India has called for major reforms in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), saying the organisation is struggling to deal effectively with some of the world’s most serious conflicts. India believes the Council’s current structure does not reflect the political and economic realities of the modern world. It has urged the United Nations to make the Council more representative, fair, and effective.
India has argued that an organisation created after the Second World War must change to meet today’s challenges. The country believes the existing system gives too much power to a small group of nations while leaving many other countries with limited representation in important international decisions.
India Says the UN Must Change With the World
Harish Parvathaneni, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, stressed that international organisations must adapt as the world changes. He warned that institutions that refuse to reform could gradually lose the trust of the countries they are meant to serve.
The United Nations was established in 1945 to promote international peace, security, and cooperation. The Security Council plays an important role in addressing conflicts and responding to threats to global peace.
However, India believes the Council’s structure still reflects the balance of power that existed at the end of the Second World War. Since then, many countries have gained political and economic importance, and new security challenges have emerged. India argues that these changes should be reflected in the Council’s membership and decision-making process.
Parvathaneni said decisions made many decades ago should not permanently determine how the world is governed today. He emphasised that the current generation expects a system based on fairness, equality, and wider participation.
Five Powerful Countries Hold Veto Rights
The UN Security Council has 15 members, including five permanent members and ten non-permanent members. The five permanent members are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
These five countries have veto power, which allows any one of them to block most major decisions, even when other members support them. This special power has been a major point of debate in discussions about reforming the Council.
India believes that this arrangement gives the five permanent members greater influence over international decisions. It has called for a system that gives more countries a meaningful role in decisions affecting global peace and security.
India has also pointed out that regions such as Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America do not have permanent representation on the Council. These regions are home to a large share of the world’s population, yet their countries do not have the same permanent status as the five existing members.
India Wants Better Representation for Developing Nations
India has repeatedly supported expanding the Security Council to include more countries, especially developing nations. It believes the Council should reflect the world as it exists today rather than continue to follow a structure created more than 80 years ago.
According to India’s position, adding more non-permanent members alone would not be enough. The country wants changes that give underrepresented regions a stronger and more lasting voice in global decision-making.
India has also stressed the importance of recognising countries that contribute troops and police personnel to United Nations peacekeeping missions. These personnel often work in difficult and dangerous conditions to protect civilians and maintain peace in conflict areas.
India believes that countries making such contributions should have a greater role in discussions about peacekeeping and international security.
India Criticises the Slow Reform Process
Parvathaneni also raised concerns about the slow progress of negotiations on Security Council reform. Discussions have continued for years, but countries have struggled to reach an agreement on major changes.
India believes the negotiation process should become more transparent, effective, and focused on achieving results. It has criticised an approach that allows discussions to continue without producing meaningful progress.
The country wants reforms that bring real changes to the Council’s membership and decision-making system. It believes small adjustments that leave the existing power structure unchanged will not address the main problems.
However, reform remains difficult because countries have different opinions about the number of new members, the powers they should receive, and the future role of the veto.
India Seeks a Stronger Role in the United Nations
India has long sought a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. It believes its large population, growing international role, and contributions to peacekeeping support its demand for greater representation.
India is also seeking a non-permanent seat on the Council for the 2028–29 term. Such a seat would give India a temporary role in the Council, but it would not provide permanent membership or veto power.
India has maintained that if new permanent members are added, they should receive equal rights and responsibilities, including the same veto powers as the existing permanent members. This proposal remains part of the wider debate over how the Council should be reformed.
Conclusion
India’s demand for Security Council reform reflects its concern that the current system does not fully represent today’s international community. The country wants a Council that is more inclusive, transparent, and effective in responding to global conflicts.
India believes countries from Asia, Africa, and Latin America deserve a stronger voice in decisions that affect international peace and security. It has also called for greater recognition of countries that contribute to UN peacekeeping operations.
Although discussions on reform continue, major changes will require agreement among UN member states. India maintains that reform should go beyond minor adjustments and create a fairer system that reflects the realities and needs of the modern world.