India has called for meaningful reforms of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), asserting that the global body's structure cannot continue to be determined by the geopolitical realities of 1945 and must reflect the contemporary world order, ANI reported from New York on Friday, October 23.

Source: ANI via Daily Prabhat

Addressing the UN General Assembly on the question of equitable representation and increasing the membership of the Security Council, India's Permanent Representative, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, said the Council's composition must evolve to remain relevant and legitimate, with expansion in both permanent and non-permanent categories, The Hindu BusinessLine reported.

Source: The Hindu BusinessLine

"No war, especially one that took place over 80 years ago, should determine today's state of the world. 1945 cannot be held as the sole reference point for today's United Nations and today's generation that is far removed from the time when this organisation was formed," Harish said. "We cannot reasonably drive into the future by constantly looking at the rearview mirror," he added.

'Crafted of the victors, for the victors'

In a statement shared on X, Harish highlighted the historical sacrifices made during the World Wars, including the contribution of Indian soldiers. "Around 2.5 million Indians took part in the war and around 90,000 of them died in military service. Over 4 million were killed in the infamous Bengal famine due to colonial war policies," he said — yaani 25 lakh (2.5 million) Indian participants and over 40 lakh (4 million) famine deaths. He argued that a global governance structure crafted "of the victors, for the victors and by the victors" did not care to include the concerns of the victims.

>60%Asia-Pacific share of the world's population, with only one permanent UNSC member
15+ yearsof Intergovernmental Negotiations without a negotiating text, timeline or defined outcome
2.5 millionIndians who took part in the World Wars — yaani 25 lakh

'Not negotiation, merely perpetuation of status quo'

Harish criticised the slow pace of the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on Security Council reform, noting that the process had continued for more than a decade and a half without a negotiating text, a clear timeline or a defined outcome. "That is not negotiation; it is merely perpetuation of status quo," he said, urging the co-chairs to move from the existing Elements Paper to a negotiating text that captures the positions of member states.

India stressed that Asia-Pacific, Africa and Latin America remain inadequately represented in the Council. "A reform that expands only the non-permanent category leaves the central imbalance untouched and further entrenches the status quo," Harish said. On veto powers, he said India's position remained unchanged: if the veto continues to exist, it must be available to all permanent members, existing and new, to prevent institutionalising inequality. He also called for greater transparency in the Council's working methods, including better representation for troop- and police-contributing countries.

Warning that delays were undermining the UN's credibility, Harish said: "We hope the 81st session will mark the point at which this process finally acquires a text, a timeline and a destination." India reaffirmed that it would continue engaging constructively with member states to advance meaningful Security Council reform.