Permanent Mission of India
New York
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Informal meeting of the General Assembly: Taking Stock of the Pact for the Future – Ministerial Roundtable two: Making Multilateralism Fit for the Future

Statement by Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, Permanent Representative
14 July 2026 

Madam President,

I thank you for convening today’s Ministerial Roundtable. 

2. For India, making multilateralism fit for the future begins with ensuring that global institutions reflect contemporary realities. This underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reform of the Security Council, the revitalization of the General Assembly, and the stronger role for ECOSOC in advancing sustainable development in its three dimensions – economic, social and environmental.

3. Public perception about the UN has changed adversely in the recent past primarily due to the Security Council’s inability to meaningfully intervene in raging conflicts across different parts of the globe. The Security Council has been ineffective in putting an end to human suffering among the affected populations. The foundational principle for the establishment of the United Nations – maintenance of international peace and security – has therefore, been called to question.

4. The underlying reason for inadequacies of the Security Council is evident. An eighty year old architecture designed for the 1940s is ill-equipped to address contemporary challenges. As a collective, the UN has not been able to move the needle on reforming the Security Council. The discussions so far have been limited to an endless cycle of prepared statements under the IGN framework. Action points 39 to 41 have largely remained on paper. This is untenable and must change.

5. It needs mention in this context that the Pact’s action points on the IGN were not drafted by the Co-Facs of the Pact but by the then IGN Co-Chairs. India had significant reservations with regard to these action points. However, it was India’s constructive spirit that encouraged us to go along broadly with the Pact.

6. At the same time, Madam President, the international financial architecture too must also evolve to better serve the needs and priorities of developing countries. Adequate, affordable and predictable financing remains indispensable for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. International financial institutions should become more representative, responsive and development-oriented, while preserving their mandates.

7. In closing, India emphasizes that we will continue to support all genuine efforts to implement reforms in global governance institutions, including the UN Security Council and the IFIs. Our joint endeavor must be to make these institutions fit for purpose, equipped to handle the present and future challenges of humanity.

I thank you Madam President.

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