India has stated that membership in the UN Security Council should not be exploited to "legitimise" terrorists by pushing for their removal from sanctions lists, nor should it be used to designate entities based purely on "political considerations".
Speaking on Wednesday during an open debate on the Security Council’s working methods, Charge d’Affaires at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, Ambassador Yojna Patel, stated that the influential 15-member body should not be used as a forum for advancing narrow political agendas.
"Security Council membership brings significant responsibilities. This must not become a platform to pursue narrow political interests," she said.
Listing and delisting is case in point. This area requires greater transparency and objectivity.
A seat on the Security Council should not be used to confer legitimacy on terrorists by seeking their removal from sanctions lists, nor to designate other groups as terrorist organisations purely for political reasons, without objective standards or supporting evidence," Ms. Patel said.
India has repeatedly criticized the lack of transparency in how decisions are taken by the UNSC sanctions committees regarding proposals to label individuals and organizations as terrorists.
New Delhi has also urged for increased transparency in the functioning of the Council’s subsidiary bodies, noting that although decisions on listings are disclosed publicly, information about rejected proposals or those placed under technical hold remains the exclusive domain of a limited group.
India has previously referred to these practices as a “disguised veto” and has voiced concerns, especially about the functioning of the 1267 Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee.
New Delhi has stated that evidence-backed proposals to list internationally sanctioned terrorists should not be obstructed without sufficient justification, contending that such actions weaken the Council’s declared resolve to fight terrorism.
India has earlier encountered similar obstacles in its efforts to list Pakistan-based terrorists, as China, a permanent member of the Security Council, has at times put holds on or blocked certain proposals.
India also expressed concern about the delay in appointing chairs for the Security Council’s subsidiary bodies, including the 1267 Al-Qaida and Taliban sanctions committees.
Eight months into 2026, the Council has still not finalized the chairs and vice-chairs of its subsidiary bodies, leading India to urge immediate action.
Subsidiary bodies are essential and help ensure more effective implementation of Security Council mandates. However, in recent times they have been unable to function optimally, primarily due to delays in appointing their Chairs, Ms. Patel noted.
She urged that the matter be treated as a top priority and that a clear, firm, and non-negotiable deadline be set for appointing the chairs of the subsidiary bodies.
Denmark, which holds the Security Council presidency for August, stated in a stakeout at UN headquarters that the “unprecedented delay” in naming chairs for the UNSC subsidiary bodies is “undermining the Council’s effectiveness, credibility, and institutional integrity.”
India also called for “greater transparency” for the Council’s elected non-permanent members in several ongoing processes of the Security Council.
“For instance, elected members, and by implication, the General Assembly, must have a greater say in crucial aspects such as election of the UN Secretary-General,” Ms. Patel said.
The UN Secretary-General is appointed by the 193-member General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council, where China, France, Russia, the U.K. and the U.S. are permanent members with veto powers.
Ms. Patel emphasised that the need for reforming the Security Council is more pronounced and pressing than ever before.
"Our joint endeavour must be on appropriately equipping the UNSC to address contemporary and future challenges. The world of 1945 has changed beyond recognition.
"UN membership has grown four-fold since then. The outcome of one conflict 80 years ago cannot determine the composition, dynamics, approaches and working methods for perpetuity. This needs to change and must happen at the earliest,” she said.