India concerned over UN liquidity, high arrears

India has voiced concern over the United Nations’ “challenging” liquidity situation this year, saying unpaid assessments remain at unacceptably high levels and that more than 90 percent of the regular budget arrears are owed by one member state.

Counsellor in India’s Permanent Mission to the U.N. Surendra Adhana made the remarks Monday, October 19, in India’s national statement at the 81st Main Session of the Fifth Committee of the U.N. General Assembly. The session was on improving the financial situation of the United Nations.

Adhana said full, timely and unconditional payment of assessed contributions is the Charter obligation of every member state. He said the liquidity situation in 2026 stayed challenging because of uncertainty over collections and a low cash balance.

He noted a marginal drop in unpaid regular budget assessments, to $1.46 billion from $1.87 billion a year ago. But he said the level remained unacceptably high.

Adhana called the financial situation in U.N. peacekeeping “more worrisome.” Unpaid peacekeeping assessments rose to $4.1 billion from $3.7 billion last year, he said, while collections stagnated at around 1.4 billion. Two member states account for about 88 percent of that amount, he said.

He welcomed the fact that 141 member states had paid their assessments in full by September 30 this year, compared with 136 last year. He said the respite from strong third-quarter collections needs to be sustained.

Adhana urged all member states, especially those with the means, to act quickly to meet their financial obligations. He said this is critical to a financially healthy U.N. with zero indebtedness and is part of prudent budgetary and financial management of the organization.

India has consistently paid its assessments in full, on time and often in advance, he said. This year, India was among 55 member states that paid their regular budget assessments in full within the 30-day due period. It paid $35.18 million in February.

The United States is the largest financial contributor to the United Nations, paying 22 percent of the regular budget and 27 percent of the peacekeeping budget. In September, Washington paid $725 million toward the regular budget and $102 million for peacekeeping, but it still owes more than $4 billion in regular budget and peacekeeping arrears. The U.S. and China are the top two contributors to peacekeeping. China paid $641.4 million toward its regular budget contributions in September.