Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged the G-20 member states to reform the United Nations, the world's largest multilateral organization and which holds considerable sway over decisions related to global security and economics.
Modi added that although the UN has grown from 51 members at the time of its inception in 1945 to over 200 at present, permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) have remained unchanged at five.
Currently, the permanent members of the UNSC are the US, UK, France, China, and Russia.
"It is nature's law that those who don't change with times lose their relevance. We must consider with an open mind why many regional forums have emerged over the years and they too are proving effective", Modi said in his speech at the final session of the G-20 summit in the Indian capital on Sunday.
Stalled Expansion of UN Security Council
Along with fellow "Group of Four" (G4) countries, Japan, Brazil, and Germany, India has repeatedly demanded that the UNSC be expanded to admit them as permanent members. However, so far deliberations over the matter have not yielded results.
This was the second time in a week that Modi made a push for reforms at the UN.
Last Sunday, the Indian leader spoke at length about why reforming the UN should be a priority for all the countries of the world.
"Today's world is a multipolar world where institutions are extremely important for a rules-based order that is fair and sensitive to all concerns. However, institutions can retain relevance only when they change with the times", Modi noted.
"A mid-20th century approach cannot serve the world in the 21st century. So, our international institutions need to recognize changing realities, expand their decision-making forums, relook at their priorities, and ensure representation of voices that matter", he added.
Earlier this year, in a swipe at the slow process of UN reform, New Delhi alleged that over 75 years had passed without any tangible progress on the issue of expansion in the global body, and suggested it might take another 75 years to witness anything concrete emerge from the process.