The Security Council is the Executive Organ of the UN. Its major responsibility is to ensure international peace and Security. For discharging its responsibility, the Security Council is empowered to take punitive measures ranging from imposing sanctions to taking military action against a state. At present, the Security Council consists of five permanent members- USA, UK, China, Russia, and France and 10 non-permanent members elected by the General As­sembly for a period of two years. The number of non-permanent members was increased from 5 to 10 in 1965. The permanent members enjoy veto power in substantive matters. The Security Council takes decisions with the 2/3 majority of the total members including five permanent members.

So far India has been elected seven times as a non-permanent member of the Security Council. India has served as a non-permanent member in 1950-51, 1955-56, 1972-73, 1977-1978, 1984-85; 1991-1992, and 2011-2012. India's election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council after a gap of 19 years shows how different it is perceived by the world compared with 1996, the last time it contested and lost to Japan. Only 42 countries voted for India then. This time there were no other contenders for the Asia seat that Japan vacates at the end of December 2010 but the backing of 187 out of 192 countries for India's entry into the UNSC speaks for itself.

Present Scenario

India has pushed for the expansion of the UNSC and its own case for permanent membership.

Some Grounds For India’s Claim

• When Security Council was created in 1945, the big five powerful countries were given permanent membership. But during the last 60 years, the world has changed. In terms of purchasing power parity (PPP), India is the fourth largest economy in the world, much ahead of the UK and France. It appears ridiculous that Britain and France continue to be per­manent members and   India is left out.  Thus, the composition of the Security Council does not reflect contemporary global realities.
• India is the second most populous country and the largest democ­racy in the world. It has consistently displayed signs of democratic maturity. Moreover, its record in the field of rule of law and respect for human rights has been impressive.
• India has made an immense contribution to the fulfillment of the goals and objectives of the UN. The Indian policy of non-alignment reflects the values and principles of the UN. India has contributed to the resistance to colo­nialism, racialism, terrorism, and the proliferation of nuclear weapons. India has played the role of a responsible member many times as a non-permanent member of the Security Council.
• However the more noteworthy is India’s huge contribution to the peacekeeping operations of the UN. India is the third largest country to send troops to the peacekeeping operations of the UN. At present Indian peacekeeping forces are deployed in UN mis­sions in Congo, Sudan, Cyprus, Yemen, Somalia, Cam­bodia, etc.
• India, as a member of the G-20 group is playing an important role in the management of global economic affairs. India as a member of BRICS is counted as one of the four rising economies of the world. India has played a constructive role in the present global issues like climate change, International trade talks, MDGs, non-proliferation, problems of LDCs, terrorism, etc.

Conclusion

Though India has an excellent track record as a responsible member of the UN and there is a pressing need to reform the Security Council, yet India’s chances to become a permanent member of the Security Council are not bright. First, the permanent members are not serious about the expansion of veto-holding member­ship because it would dilute their privileged position. Second, China and Pakistan both are opposed to the Indian claim.  Consensus on these matters appears hard to emerge. However, India is required to press hard through diplomatic channels for concrete reforms in the Security Council.

The foreign ministers of G-4 (India, Germany, Japan & Brazil) met in New York on Feb. 11, 2011, for the second time in the last six months to exchange views on Security Council reforms.  The four ministers emphasized that the decision about their membership should be taken by the General Assembly in the ongoing session. They resolved to get the support of other countries so that a consensus emerges in the inter­governmental negotiations going on at present.  They supported the expansion of both permanent and non-permanent categories of mem­bership. Again, they demanded that one permanent seat should be given to Africa. They affirmed their willing­ness and capacity to take on major responsibilities as permanent mem­bers. They stated that the inter­national system would benefit from the expansion of the UN Security Council, which would ensure that the Council is truly reflective of current geo-political realities and make it stronger, more representative, legi­timate,  effective and efficient.  It should be noted that the expansion of the Security Council has become a politi­cal issue.