Jaishankar at UNGA: India Will Defend Itself Against Terrorism – 27 September 2026

What happened

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar delivered India's national statement at the General Debate of the 81st UN General Assembly session. He said India will exercise its right to defend itself against terrorism and that friendship and goodwill cannot coexist with terrorism. Without naming Pakistan, he referred to a "serial practitioner of terrorism" that had misrepresented facts before the Assembly and sought to normalise terrorism.

Background

The speech followed Pakistan's address at UNGA. India has repeatedly used multilateral platforms to press for accountability for state-backed terrorism and for reformed multilateralism, including UN Security Council reform.

Why it matters for exams

UNGA speeches, India's counter-terrorism stance and UNSC reform are staples of UPSC GS-II (IR) and appear in SSC and banking current affairs.

Key facts for exams

• Forum: 81st UN General Assembly, General Debate
• Speaker: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar
• UNHQ: New York; UN founded 1945; 193 members
• Themes: right of self-defence against terrorism; accountability for state-backed terror; reformed multilateralism
• MEA: Ministry of External Affairs; HQ New Delhi

Practice MCQs

1. Who delivered India's national statement at the 81st UNGA General Debate in September 2026?

   (A) Prime Minister Narendra Modi
   (B) S. Jaishankar
   (C) Droupadi Murmu
   (D) Ajit Doval

   Answer: (B) – EAM Jaishankar delivered the statement.

2. The United Nations General Assembly ordinarily meets at which headquarters city?

   (A) Geneva
   (B) Vienna
   (C) New York
   (D) The Hague

   Answer: (C) – UNHQ is in New York.

3. How many member states does the United Nations currently have?

   (A) 190
   (B) 191
   (C) 193
   (D) 195

   Answer: (C) – The UN has 193 member states.

Source: India Today / national media coverage of UNGA address, 27 September 2026.