance to engage with international scrutiny, even when such engagement could lead to improved governance and human rights protections.
Beyond these specific mechanisms, India’s broader relationship with the UN’s human rights architecture is also troubling. India is a party to six of the nine core international human rights treaties, but its adherence to the reporting obligations under these treaties has been inconsistent at best. For example, its most recent report under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), submitted in 2024, came after a 27-year gap. This delay is emblematic of a broader disengagement from its international human rights responsibilities. The Human Rights Committee’s concerns about India’s civil and political rights situation—ranging from religious discrimination and gender violence to overbroad counter-terrorism laws and unlawful surveillance—have been longstanding. Despite these issues being raised repeatedly, little progress has been made, with reports of deteriorating human rights conditions becoming more frequent under the current government.
India’s response to human rights reports on Kashmir, particularly those issued by the OHCHR in 2018 and 2019, has been dismissive, declaring them biased and dismissing international concerns. The 2019 repeal of Article 370, which stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its unique status, exacerbated repression and social unrest. Furthermore, India has received criticism for retaliating against civil society actors who engage with UN entities, undermining its legitimacy as a future permanent member of the UN Security Council. To take on this role, India must address both internal human rights concerns and its opposition to foreign monitoring.
The prospect of India’s bid for permanent membership on the UN Security Council cannot be viewed without considering its human rights record. The UNSC’s primary mission is to maintain international peace and security, but the importance of human rights in achieving this objective is undeniable. Michelle Bachelet, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, underlined that promoting human rights is one of the most effective methods for the Security Council to carry out its duty.