UN gridlocked and irrelevant, says India's foreign minister

India's top diplomat on Monday criticized the United Nations for its inability to shape outcomes on pressing global issues, during an interactive session at the 5th Kautilya Economic Conclave. "The UN is gridlocked," Jaishankar said when asked about the future of the world body and multilateral institutions. "If you look at the big issues of the day—whether the conflict in the Gulf, whether the conflict in Ukraine, whether other issues in Africa, or even Covid—the United Nations has been largely irrelevant to the decision-making."

Jaishankar's remarks reflect growing frustration with the functioning of the 80-year-old institution, which he suggested no longer adequately represents broader global interests or plays a meaningful role in resolving contemporary conflicts. The minister's comments came weeks after he addressed the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

The external affairs minister's call for reform aligns with broader international debate about the effectiveness and relevance of the UN, particularly regarding its paralysis on major geopolitical issues where permanent Security Council members hold veto powers. India has been vocal in recent years about the need for reformed multilateral institutions that better reflect contemporary global realities and power dynamics.