India says UNSC permanent members without veto would be ‘second-class’

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, said all permanent members of a reformed Council must have veto powers as long as the provision exists.

Delegates gather for a UN Security Council meeting during the 81st session of the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly at U.N. Headquarters on September 28, 2026 in New York City. Photo | AFP

India has asserted that any reform of the UN Security Council that creates a new category of permanent members without veto powers would leave them as “second-class” members without altering the dominance of the existing five permanent members.

Addressing a UN General Assembly debate on the veto on Monday, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, said all permanent members of a reformed Council must have veto powers as long as the provision exists.

“India's position on the veto is principled and well known... We reiterate that as long as the veto exists, it must be held by all permanent members of a reformed Council,” he said at the Intergovernmental Negotiations plenary on Security Council reform.

Parvathaneni said creating a separate category of long-term members without veto powers would not change the existing decision-making dynamics, leaving the five permanent members, China, France, Russia, the UK and the US, with their current advantage.

He stressed that fairness and justice demanded equal rights and responsibilities for all permanent members.

Delivered India's statement at the UNGA Plenary on the use of the Veto Highlighted: ➡️ Veto is a responsibility, not a tool of narrow political expediency. We note that two of the P5 have not exercised veto for over three and a half decades. Most vetoes or threats of vetoes have emanated from three of the P5. ➡️ Piecemeal reforms will not work. All five clusters of UNSC reform must be addressed together. ➡️ Veto initiative of 2022 was seen as a harbinger of change. However, actual record of large number of vetoes cast since UNGA 76/262 tells a contrary story. ➡️ Unwritten consensus rules enable de facto vetoes in Council decisions and sanctions committees. ➡️ Consensus cannot become a disguised veto in the Inter Governmental Negotiations (IGN). ➡️ India aligns with the Common African Position: As long as the veto exists, all permanent members must enjoy equal rights. ➡️ New long-term seats without veto powers would create second-class members and perpetuate inequity. All permanent members, including new ones, must enjoy equal rights. ➡️ Begin text-based negotiations with clear timelines. The UNSC must reflect today's realities, not those of 1945.

— Parvathaneni Harish (@AmbHarishP) October 26, 2026

India has long called for expanding both the permanent and non-permanent categories of the 15-member Security Council, arguing that efforts focused only on increasing non-permanent membership would fall short of meaningful reform.

Founded in 1945, the Council has five permanent members with veto powers and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms. India has repeatedly argued that the body no longer reflects contemporary geopolitical realities and is ill-equipped to address the challenges of the 21st century.

New Delhi has been at the forefront of efforts to reform the Council and has consistently pressed its case for a permanent seat.

Separately, India is seeking a non-permanent seat for the 2028-29 term. It will contest the sole seat allocated to the Asia-Pacific Group against Tajikistan in elections scheduled for June 2027.

India last served on the Council in 2021-22, its eighth term. Its previous terms were 1950-51, 1967-68, 1972-73, 1977-78, 1984-85, 1991-92 and 2011-12.

(With inputs from PTI)