In a huge diplomatic win for India, Indian diplomat Vidisha Maitra was elected to the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly.
Maitra, the First Secretary in India's Permanent Mission to the UN, obtained 126 votes in the Group of Asia-Pacific States.
Ms Maitra was one of two nominated candidates from the Group of Asia-Pacific States.
The Fifth Committee of the General Assembly, which deals with administrative and budgetary issues, recommended Ms Maitra to the Assembly for a three-year term beginning 1 January 2021.
The General Assembly which has 193 member-states, appoints members of the Advisory Committee on the basis of broad geographical representation, personal qualifications and experience.
UN Ambassador TS Tirumurti said in a video message that Maitra's election was "a strong display of support by UN member states".
He said that Maitra "will bring an independent, objective and much-needed gender-balanced perspective to the functioning of ACABQ".
(With inputs from PTI)
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