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India Assumes Chairmanship of 68th Session of UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs for the First Time.

International | Dated: 12 Mar 2025

India has been elected to chair the 68th session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) for the first time. Ambassador Shambhu S. Kumaran, India's Permanent Representative to the UN in Vienna, assumes the chairmanship from March 10 to 14, 2025.

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - Around 2,000 delegates from over 150 countries are participating in the session. Notable participants include the Vice President of Bolivia, Foreign Ministers from Ecuador, Colombia, Turkmenistan, and senior officials from the Philippines, Italy, Uruguay, and Malta.
  • - India’s inter-ministerial delegation comprises officials from several key departments, including the Department of Revenue (DoR), Ministry of Finance (MoF), Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), and Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE).
  • - The event features an exhibition on India's Opium and Alkaloid Factories, emphasizing India's responsible use of medicinal opiates. Additionally, India is hosting two side events: one on the 'Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan' campaign and the other on innovative digital technologies in drug law enforcement.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) The session covers both normative and operational aspects, addressing treaty-based responsibilities and overseeing the work of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
  • (ii) Armenia’s Ambassador Andranik Hovhannisyan was elected as the First Vice-Chairman at the 68th session of the UN CND. He will also chair the Committee of the Whole, leading key negotiations on global drug policies.
  • (iii) The session's focus includes preventing drug abuse, addressing its consequences, and strengthening law enforcement security.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

Who has assumed the chairmanship of the 68th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) recently?

Correct Answer: India

🚀 Quick Recap:

About the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND)

  • Established : 1946
  • Headquarters : Vienna, Austria