Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 22 October 2026 declared that the existing global order and its institutions have failed to evolve at the same pace as a rapidly changing world, warning of a growing disconnect between current geopolitical realities and outdated decision-making structures. He was addressing the NDTV World Summit in New Delhi.

A World Between Orders

Modi described the present moment as a phase of transition — a 'world between orders' — where old frameworks no longer adequately reflect the balance of power or the aspirations of emerging nations. He identified two central questions dominating global discourse: why the existing order is fracturing, and what role India should play in shaping whatever comes next.

Lessons From the Post-War Era

Tracing the origins of the current international system, the Prime Minister recalled how the horrors of the Second World War demonstrated that a global order built purely on power and self-interest is inherently unsustainable. The principles of dialogue, cooperation, and peaceful dispute resolution — which animated the founding of the United Nations — were, he argued, a direct response to that failure.

However, Modi stressed that the world has since undergone profound transformation. Aspirations have shifted, new economic powers have emerged, and technology has fundamentally altered society, the economy, and the very nature of power itself. Nations that had no seat at the table when the original post-war order was designed are now asserting their rightful place on the world stage.

The Institutions Are Falling Behind

'The question is, has the global order kept pace with these changes? The answer is no,' Modi said, in one of his sharpest assessments of multilateral institutions to date.

While acknowledging the historic role of the United Nations and allied bodies, he argued their limitations in addressing contemporary challenges have become unmistakably evident. New powers are rising, new voices are demanding inclusion, and new problems require fresh solutions. When the reality of the world changes but the mechanisms for decision-making remain stagnant, he said, a growing and dangerous disconnect emerges.

India's Push for Institutional Reform

The remarks reinforced India's long-standing campaign for meaningful reform of global institutions — making them more representative, inclusive, and responsive to 21st-century realities. New Delhi has consistently pushed for an expanded and restructured UN Security Council, greater voice for the Global South in bodies like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, and reform of the World Trade Organization. This comes amid India's growing assertiveness on the global stage, having hosted the G20 presidency and championed the cause of developing nations at multilateral forums.

As the world navigates an increasingly multipolar order, Modi's address signals that India intends to be not merely a participant in the debate over institutional reform, but one of its leading architects.