Backing UN reform, India rejects BRICS versus United Nations framing

India's top diplomat has pushed back against the notion that emerging powers must choose between participating in alternative groupings and supporting the UN system, calling such a framing a "false choice" during deliberations at the UN General Assembly.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar acknowledged the world body's shortcomings while defending its continued relevance. "The UN is the UN. It may have many shortcomings. It also has many achievements, and obviously, when you want to reform it, when you want to change it, it's natural to focus on the shortcomings. But I don't think that should lead us to be dismissive of the UN," Jaishankar said.

The minister's remarks came during a session titled "Ruptures & Ramparts: Building Bridges for a Changing World" organised on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly session. The event was jointly hosted by the Observer Research Foundation, Reliance Foundation, UN in India, and India's Permanent Mission to the UN.

Jaishankar's position reflects New Delhi's broader diplomatic approach of maintaining engagement across multiple forums while advocating for reforms to make international institutions more representative and responsive to contemporary global challenges. The intervention underscores India's commitment to strengthening multilateral mechanisms rather than positioning alternative groupings as substitutes for the UN system.