India has warned that people’s confidence in the United Nations is declining due to the failure to reform the UN Security Council and effectively address global conflicts. Speaking at a ministerial roundtable on “Making Multilateralism Fit for the Future” at the UN, India’s Permanent Representative P. Harish said the Security Council has failed to intervene meaningfully in ongoing conflicts, raising questions about its ability to uphold international peace and security.

He said the 80-year-old UN architecture is no longer adequate to meet present-day global challenges. Mr. Harish noted that negotiations on Security Council reforms have remained stuck in an endless cycle of statements without tangible progress. He said the Action Points under the Pact for the Future, including ending violence, racism and xenophobia, promoting gender equality, and strengthening peacekeeping, have largely remained on paper. Calling the situation untenable, he stressed that meaningful reforms are urgently needed.

Harish said India had significant reservations on some of the Pact’s action points. However, he added that India supported the Pact in a constructive spirit. He also called for revitalising the UN General Assembly and strengthening the role of the Economic and Social Council in advancing sustainable development.

In the Global South, Harish reaffirmed India’s commitment to mobilising resources and ensuring that no country is left behind. He also urged international financial institutions to become more representative, responsive and development-oriented, while preserving their core mandates. He said adequate, affordable and predictable financing remains essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.