India Pushes for Urgent UN Security Council Overhaul at General Assembly

India has warned that the United Nations Security Council is struggling to bring peace to global conflicts because its structure is outdated. Speaking at the UN General Assembly on Thursday, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni stated that an organisation unable to renew its main body will lose its authority in a world that has moved far beyond 1945. He noted that authority won from victory in the Second World War cannot make up for the lack of legitimacy in an unrepresentative council today.

Historical Inequities And Representation

Mr. Parvathaneni pointed out that the 15-nation council currently has five permanent veto-wielding members from China, France, Russia, the UK, and the U.S., alongside 10 elected members serving two-year terms. He highlighted major regional gaps, noting that the Asia-Pacific Group represents over half of the global population yet has very limited seats, while Europe holds multiple permanent and elected positions. The envoy also recalled that around 2.5 million Indians took part in the world wars with 90,000 military deaths, while millions more died in the Bengal famine caused by colonial policies. He stated that the UN was originally crafted by the victors and ignored the concerns of victims.

Reform And Negotiation Process

India is running for a non-permanent seat for the 2028-29 term and wants to expand both permanent and non-permanent categories. Mr. Parvathaneni criticized the Intergovernmental Negotiations process for lacking a text, timeframe, or end goal after more than a decade and a half of discussions, calling it a way to keep things the same. He also maintained that if the veto power exists, all permanent members, both old and new, must hold it equally to prevent a two-tier system of inequality.

Context

The UN Security Council is the main global body responsible for maintaining international peace and security, but its core membership rules have remained largely unchanged since the end of World War II. Developing nations like India argue that this structure no longer reflects modern economic and demographic realities.