United Nations has elected India as a member of its Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for a period of three years. Besides India, 18 nations including Japan, Germany and France were elected in the 54-member council of UN. The departing 18 members include Angola, Austria, Benin, Cuba, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Japan, Lichtenstein, Madagascar, Mauritania, Paraguay, Portugal, Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka.

 

According to the UN convention, each year out of 54 nations 18 are replaced as the members of ECOSOC. However, the retired 18 members are eligible for re-election.  The UN General Assembly has elected India, Saudi Arabia and Japan from the Asian group. Of the 184 valid votes polled, Saudi Arabia got 180, India 179 and Japan 177. There were no other candidates from the group. The tenure of the new member countries will start from January 1, 2009.