Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP CP Joshi on 9 October 2026 delivered India's statement at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) plenary on revitalisation of the Assembly's work in New York, reiterating New Delhi's call for sweeping UN reforms — including an expanded UN Security Council (UNSC) — and stressing that the General Assembly's revitalisation cannot be treated in isolation.

India's Core Position on UN Reform

Joshi made clear that revitalising the UNGA is inseparable from a broader UN overhaul. 'The revitalisation of the General Assembly must be pursued as part of broader, comprehensive UN reforms to make the organisation more representative, effective, and capable of fulfilling its objectives,' he said, adding that 'the revitalisation of key UN organs cannot be limited to the General Assembly alone.'

This framing positions India's push for UNSC permanent membership — long a strategic priority for New Delhi — within the wider multilateral reform agenda, lending it additional legitimacy at a moment of acute geopolitical strain on global institutions.

UNSC Expansion: India Pushes for Immediate Action

Joshi was unequivocal on Security Council reform, warning that the body's current composition undermines the entire UN architecture. 'The Security Council's inability to effectively discharge its mandate of maintaining international peace and security casts doubt on the functioning of the United Nations as a whole,' he said.

He called for expansion of UNSC membership in both permanent and elected categories, stating: 'Effective reform of the Security Council, including an expansion of membership in both permanent and elected categories, can no longer be delayed. It is essential that the Security Council reflects today's global realities and enables the United Nations to address current challenges.'

India has consistently championed UNSC reform through groupings such as the G4 (alongside Brazil, Germany, and Japan), and this address reinforces that position on the Assembly floor.

Three Areas for Improving UNGA Working Methods

Beyond structural reform, Joshi outlined three specific improvements India seeks in the Assembly's working methods. First, the UNGA agenda should be made 'more practical and manageable,' with overlapping topics consolidated and some deliberations shifted to a two- or three-year cycle. Second, greater 'coordination, coherence, and complementarity' should be ensured among the Assembly's Main Committees and between those committees and plenary sessions. Third, he called for streamlining the relationship between the UNGA and the Human Rights Council (HRC), noting that the HRC was established two decades ago as a subsidiary intergovernmental body with a specific mandate and that 'duplicating its work in New York is unnecessary.'

Next UN Secretary-General: Geographical Balance Must Guide Selection

Joshi also addressed the upcoming selection of the next UN Secretary-General, describing it as occurring 'at a critical juncture' given geopolitical fragmentation and mounting pressures on the UN system. He stressed that geographical balance must be a guiding principle, and that India supports a more prominent role for the General Assembly in the selection process.

'It is essential that the best candidate be appointed to this position,' he said, calling on member states to work collectively to achieve this objective.

Resolution 79/327 and Institutional Accountability

Joshi welcomed the adoption of Resolution 79/327, which recognises the UN's 80th anniversary (UN 80) as an opportunity to build a more efficient, effective, agile, and responsive organisation. He underscored the need for stronger institutional memory and accountability within the Office of the UNGA President, and reaffirmed India's commitment to working 'constructively and in good faith with all member states' to strengthen the Assembly.

As the global order faces rising fragmentation, India's statement signals that New Delhi intends to remain an assertive voice on UN governance — linking the internal functioning of multilateral bodies directly to their ability to deliver on peace, security, and development.