Maldives wins UNGA elections

• Maldives has won the election to the post of the President of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
• Maldives candidate, Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid won the election with 143 votes, out of a total of 191 votes cast.
• diplomatic victory for India
• first time the Maldives has presented a candidate for the Presidency of the General Assembly.
• Maldives joined the United Nations in 1965, soon after gaining independence"

UNGA: United Nations General Assembly

• One of the six principal organs of the United Nations
• Year of formation: 1945
• HQ: New york, USA
• Main governing body of the organisation and is also the most representative body in the UN.
• All the members of the UN are represented in the UNGA (193 members).

Headed by its President, who is elected for a term of one year.

• Meets annually in its headquarters in New York City, generally in the month of September.
• Decisions are taken by voting.( each member one vote).
• In 1953, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit became the eight President of the UNGA, the only Indian GA President