India has presented a detailed model on behalf of the G4 nations for Security Council reform that includes new permanent members elected democratically by the General Assembly and displays flexibility on the veto issue.

Participating in the Inter-governmental Negotiations on Security Council reform (IGN) on March 7, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said the UN’s 80th anniversary next year serves as a milestone to achieve concrete progress on the long-pending subject.

Ms. Kamboj presented the ‘G4 model’ on behalf of Brazil, Germany, Japan and India for debate, dialogue and finally negotiations. The proposals elicited strong support from wider UN members.

“The realities of 1945, when the Council was established, have long been superseded by the geo-political realities of the modern era and a new century; with the need for change being felt across the board,” Ms. Kamboj said as she shared the exhaustive G4 model with UN Member States in the General Assembly.

Catering to these new realities, the G4 model proposes that the Security Council’s membership increase from the current 15 to 25-26, by adding six permanent and four or five non-permanent members.

Among the six new permanent members, two each are proposed to be from African states and Asia Pacific states, one from Latin American and Caribbean states; and one from Western European and Other states.

The G4 model notes that the current composition of the Security Council, with its “glaring under-representation and un-representation” of key regions in both categories of membership, is “detrimental” to its legitimacy and effectiveness. It stressed that the Council’s inability to address critical conflicts and maintain international peace and security underscores the urgent need for reform.

“Any reform that does not address the lack of representation, particularly in the permanent category, would only exacerbate the current imbalances in the Council’s composition and render it ill-equipped to address today’s international challenges,” she said.

Ms. Kamboj highlighted that it is important to note that the G4 model “does not specify” which member states will occupy the new permanent seats. “This decision will be made by the General Assembly in a democratic and inclusive election.”

She told the UN membership that the world has undergone a sea change since 1945 and the new realities need to be reflected in the permanent membership. “Any proposal that does not address the issue of representation of the Global South, including Africa, Asia and Latin America, in the permanent category does a grave injustice to the aspirations of developing countries for equality.”

The G4 model offered flexibility on the veto, an issue that has been a contentious topic among member states as they try to move the needle forward on the reform process that has moved at a snail’s pace over the years.

“While the new permanent members would, as a principle, have the same responsibilities and obligations as current permanent members, they shall not exercise the veto until a decision on the matter has been taken during a review,” Ms. Kamboj said.

“Nonetheless, we should not allow the veto issue to have a “veto” over the process of Council reform itself. Our proposal is also a gesture of displaying flexibility on the issue for a constructive negotiation,” she said.

Currently, only the five permanent members — China, France, Russia, the U.K. and the U.S. — hold veto powers and through its use have stalled action in the Council to address global challenges and conflicts such as in Ukraine and Gaza.

The remaining 10 nations in the Council are elected to sit as non-permanent members for two-year terms and do not have veto powers.

Highlighting the urgency for reform, Ms. Kamboj said the world and the future generations can wait no longer. The ambitious Summit of the Future scheduled to be held at the UN this September and the 80th anniversary of the United Nations next year are “important milestones towards which we should aim to make concrete progress. We must push forward a reform heeding the voice of the young and future generations, including from Africa, where the demand to correct the historical injustices grows ever stronger. Otherwise, we simply risk sending the Council down the path of oblivion and irrelevance”.

France’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Nicolas De Riviere said his country has long supported the candidacy of India, Japan, Brazil and Germany for permanent membership.

“In addition, France fully subscribes to the spirit of the model for comprehensive reform of the Security Council which has just been presented. It is in line with the strong expectations expressed by the vast majority of this Assembly,” he said, responding to the G4 model.

The U.S. said it is clear that the strong majority of UN member states, including all 54 African countries, support expanding both permanent and non-permanent seats on the Security Council.

“For the Security Council to best derive the benefits of both categories, it is important that both the permanent and non-permanent membership be representative of the world as it is today, not the world as it existed in the wake of the Second World War.”

India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ruchira Kamboj on October 10 (local time) said that the G20 Summit held in New Delhi showcased the country’s commitment to “fostering a sense of global togetherness.”

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She highlighted various instances when India practised ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, which means the world is a family. In her opening remarks at the ‘International Conference on ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ held at United Nations Headquarters in New York, Ms. Kamboj said, “The recent G20 summit is an event that showcased India’s commitment to fostering a sense of global togetherness. Our leadership, marked by inclusivity and collaboration, saw the participation of 20 member states, nine invitee nations, and 14 international organisations. What is more, it witnessed the historic inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member, amplifying the voices of nations often left unheard,” she added.

Notably, the theme for India’s G20 Presidency was ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ or ‘One Earth One Family One Future’. The G20 Leaders Summit hosted in Delhi from September 9-10 drew the highest-ever contingent of world leaders and dignitaries in the event’s history, including U.S. President Joe Biden and the Prime Minister of the U.K. Rishi Sunak.

Ms. Kamboj recalled PM Modi emphasising the significance of women-led development at the G20 Summit. She stressed that ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ finds expression in the empowerment of women. She also recalled PM Modi’s remarks regarding India’s model of financial inclusion in leveraging technology.”

At the G20 Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the significance of women-led development, highlighting that nearly 45% of STEM graduates in India are women. And indeed, ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ finds expression in the empowerment of women, who now play pivotal roles in India’s space programme, business landscape, and various fields,” she said.

“Again, the Indian Prime Minister also highlighted India’s model of financial inclusion in leveraging technology to make development increasingly equitable. Using this model, India has transferred 360 billion dollars directly to the bank accounts of those in need over the past decade. As the World Bank has acknowledged, this model has successfully achieved a financial inclusion rate in six years which would have taken 47 years to achieve,” she added.

Citing industry estimates, Ms. Kamboj said the costs incurred by banks for onboarding customers in India due to the use of its digital public infrastructure decreased from $23 to $0.1. Emphasising that yoga embodies the concept of unity, Ms. Kamboj stated that the International Day of Yoga, celebrated annually at the UN Headquarters, “brings people from diverse nationalities together in a harmonious union of body and mind, emphasising our shared humanity.”

“This year yoga day held a special significance as we were led by Prime Minister Modi himself, achieving a remarkable feat by setting a Guinness World Record for the largest number of nationalities participating in a single yoga session,” she said. Ms. Kamboj stressed that India consistently extended a helping hand in the face of global challenges, adding that the country’s abiding commitment to ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ was evident even during the COVID-19 pandemic as New Delhi provided vaccines and medicines to more than 100 countries through the ‘Vaccine Maitri’ initiative.

Highlighting India’s assistance to the international community during natural calamities, Ruchira Kamboj said, “’Operation Dost’ saw India extending life-saving humanitarian medical assistance to countries such as Turkey and Syria, reinforcing the belief that the world is indeed one family, and in times of need, we stand united.”

She stated that PM Modi’s launch of ‘Mission LiFE’ emphasises the importance of mindful and deliberate utilisation of resources to protect the environment, demonstrating India’s dedication to a sustainable global family. In her opening remarks at the ‘International Conference on Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,’ Ms. Kamboj spoke about India’s friendship with nations of the Global South, saying that New Delhi has offered training to 2,00,000 individuals from more than 160 countries, considering the unique needs of its partners.

“India’s friendship with the nations of the Global South is no less exceptional and inspiring. Our development partnerships have extended to encompass 78 nations across diverse regions. Within these collaborative efforts, we have initiated 600 projects, illustrating our goodwill and capacity,” Ms. Kamboj said.

“At the heart of our approach is the belief that progress should be inclusive and borderless. We have also offered training to 2,00,000 individuals from more than 160 countries, always considering the unique needs of our partners. Our journey has been guided by the Kampala principles enunciated by Prime Minister Modi in 2018, which serve as the compass steering us towards our partners’ needs,” she added.

She called for educating young about diverse cultures, promoting cross-cultural dialogues, and celebrating shared humanity. She said, “Let us focus on our shared dreams and values, rather than the differences that divide us.” In her remarks, Ms. Kamboj also quoted Mahatma Gandhi, saying, “The greatness of humanity is not in being human but in being humane.”

She added that ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ is a call for action and recognising the shared destiny to come together in the face of adversity. “I would like to emphasise that “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” is more than a lofty ideal. It is a call to action, urging us to recognise our shared destiny, to come together in the face of adversity, and to build a world where every individual, no matter where they come from, is treated as part of this grand, global family,” Ms. Kamboj said.

She said the phrase — ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ — has travelled through millennia, reminding people that beneath the apparent divisions of nationality, religion and culture everyone shares the same human essence. ”Our fates are intertwined, our dreams interlinked, and our challenges interconnected,” she added.