India urges UNSC reforms for Global South

At the UNSC Open Debate on Working Methods held in New York on August 20, 2026, India, represented by Charge d'Affaires Ambassador Yojna Patel, called for urgent reforms to the International — United Nations Security Council. Patel argued that the Council's structure, established in 1945, no longer reflects present-day realities and must be expanded in both permanent and non-permanent categories to give greater representation to the Global North and Global South. She emphasized that reforms should be pursued through text-based negotiations with clear milestones and timelines, and that working methods reform should be integrated with broader issues such as membership, regional representation, and the veto. India also demanded equal access to documents for all members, a defined role for troop- and police-contributing countries in peacekeeping decisions, and a fixed timeline for finalizing chairs of subsidiary bodies. Patel cautioned against using UNSC membership to politically legitimize or de-list terrorist entities, and called for stronger coordination between the Security Council and the International — United Nations General Assembly.