Organizations
Ministries, regulators, and key institutions tracked by The Breakdown.
United Nations
India is a founding member of the United Nations (1945) and has served as a non-permanent member of the Security Council eight times. India is the largest contributor to UN peacekeeping missions, with over 2,50,000 troops deployed across 49 missions since 1948.
World Trade Organization
India is a founding member of the WTO (1995) and its predecessor GATT (1947). India is one of the most active users of the WTO dispute settlement mechanism and has been both complainant and respondent in numerous trade disputes. India's trade policy at the WTO focuses on protecting agricultural subsidies, special and differential treatment for developing countries, and resisting expanded mandates on investment and e-commerce.
International Monetary Fund
India is a founding member of the IMF (1945) and holds a 2.63% quota share and 2.34% voting power. India has taken IMF assistance during balance of payments crises in 1981, 1991, and the 1990s IMF programme catalysed India's landmark economic liberalisation. India's 16th Quota Review position advocates for increased voice for dynamic emerging economies.
World Bank
India is a founding member of the World Bank (IBRD: 1945, IDA: 1960) and is the largest recipient of IDA (International Development Association) funds historically. The World Bank lends $3-5 billion annually to India across sectors including rural development, health, education, infrastructure, and water. The World Bank's Logistics Performance Index and Ease of Doing Business reports are key benchmarks for Indian policy.
World Health Organization
India is a founding member of WHO (1948) and hosts the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO) in New Delhi. India has been a major beneficiary of WHO technical assistance for polio eradication (certified polio-free in 2014), tuberculosis control, maternal health, and pandemic preparedness. India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) aligns with WHO prequalification standards for pharmaceutical exports.
International Labour Organization
India is a founding member of the ILO (1919) and one of the original signatories of the Treaty of Versailles that established the organisation. India has ratified 47 ILO conventions, including 6 of the 8 Fundamental Conventions. ILO reports on India's employment trends, wage data, and social protection gaps are critical inputs for Indian labour policy and recent labour code reforms.
BRICS
India is a founding member of BRICS (2009), the grouping of major emerging economies. BRICS has evolved from an economic cooperation forum to a platform for reforming global governance institutions. India uses BRICS to advance its positions on UNSC reform, counter-terrorism, multilateral development bank reform, and the creation of alternative payment systems.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
India became a full member of the SCO in 2017, elevating its role in Eurasian security and economic cooperation. India's SCO membership provides a platform to engage with Central Asian republics on energy security, counter-terrorism, connectivity (INSTC), and Afghanistan stability. India hosted the SCO Heads of Government meeting in 2020.
G20
India is a founding member of the G20 (1999) and held a landmark Presidency in 2023, hosting the New Delhi Leaders' Summit. Under India's presidency, the G20 focused on climate finance, digital public infrastructure, women-led development, and Global South representation. India's push for the African Union's permanent G20 membership was a key diplomatic achievement.
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
India is a founding member of SAARC (1985), the primary regional cooperation forum in South Asia. SAARC has been largely paralysed due to India-Pakistan tensions, with the 19th SAARC Summit (scheduled for 2016 in Islamabad) indefinitely postponed. India has shifted focus to sub-regional initiatives like BBIN (Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal) and BIMSTEC as functional alternatives.
Commonwealth of Nations
India joined the Commonwealth in 1947 as a republic, the first Asian member. India is the largest member by population and one of the largest financial contributors. The Commonwealth provides India with a platform for development cooperation, technical assistance, and promoting Commonwealth values among 56 member states. India hosts the Commonwealth of Learning headquarters in New Delhi.
Asian Development Bank
India is a founding member of the Asian Development Bank (1966) and its fourth-largest shareholder. ADB lends $3-4 billion annually to India for infrastructure, transport, energy, urban development, and financial sector projects. India-hosted ADB projects include the Delhi Metro, national highway corridors, and the Assam electricity grid strengthening.
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
India is the second-largest shareholder in AIIB (founding member, 2015) after China, with 8.52% voting power. India is AIIB's largest borrower, having received over $5 billion in loans for infrastructure projects including rural roads (PMGSY), power transmission, water supply, and renewable energy. AIIB has financed over 20 projects in India.
Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation
India is a founding member of BIMSTEC (1997), a regional grouping connecting South and Southeast Asia through the Bay of Bengal. BIMSTEC has emerged as India's preferred regional platform after SAARC's paralysis, with progress on free trade agreements, connectivity (India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway), counter-terrorism, and energy cooperation.
Quadrilateral Security Dialogue
The Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) is a strategic forum comprising India, Australia, Japan, and the United States. Revived in 2017, the Quad focuses on a free and open Indo-Pacific, maritime security, critical and emerging technology cooperation, climate action, and infrastructure investment through the Quad Infrastructure Fellowship.
Non-Aligned Movement
India is a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement (1961), established during the Cold War to provide an alternative to US and Soviet blocs. India was a leading force in NAM under Prime Ministers Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Rao. While NAM's relevance declined after the Cold War, India continues to use it as a platform for South-South cooperation, multilateralism, and developing country solidarity.
Group of 77
India is a founding member of the G77 (1964), the largest intergovernmental organisation of developing countries at the United Nations. India plays a leading role in G77+China negotiations on climate finance, technology transfer, WTO trade negotiations, the Sustainable Development Goals, and reform of international financial institutions.
Financial Action Task Force
India became a full member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in 2010, the global standard-setter for anti-money laundering (AML) and combating the financing of terrorism (CFT). FATF membership is critical for India's financial system integrity, and India has faced FATF scrutiny regarding Pakistan's compliance with CFT obligations. India's Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) is aligned with FATF recommendations.
International Solar Alliance
India co-founded the International Solar Alliance (ISA) with France at the COP21 in Paris (2015). Headquartered in Gurugram, India, the ISA is a treaty-based intergovernmental organisation with 120+ member countries focused on mobilising $1 trillion in solar energy investments by 2030. The ISA demonstrates India's leadership in climate action and renewable energy diplomacy.
Indian Ocean Rim Association
India is a founding member of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA, 1997), the primary regional organisation for the Indian Ocean region. IORA focuses on maritime safety, blue economy, fisheries management, disaster risk reduction, and connectivity. India has used IORA to advance its SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) policy for Indian Ocean maritime governance.
Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure
India co-founded and hosts the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI, 2019), a global partnership of 40+ countries and organisations to promote climate and disaster-resilient infrastructure systems. CDRI, headquartered in New Delhi, is a flagship Indian initiative demonstrating leadership in climate adaptation, complementing India's Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) for small island nations.
Ministry of Rural Development
Nodal ministry of Government of India responsible for rural development policies, programmes, and schemes including MGNREGA, PMAY-G, and DAY-NRLM.
Reserve Bank of India
India's central banking institution controlling monetary policy, currency issuance, and financial system regulation.
National Payments Corporation of India
An umbrella organisation for operating retail payment and settlement systems in India, including UPI, IMPS, and RuPay.
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
Nodal ministry of Government of India responsible for agriculture policy, crop insurance, farmer welfare, and food security.
Comptroller and Auditor General of India
Supreme audit institution of India, responsible for auditing the accounts of the Union and State governments.
Ministry of Finance
Nodal ministry of Government of India responsible for taxation, fiscal policy, financial sector regulation, and Union Budget preparation.
Ministry of Women and Child Development
Nodal ministry responsible for women's empowerment, child development, nutrition, and the ICDS programme.
Election Commission of India
Independent constitutional authority responsible for administering election processes in India. Published landmark electoral bond donor data after the Supreme Court's 2024 verdict, revealing over ₹12,155 crore in anonymous political donations.
Supreme Court of India
The highest judicial forum and final court of appeal under the Constitution of India. In February 2024, a five-judge Constitution Bench unanimously struck down the Electoral Bonds Scheme as unconstitutional, upholding citizens' right to information about political funding.
Indian Council of Medical Research
The apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research. Its COVID-19 testing database was the suspected source of India's largest data breach compromising 81.5 crore Aadhaar and passport records.
Indian Computer Emergency Response Team
The national nodal agency for cybersecurity incident response, operating under MeitY. CERT-In was notified of the 81.5 crore data breach in October 2023.
Unique Identification Authority of India
The statutory authority responsible for issuing Aadhaar numbers and managing the Aadhaar ecosystem. UIDAI was not the source of the breach but its database metadata was exposed through the ICMR breach.
Resecurity Inc.
A US-based cybersecurity firm whose HUNTER unit discovered the 81.5 crore Indian data breach on the dark web and alerted Indian authorities.