The path is just complicated for Indians. It helps to know the UN languages. Your referees and relevant experience matter and then you need to have someone internally pushing for you. The last thing may be because they trust the person who recommends you, which could be a prof from a good university, or a nepo uncle. It's like everything else. Easier with connections or you can do it the hard way and figure out how to get there by making your own connections.

The post was a genuine attempt with some useful information, even if some of it was opinion, but that does not preclude a featured tag.

Regarding Amnesty: moving from Amnesty to the UN is surely not miles away, and the contacts you'll make in top international NGO like Amnesty will likely include UN people or others who can help you get a foot in the door.

You don't necessarily need political contacts. And UPSC will only open the door to the Indian Foreign Service. As for employment with the UN or any other International organisation, an international degree helps a lot. One person that I know did his LLM abroad in International Criminal Law after LLB from SLS Pune and went onto join Amnesty International; which pays very well, work is kick-ass and you get to visit some truly macabre places (if that's your thing).Some organisations and think tanks help you intern at these organisations. For instance, Think India takes periodic applications for an internship with Aniruddha Rajput (who himself is a lawyer), India's representative at the UNILC, which I have heard is absolutely great and certainly makes it easier to have an international career.

An LLM in PIL from Leiden or Georgetown may increase your chances (location is everything). Also, narrow down the kind of work you want to do. Typically, economics or IR related work requires specialised study from an Ivy League institution coupled with good work experience.

It's always been about politics and nepotism, ever since Nehru appointed his sister Vijaylakshmi Pandit as India's representative to the UN during his reign, without her even having a college degree.

I know a graduate of a top NLU who was a dumbo in college but got a prestigious UN assignment in Geneva because his father is a political bigshot. This was a BJP appointment, so don't look at it politically: all parties, regardless of ideology, follow this.

But here is probably the worst example in our lifetime: Modi appointed a rank amateur with RSS links as India's representative to the International Law Commission, sharing space with top law professors and former Attorney Generals of other countries.

https://thewire.in/diplomacy/pmo-foists-junior-lawyer-rss-links-indian-nominee-top-world-legal-body

https://thewire.in/external-affairs/young-lawyer-with-rss-links-nominated-to-international-law-commission

Bump for late moderation and interesting question. Have also heard anecdotally that it's probably easier to get in with contacts and with prior relevant experience in the public policy / NGO space, but a lot of their jobs are advertised on the UN jobs portal and if you apply for a suitable job, the chance of getting in is probably larger than 0, right?

Has anyone heard of anyone making it purely via the application portal?