India to chair UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs for the first time
India has been chosen to chair the 68th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), according to a statement from the Indian Embassy in Austria on Friday.
Ambassador Shambhu S Kumaran, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna, officially assumed the chairmanship of the prestigious UN forum.
The CND is the principal policy-making body of the United Nations on drug-related issues. It is responsible for monitoring global drug trends, supporting member states in developing balanced policies, and overseeing the implementation of major international drug conventions.
The CND is one of the functional commissions of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and a governing body of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), headquartered in Vienna.
In a post on X, the Embassy stated, “India has been chosen to chair the 68th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND). Shambhu Kumaran officially assumed the chairmanship today. This is the first time India has been named to chair this important UN body.”
This marks the first time India has been selected to chair the CND, further reinforcing its growing leadership role on the global stage and its commitment to addressing international issues through established multilateral mechanisms.
As chair, India will be expected to represent the interests of the Global South, aligning with its role in promoting the perspectives of developing nations in global discussions. India will also aim to build on the CND’s ongoing work to foster dialogue and understanding on drug policy issues, focusing on integrating concerns of emerging economies with the priorities of developed nations to promote holistic and balanced approaches.
In the coming year, the CND’s agenda will focus on strengthening international collaboration to address critical issues such as illicit drug trafficking, substance abuse, and their associated social and health impacts, as well as the availability of internationally controlled substances for medical and scientific purposes. By prioritizing multilateral dialogue and evidence-based solutions, India will continue to collaborate with other CND member states to advance equitable, inclusive, and sustainable strategies on these issues, the statement added.
