India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador P. Harish, has reaffirmed India’s stance that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) no longer reflects contemporary global realities. 

Speaking at the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) Plenary – Cluster Debate on Working Methods on February 27, 2025, he emphasized that the Council’s core structure, unchanged for eight decades, is outdated and in urgent need of reform.

To fulfill its functional mandate, meet public expectations, and maintain relevance, the Security Council must adapt to the present, he asserted. “I align myself with the statements delivered by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on behalf of L-69 and Brazil on behalf of G-4,” Ambassador Harish said, highlighting the widespread demand for reform within the Chamber. He stressed that previous speakers had already underlined the urgent need to prioritize UNSC reforms.

Despite broad consensus among Member States on the necessity of reform, little progress has been made, he noted. “We have had numerous discussions and debates. We speak passionately, but we continue to be where we are,” he remarked.

Ambassador Harish urged the Council to move beyond endless discussions. “We cannot afford to waste more time exchanging ideas without action. The time to move forward and deliver results is now,” he declared.

Against this backdrop, he recommended a few points including that the Security Council must actively engage with the broader UN membership, particularly through an analytical discussion on its report in the General Assembly, rather than just presenting facts. Transparency in its subsidiary bodies must improve, especially regarding decisions on listing requests, which are currently controlled by a select few. The concerns of troop- and police-contributing nations should be prioritized in peacekeeping mandates, as exemplified by India’s significant contributions. Outdated agenda items should be removed to prevent political misuse. Lastly, reforms must be addressed holistically rather than in isolated clusters.

Ambassador Harish emphasized that real reforms cannot be delayed indefinitely through the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) process, which lacks a clear timeline and actionable text. He urged the adoption of a structured approach with fixed deadlines, starting with reforming the IGN process itself.

India supports Food Fortification Project in Lao PDR

In a separate development, the Government of India (GoI) has extended a grant of approximately USD 1 million to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) under the India-UN Development Partnership Fund. The funding will support the project “Strengthening Large-Scale Food Fortification: The Case of Investing in Rice Fortification,” in response to a request from the Lao PDR government.

Implemented by the World Food Programme, the initiative aims to enhance food fortification programs, improve long-term nutrition strategies, strengthen food systems, increase dietary diversity, and combat micronutrient deficiencies in Lao PDR.

India’s support for this project reflects its longstanding and multifaceted partnership with Lao PDR. Established by the GoI in June 2017, the India-UN Development Partnership Fund supports projects in developing nations aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Fund prioritizes South-South cooperation, national ownership, sustainability, and local capacity development. To date, India has committed USD 150 million to the Fund, supporting 85 projects across 65 countries.

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