Why in News?

• According to India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Ruchira Kamboj, organisations such as the G-20 may step up to play a more important role in international affairs if the UN fails to implement reforms in the UN Security Council (UNSC). 

Background:

• She stated during India’s December UNSC Presidency on the themes of reformed multilateralism and counterterrorism that the UN reformation is the “most complex process” of the UN system.
• The item of reform has remained on the agenda of the UNSC for nearly three decades without any substantive progress.
• Today, the UN has almost 200 member states. But their voices are not being heard and everything is being scripted for them.

Need to reform UNSC:

• Ineffectiveness: Global issues have been increasingly complex and interconnected, yet UNSC remains ineffective to address these.
• Underrepresentation: The composition (P5-Permanent 5 members) does not reflect contemporary geopolitical and economic realities and excludes globally important and emerging economies like G4.
• Powerplay and division among P5: The P5 with veto powers often act in self-interest rather than serving the global interests.

Why is the process complex?

• Veto powers: Reform of the UN Charter requires all the P-5 to be on board and none of them should veto.
• Conflict of interest: There are many who aspire to be in a reformed council but there are many who would not like to see those in the council. For example, the tussle between G4 and the coffee club.
• India’s 2021-22 stint as a non-permanent member of the UNSC (which ended with the Presidency):

• India has been vocal in expressing an opinion on difficult issues during the past two years (like the pandemic, and crisis in Ukraine).
• India’s role in providing vaccines to the least developed countries had been applauded by all.

Way ahead: 

• The possibility of “minilaterals” (like G20, which are more democratic) taking centre stage in global affairs if the UNSC refuses to make any progress.