India has reiterated its call for comprehensive reforms to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), emphasizing the need to address various issues, including membership categories, regional representation, council size, working methods, and veto power. Speaking at the United Nations, India’s Permanent Representative, Parvathaneni Harish, highlighted the importance of tackling these issues collectively rather than isolating the veto power question.
Harish underscored the significant responsibility that comes with veto power, urging its use to be restrained, especially concerning matters of international peace and security. He criticized the current system, where veto power is concentrated with the five permanent members—United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China—arguing that it often serves narrow political interests and undermines the council’s credibility and effectiveness.
Highlighting historical data, Harish noted the veto had been used 331 times in the UN’s history, predominantly by three of the five permanent members. He pointed to a 2022 initiative aimed at enhancing accountability by mandating UN General Assembly debates whenever a veto is cast.
India stressed that any new permanent membership framework should ensure equal rights and responsibilities, including equal access to veto power. It warned against creating a separate category of permanent members without equivalent veto rights, which could complicate the reform process further. Harish reaffirmed India’s support for the Common African Position, advocating for a unified African Union approach to reforming the Security Council.
The call for reform reflects India’s broader push for a more representative and accountable Security Council, capable of effectively addressing contemporary global challenges.