A UN reforms panel has been at work for a couple of years to suggest ways and means of adding more permanent members to the Security Council in addition to the existing five nations. The present Council formed consequent to San Francisco deliberations of 1945 by the founder nations to establish the worthy successor to the defunct League of Nations has become totally irrelevant in the present day Unipolar world where the US power-play reigns supreme.

Originally, the Security Council consisted of 11 members—five permanent members—China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States together with six elected members for a two years term. When the United Nations organisation was set up in 1945-46, Nationalist China and France, both weak and shattered nations were made permanent members of the UNSC without any justification. Much later in 1971 Chinese seat on the Security Council was transferred to the Peoples’ Republic of China.

In addition to aforesaid permanent members, UN General Assembly elected six non-permanent members. In 1965, when an amendment to the charter was ratified, the Council became a fifteen- member body comprising original five permanent and ten non-permanent members. The non-permanent members serve two years terms and half of them retire each year. The presidency is rotated among all members each month.

The 191 nation strong UN General Assembly would require a two-thirds majority vote of the assembly members to restructure the UNSC. The reform process would be considered a success only if an enlarged Council enhanced the representation of the developing countries form Asia, Africa and Latin America. Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) members would like expansion based on equitable geographical representation. As far as Asia is concerned, after China and Japan there is no other country but India which can justifiably represent the world’s largest and most populous continent.

There is no denying that the present day international peace and security calls for a more representative Security Council reflective of existing realities. In this context, the international community must take cognizance of the fact that a large geographical entity of a billion people with 5000 years of long history, civilization and cultural heritage needs to be given a justifiable place in the world body. The resurgent modern India, with its deep rooted democratic system and growing economic potential has the right credentials to champion causes of the developing nations.