India has reiterated its demand for comprehensive reforms of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), highlighting the need for changes across several key areas: membership categories, regional representation, the council’s size, working methods, and the use of veto power. Speaking at the United Nations, India’s Permanent Representative, Parvathaneni Harish, emphasized that these reforms should be addressed collectively rather than isolating the veto issue.
Harish underscored the significant responsibility that comes with the veto power, urging that it be exercised with restraint, especially in matters pertaining to international peace and security. He criticized the current system, where veto power is the prerogative of the five permanent members—United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China—arguing that its disproportionate use by a select few has compromised the council’s credibility and efficiency.
The Indian representative noted that the veto has been employed 331 times throughout the history of the United Nations, predominantly by three of the five permanent members. He referenced a 2022 initiative mandating the UN General Assembly to hold a debate whenever a veto is cast, a move aimed at enhancing accountability.
India’s call for reform includes a proposal that any new framework for permanent membership should ensure equal rights and responsibilities, including equal access to veto power. Harish warned that introducing a separate category of permanent members without equivalent veto rights could further complicate the reform process.
In addition to its own reform agenda, India reaffirmed its support for the Common African Position, which advocates for a unified African Union strategy in reforming the Security Council. This stance aligns with India’s broader push for a more representative and accountable Security Council, one that can effectively address contemporary global challenges.