Context:

• Recently, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer added his voice to a growing chorus for India’s inclusion as a permanent member of UNSC. Starmer’s strong support follows similar endorsements from leaders of the United States and France.

About UNSC:

• The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) was established in 1946 as one of the six principal organs of the UN. It is generally viewed as the apex of the UN system. 
• It is responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security. 
• Its powers include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of international sanctions, and the authorization of military action through Security Council resolutions.
• It is the only UN body with the authority to issue binding resolutions to member states.

Membership

• UNSC consists of 15 Members.
• The council has five permanent members (P-5) United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom and France. 
• These permanent members can veto any substantive Security Council resolutions, including those on the admission of new member states.
• The Security Council also has 10 non-permanent members, elected on a regional basis as follows: 
  • five for African and Asian States; 
  • one for Eastern European States; 
  • two for the Latin American and Caribbean States; and 
  • two for Western European and other States.
• Each year the 193-member UN General Assembly (UNGA) elects five non-permanent members for a two-year term. 
• The body’s presidency rotates monthly among its members. 

Vote and Majority Required

• Each member of the Security Council shall have one vote.
• Decisions of the Security Council on procedural matters shall be made by an affirmative vote of nine members.
• Decisions of the Security Council on all other matters shall be made by an affirmative vote of nine members including the concurring votes of the permanent members.
• However, any member, whether permanent or nonpermanent, must abstain from voting in any decision concerning the peaceful settlement of a dispute to which it is a party.

India’s demands in UNSC:

• India, which has been at the forefront of years-long efforts calling for reform in the Security Council, said the 15-nation council founded in 1940s is not fit for purpose in the 21st Century and does not reflect contemporary geo-political realities.

The key demands include:

• India is pursuing a permanent seat in the UNSC, asserting that its rising global influence, vast population, and significant contributions to peacekeeping missions justify a larger role. 
  • India is part of the G4 nations, which also includes Germany, Japan, and Brazil which advocates for UNSC reforms that would grant permanent membership to each of them.
• India advocates for expanding both permanent and non-permanent membership in the UNSC to make the council more inclusive. 
  • It argues that the current council lacks representation from regions like Africa, Latin America, and Asia, which are home to a significant portion of the world’s population.
• India is also pushing for reforms in the veto power held by the five permanent members (P5), seeking either a more balanced approach or its abolition. India argues that the current system is undemocratic and often results in deadlock on crucial international matters.
  • The use of frequent veto has stalled action in the Council to address global challenges and conflicts such as in Ukraine and Gaza.
• India stresses that developing nations, particularly those from the Global South, should have a stronger voice in the UNSC. 
  • It argues that many of the world’s pressing challenges—such as poverty, climate change, and security concerns—affect developing countries the most, yet they are underrepresented in decision-making.
• India also calls for a more transparent, accountable, and democratic decision-making process within the UNSC. 

What is the issue?

• Among the P5 countries, the US, UK, France, and Russia have all explicitly supported India’s bid for permanent membership in the past, while China has opposed it.
  • As a close competitor of India in regional and international politics, China – the only Asian country with a security council seat – is unwilling to endorse New Delhi’s position.
• There is also reportedly no unanimity among the permanent members to share its veto powers with any new members for fears of diluting the influence and authority they currently wield.
• An informal “coffee club”, comprising 40-odd member states (including Italy, Spain, Australia, Canada, South Korea, Argentina and Pakistan) has been instrumental in holding back reforms to the UNSC. 
  • Most members of the club are middle-sized states who oppose bigger regional powers grabbing permanent seats in the UN Security Council.