India has expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of the recent ‘Summit of the Future’ (SOTF), particularly regarding reforms to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
On Monday, India’s permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, highlighted that the intergovernmental negotiations input for the summit did not adequately address the pressing need for Security Council reforms and its expansion.
Speaking at the UN, Ambassador Harish recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address at the SOTF, where Modi had emphasised that reforms were key to ensuring the UN's continued relevance.
Harish stated that while India’s approach to the pact aligned with its vision of inclusive and sustainable development, the summit's outcomes failed to sufficiently tackle critical issues related to the UNSC.
India has long advocated for an expanded Security Council, reflecting the changing global dynamics, especially with a focus on more inclusive representation.
The Ambassador voiced disappointment that the views of the majority of UN member states, particularly on expanding the council in both permanent and non-permanent categories, were not adequately reflected in the summit’s conclusions. India was also hoping for a firm timeline for text-based negotiations, which, according to Harish, were not addressed to the extent India had hoped.
In his address, Ambassador Harish reiterated India’s call for urgent and comprehensive reforms to the UNSC. He stated that the council must be expanded to include more permanent and non-permanent members to better represent the realities of today’s world, especially to reflect the interests of developing nations.
India, along with other member states, has been advocating for a more democratic and inclusive Security Council that can effectively address global challenges.
Ambassador Harish further emphasised that the world’s ambition for global action must match the reality of international efforts, particularly in areas such as digital governance, food security, health security, energy security, and climate finance.
He pointed out that under India’s civilizational vision of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" (the world is one family), India has worked towards making the pact more human-centric and amplifying the voice of the Global South.
The broader goal, according to India, is the realisation of a prosperous and developed nation by 2047, with sustainable development and human welfare at its core.
The Ambassador also stressed the need for stronger international financial institutions. He pointed out that although there has been some progress on reforming the international financial architecture, more work is required.
He cited the G20 New Delhi leaders’ declaration as a positive step but insisted that the international financial system must become more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient.
Ambassador Harish appreciated the inclusion of a strong condemnation of terrorism in the pact, calling it a serious threat to global peace and security. He also highlighted the emerging challenges in areas such as cyber, maritime, and space, which could become new arenas for global conflict.
He called for a more robust framework for global digital governance, stressing that such governance should ensure national sovereignty and integrity while promoting open and inclusive processes for digital infrastructure development.
India’s quest for a permanent seat in the UNSC has gained momentum, with increasing support from the international community. Currently, the UNSC consists of 15 members, including five permanent members with veto power—China, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and the United States—and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.
India has consistently argued that the composition of the council, formed after World War II, no longer reflects the realities of global politics and needs to be updated to include a more diverse representation, particularly from the developing world.
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