Why in news?
India’s Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Savitri Thakur, led the Indian delegation to the 64th session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development (CSocD) in February 2026. The session provided a forum for member states to share experiences and review progress on social inclusion, poverty eradication and universal social protection.
Background
CSocD is one of eight functional commissions of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Established in 1946, it was initially composed of 32 member states and was expanded to 46 members in 1996 following the World Summit for Social Development. The commission meets annually in New York, typically in February, and oversees the implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the 1995 summit. Its mandate includes promoting social development through poverty eradication, full employment, social integration and access to basic services.
Role and activities
- Follow‑up to global commitments: CSocD monitors progress on the commitments made at the World Summit for Social Development and provides recommendations to ECOSOC.
- Thematic focus: Each year the commission selects a priority theme such as ageing, disability inclusion, youth employment or social protection, and facilitates policy dialogue and experience sharing among member states.
- Membership and governance: Forty‑six countries are elected to the commission for four‑year terms; membership is geographically balanced. Decisions are taken by consensus and are binding only on members that vote in favour.
- Advancing inclusion: The commission encourages governments to integrate social considerations into economic policies, recognising that growth alone cannot resolve inequality.
Significance
- Global cooperation: CSocD brings together governments, civil society and experts to share best practices in social policy.
- Addressing emerging issues: Recent sessions have explored digital inclusion, social protection floors and the social impacts of climate change.
- India’s engagement: India uses the platform to highlight initiatives such as poverty alleviation programmes, Jan Dhan financial inclusion, Ayushman Bharat health insurance and PM‑POSHAN school nutrition.
Source: Press Information Bureau
