PM Narendra Modi followed up on India’s success at the G20 by immediately renewing the pitch for India’s admission to the veto-wielding United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Pointing to the four-fold jump in UN membership since it was set up 80 years ago, PM Modi said, “The number of permanent members in the UNSC remains the same. The world has since changed a lot in every aspect. Be it transport, communication, health and education, every sector has been transformed. These new realities should reflect in our new global structure.

PM Modi’s statement came at the ‘One Future’ session of the G20 Summit before he ceremonially handed over the presidency to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

“It is necessary that global bodies reflect today’s realities to lead the world towards a better future,” the PM said, while also reminding his audience that it was nature’s law that “those who don’t change with time lose their relevance”.

Pitching for reforms, he said that is why a historic initiative was made on Saturday by granting the 55-nation African Union (AU) permanent membership of the G20.

Delhi declaration feat set to boost India’s UNSC bid

PM Modi’s reiteration of India’s aspiration for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council at the conclusion of the G20 summit on Sunday is expected to carry better resonance in many capitals because of India’s rising geopolitical stock as evidenced by its success in pulling off a consensus declaration at the G20 meeting.

India’s claim for a permanent seat on the UNSC goes back decades, and has been consistently endorsed by other veto-armed countries like the US, the UK and France