India emphasised the need for greater transparency in how the UN Security Council's subsidiary bodies operate. It pointed out that decisions to reject or delay requests for blacklisting terror entities are not made public and are controlled by a small group of countries, effectively acting as a hidden veto.

India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador P. Harish, spoke at the Inter-Governmental Negotiations Plenary Cluster Debate on Working Methods on Thursday. He emphasised the urgent need to reform the 15-member Security Council and improve its working methods. This includes making the work of subsidiary bodies more transparent and ensuring that peacekeeping mandates are properly implemented. “The demand in this Chamber for reforms is loud and clear. This call gains greater significance at a time when the world is expressing apprehensions at the ability of the United Nations to deliver, to meaningful intervention on issues of key importance to humanity in different parts of the globe, particularly in the realm of peace and security which remains the core mandate of the Council,” Harish said.

Harish emphasised the need for urgent reforms in the Council's working methods, particularly in ensuring greater transparency in how its subsidiary bodies operate. “Citing a specific example,” he said, While decisions on listing are made public, details pertaining to rejection or putting on technical hold of listing requests are the exclusive preserve of a select few. This is indeed a disguised veto.” India has repeatedly raised concerns about how the UN Security Council's subsidiary bodies, like the 1267 Al Qaida Sanctions Committee, handle requests to blacklist terrorist groups and individuals. India has pointed out that some proposals to sanction well-known terrorists—backed by solid evidence—are rejected without any valid explanation. This, India argues, contradicts the Council's commitment to fighting terrorism.

In the past, China, a permanent member of the Council and a close ally of Pakistan, has used its power to block India's attempts to designate Pakistan-based terrorists under global sanctions. India expressed disappointment that despite most Member States agreeing on the need for reforms, there has been little to no actual progress in this direction. “We have had numerous discussions and debates. We speak passionately but, we continue to be where we are,” the Indian envoy said. Urging UN members to take action on the long-overdue UNSC reforms, Harish stated that Member States should not keep wasting time just exchanging ideas and discussing the issue. “It is time to move forward. It is time to show results”.

India emphasised that the world can no longer afford to delay reforms by relying on Intergovernmental Negotiations, a process that lacks a clear timeline and a concrete draft. It stressed that real progress begins with a written framework and fixed deadlines to ensure meaningful results. “May I add that the reform of the working methods of the IGN process itself is thus a very good starting point,” he said.

Harsh emphasised that peacekeeping mandates should take into account the concerns of the countries that provide troops and police forces. He pointed out that this is especially important for India, as it has contributed the highest number of troops overall. Harish also highlighted that reforms in one area cannot be addressed separately from others. “A piecemeal approach is bound to fail. Therefore, the question of Council reforms needs to be dealt with in its entirety, in a holistic manner,” he said. 

Harish emphasised that outdated and irrelevant issues, which no longer hold significance in today's world, should not remain on the Security Council's agenda just for political reasons. He also highlighted the importance of the Council engaging with the broader UN membership. He suggested that one effective way to do this is by discussing the Security Council's Report in the General Assembly.

According to him, this report should go beyond simply listing facts—it should provide analysis, allowing Member States to thoroughly evaluate how the Council is functioning. India warned that a fragmented approach to United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reforms is likely to fail. Harish stated, "Therefore, the question of Council reforms needs to be dealt with in its entirety, in a holistic manner," adding that reforms related to a single cluster cannot be taken into consideration separately.

India emphasised that there is no doubt the Security Council reflects an earlier era. “The core architecture, which has remained unchanged for eight decades, is not in synchrony with today's global realities. To realise its functional mandate, to match the expectations of the people, our citizens, and to maintain contemporary relevance, the Council needs to be made fit for purpose,” Harish said.