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The monthly magazine, September 2026 · Global Affairs and International Relations › United Nations and Security Council reform

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The 81st General Assembly and India's case for Security Council reform

LeadPrelims and MainsSeptember 2026

Why in news

On 26 September 2026 the External Affairs Minister addressed the 81st United Nations General Assembly, calling for reformed multilateralism and answering Pakistan's Prime Minister on terrorism. Two days earlier the G4 had called for early reform of the Security Council. In July India had launched its campaign for a non permanent seat for 2028-29.

Background

The Security Council has five permanent members with a veto and ten non permanent members elected for two years by a two thirds vote of the Assembly. India has served eight terms, the last in 2021-22.
Reform has been discussed in the Intergovernmental Negotiations since 2009, with no single negotiating text, which is why nothing moves.
Any change needs an amendment of the Charter under Article 108: two thirds of the Assembly, and ratification by two thirds of members including all five permanent members.
The 81st session's President is Bangladesh's Foreign Minister, elected in June; this is the Secretary General's last Assembly, his term ending on 31 December 2026.

India's case

The world is multipolar; the Council's permanent membership is that of 1945, and its only enlargement, of the elected seats, came in 1965. Africa, Latin America and India have no permanent seat.
India asks for text based negotiations, so that there is something to negotiate line by line.
The G4 (India, Brazil, Germany, Japan) asks for more permanent and non permanent seats; India is a member of the L.69 group of developing countries and seeks common ground with the African Union's Common African Position.
Support this quarter: Luxembourg; China and Russia in the BRICS declaration for a greater role for India and Brazil; India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) ministers for permanent seats for India and Brazil and for Africa.

The Security Council's fifteen seats, the Article 108 path to amending the Charter, and the coalitions behind India's bid.Source: Charter of the United Nations; Ministry of External Affairs

Terrorism and Pakistan at the Assembly

Pakistan's Prime Minister raised Kashmir and the Indus treaty and credited the United States with the 2025 ceasefire.
India, without naming Pakistan, called it a serial practitioner of terrorism, said terrorism must not be normalised, and reaffirmed its right to defend itself.
India's Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, proposed in 1996, is still stalled over the definition of terrorism.

India's stakes

A permanent seat is the longest running aim of Indian foreign policy; the non permanent seat for 2028-29 is the nearer prize.
The selection of the next Secretary General is a test of whether the Global South gets a larger voice.
India presents itself as first responder in disasters and a partner in capacity building, especially in Africa.

The way forward

Press for a single text in the negotiations, the one procedural change that would make reform possible.
Build the African coalition, since Africa's 54 votes and its own claim to permanent seats decide any two thirds majority.
Separate the near goal, the 2028-29 seat, from the long one, and campaign for it on India's record.

Prelims facts

Security Council: 5 permanent, 10 non permanent; election by two thirds of the Assembly.
India has served eight terms, the last 2021-22; it seeks 2028-29.
Article 108: Charter amendment needs two thirds of the Assembly and ratification by two thirds of members including all five permanent members.
The President of the 81st Assembly is from Bangladesh.
India proposed the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in 1996.

Earlier coverage: India and Security Council reform · The monthly magazine, September 2026