Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a strong call for reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), saying changes to the global governance system can no longer be postponed. Addressing the 2026 BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Saturday, Modi urged the Global South to move from being primarily affected by international decisions to becoming an active force in shaping global rules.
The Prime Minister’s remarks came as India hosted the BRICS leaders’ summit, bringing together major emerging economies and several prominent world leaders. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping were among the leaders attending the two-day gathering.
Modi pushes for urgent UNSC reform
One of the strongest messages from Modi’s opening address was his direct assertion that “Reform in UNSC cannot be delayed anymore.”
The Prime Minister argued that the existing architecture of global governance does not adequately represent the realities of the contemporary world. According to him, decision-making remains concentrated among a limited group of powers, while many countries that experience the consequences of global decisions have comparatively little influence over how those decisions are made.
Modi described this arrangement as resembling a pyramid, with political power and decision-making concentrated at the top and a much larger group of countries positioned at the bottom.
He said the Global South is increasingly at the forefront of major global challenges but remains underrepresented in the institutions that determine international responses.
‘Global South must become a rule-shaper’
Modi called for a greater role for developing and emerging nations in establishing international rules.
His message was that the Global South should not remain merely a participant in a system designed elsewhere. Instead, countries from the region should have a meaningful role in determining the rules, priorities and institutions governing the international system.
The Prime Minister’s emphasis on a stronger Global South role comes amid growing discussions about reforming multilateral institutions to reflect present-day economic and geopolitical realities.
India has consistently advocated a more representative global governance framework and has sought a larger role for developing countries in international decision-making.
At the BRICS platform, Modi placed this demand within the wider objective of creating a more inclusive and balanced international order.
BRICS reaches a 20-year milestone
Modi also highlighted the significance of the 2026 summit as BRICS marks two decades since its formation.
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He described the 20th anniversary as a moment of greater maturity and responsibility for the grouping. According to the Prime Minister, the bloc has developed a distinct identity on the global stage over the past 20 years while advancing through dialogue, mutual respect and consensus.
He stressed that BRICS was not intended to be directed against any particular country or group. Instead, he presented it as a platform seeking broader cooperation and an approach that takes different perspectives into account.
The Prime Minister said India’s BRICS chairship had adopted a people-centric and humanity-first approach, with resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability forming its key priorities.
India’s BRICS chairship focuses on implementation
Modi also proposed a mechanism aimed at ensuring continuity and implementation of BRICS decisions.
He suggested strengthening follow-up through the BRICS Troika so that initiatives agreed upon during different presidencies do not lose momentum when leadership changes.
The proposal includes creating a secure digital repository containing details of decisions, responsible nodal points, timelines and implementation status. Such a system, Modi said, could help transform summit-level commitments into measurable outcomes.
The proposal reflects India’s effort to give greater institutional continuity to BRICS cooperation as the grouping expands its agenda across economic, technological, developmental and geopolitical issues.
A wider push for global governance reform
The Prime Minister linked the future of BRICS with the broader question of reforming international institutions.
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His comments also come at a time when BRICS is seeking to strengthen its role in discussions on global economic governance, development, trade and international security. The expanded grouping represents a significant share of the world’s population and economy, giving its collective voice greater weight in debates over the future international order.
The question of UNSC reform has particular significance for India, which has long argued that the council’s structure should better reflect contemporary global realities.
At the summit, Modi therefore positioned BRICS not simply as an economic grouping but as a potential platform for wider institutional change.
With major powers and emerging economies gathered in New Delhi, his call for urgent Security Council reform placed global governance at the heart of India’s BRICS agenda.
The message was clear: as the Global South becomes increasingly important to the global economy and international stability, its representation in global decision-making must also evolve.
For India, the BRICS Summit has thus become an important opportunity to press for a more representative international system while strengthening cooperation among emerging powers.
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