On one hand, the United Nations is celebrating the 80th anniversary of its establishment. On the other hand, the UN is under criticism for not taking strict action in matters like war and climate change. US President Donald Trump has openly called the UN a failed organization and has raised questions on its future role. Meanwhile, India has expressed its desire to play a bigger role in the UN. India has said that change is necessary in the UN to maintain relevance.
India says that unless there is a change in the number of permanent and temporary members of the United Nations, there is no scope for improvement. The United Nations Organization was established in 1945 after the Second World War.
Speaking at a debate at the United Nations in September 2025, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said - When conflicts threaten peace, when development is derailed by lack of resources, when terrorism violates human rights, then the United Nations remains stuck in deadlock. As its ability to build consensus diminishes, confidence in multilateralism also diminishes.
According to Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, the United Nations is currently in crisis. To correct this, both the permanent and temporary membership of the UN Council should be expanded. India will play its full role in this reform.
In this speech, Jaishankar also mentioned the work done by India during the worldwide crisis. He said the people of Afghanistan and Myanmar saw India extending a helping hand during the recent earthquakes. Our soldiers ensure safe trade in the Arabian Sea.
There are 5 permanent and 10 non-permanent members in the United Nations Security Council. The names of America, China, Russia, Britain and France are included in the list of permanent members. The names of temporary members keep changing from time to time. However, now many permanent members like Russia and France say that change is necessary.
Recently, in a debate, UN General Assembly President Annalena Barebock advocated for making India a permanent member. Barebock said that if countries like India get permanent membership, the credibility of the UN can increase.
