India pays up $32 mn annual UN dues, getting place on ‘honor roll’

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India’s assessment is only 1.044 per cent of the UN’s budget of $3.465 billion despite it being the world’s fifth largest economy. Thus, India’s share is less than that of even some developing countries like Brazil and Mexico.

India has paid its annual dues of $32.895 million to the UN’s general budget, earning it a place on UN’s “honour roll”.India is one of the only 36 countries among the UN’s 193 members to have paid its annual assessment for the UN’s general budget by the deadline on Wednesday, (Jan. 31, 2024) according to the General Assembly’s Committee on Contributions.

New Delhi’s total assessment for the general budget is $36.18 million but it is given a credit of $3.85 million which is the credit from staff assessments – deductions made from the salaries of UN employees who are Indian nationals in lieu of income taxes credited to India. India’s contribution makes up 1.044 per cent of the total regular budget of the UN of the UN’s budget of $3.59 billion.

The national contributions are calculated by a complex formula that is based on the size of the gross national income and offset by considerations of its “capacity to pay” based on low per capita income and external debt. Thus, India’s assessment is only 1.044 per cent of the UN’s budget of $3.465 billion despite it being the world’s fifth largest economy. Thus, India’s share is less than that of even some developing countries like Brazil and Mexico.

Pakistan’s share of the total budget is 0.114 per cent, amounting to $3.950 million; Sri Lanka comes next with 0.045 per cent or $1.559 million. Bangladesh and Nepal contribute 0.001 per cent amounting to $346,561. Maldives share is Maldives 0.004 per cent amounting to $138,624 while Bhutan is assessed at the lowest rate of 0.0001 per cent – the “floor” rate – or $34,656.

The United States is the biggest contributor to the UN’s regular budget, with an assessment of $762.43 million – 22 per cent of the total – followed by China, whose assessment is 15.25 per cent or $528.64 million.

The UN has separate budgets for capital works, tribunals and peacekeeping.

(This article appeared in South Asia Monitor online on Feb. 2, 2024. Used under special arrangement with SAM)