India has called for broader reforms of the United Nations, including expansion of the UN Security Council in both permanent and elected categories, with Member of Parliament CP Joshi stressing that the revitalisation of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) must be part of comprehensive efforts to make the global organisation more representative and effective.
Delivering India's statement at the UNGA plenary on the revitalisation of the work of the General Assembly on Thursday (local time), Joshi reaffirmed India's commitment to strengthening the central role of the Assembly and called for improvements in its working methods, coordination among committees and institutional accountability.
"India aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement," Joshi said. "I reiterate India's commitment to strengthening and revitalizing the central role of the UN General Assembly. As highlighted in Resolution 79/327, no other UN organ can match the General Assembly in terms of universality and representativeness. It is the intergovernmental nature of the General Assembly that accords it this central position. This status must be respected not merely in words but also in the true spirit of its mandate."
UN General Assembly Resolution 79/327, adopted on September 5, 2025, focuses entirely on the "Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly".
On improving the Assembly's working methods, he said, "Regarding working methods, we see scope for improvement in three areas. First, the agenda should be made more practical and manageable. Similar or overlapping topics should be consolidated, and--where appropriate--deliberations on certain subjects could take place at intervals of two or three years.
This would allow discussions to be more meaningful, well-considered, and focused. Second, better coordination, coherence, and complementarity should be ensured among the General Assembly’s Main Committees, as well as between these committees and the plenary sessions of the Assembly. Third, the Human Rights Council was established two decades ago as a subsidiary intergovernmental body of the General Assembly with a specific mandate. Duplicating its work in New York is unnecessary; the process needs to be streamlined."
Joshi also underscored the importance of strengthening the Office of the President of the General Assembly, including its efficiency, transparency, accountability and institutional memory.
"Regarding the Office of the President of the General Assembly, India attaches great importance to this vital pillar of the Assembly and fully supports its smooth functioning. We reaffirm our commitment to working in alignment with the President's priorities. India will continue its efforts to strengthen the efficiency, transparency, accountability, and institutional memory of this office," he said.
Turning to the selection of the next UN Secretary-General, Joshi said the process was taking place at a critical juncture for the organisation, amid serious challenges and growing geopolitical fragmentation.
