United Nations owes $70 million to India on account of its expenditure on troop deployment for peacekeeping operations in various countries, Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.

In a reply, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the dues to India was part of nearly $706 million that the UN owed to member countries for their participation in peacekeeping operations.

The delay in making payments to India and other troop contributing countries is mainly due to some member states withholding or delaying their mandatory financial contribution to the world body, the minister said.

The Indian government continues to actively follow up this matter with UN authorities as well as the other member states, he said, adding that the government has raised this issue in the UN General Assembly and its advisory committee on the administrative and budgetary questions.

India continues to be one of the largest troop contributors to UN peacekeeping operations, notwithstanding delays in reimbursement of dues, the minister informed the House.