SDG 16: Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Institutions: Ministry of External Affairs | United Nations
On 27 September 2025, India’s External Affairs Minister addressed the General Debate of the 80th UN General Assembly, pressing for reforms in multilateral institutions, especially the UN Security Council, to make them more representative and equitable. India stressed that the Global South must have a stronger voice, citing double standards in climate action, vaccine distribution, trade rules, and conflict narratives.
The statement underlined India’s development footprint—over 600 projects in 78 countries spanning education, health, infrastructure, and community welfare—positioning India as a partner of choice. On climate change, India criticised “recirculated commitments and creative accounting” by developed nations, demanding credible action and climate justice. It also flagged growing challenges in trade protectionism, tariff volatility, supply chain monopolies, and control of emerging technologies. Ensuring security of sea lanes was highlighted as essential for global stability.
Guiding the vision, the EAM invoked three principles: Atmanirbharta (self-reliance), Atmaraksha (self-security), and Atmavishwas (self-confidence), linking India’s domestic priorities with its global role.
What is Atmanirbharta? → India’s principle of strategic self-reliance—strengthening domestic capacity in technology, manufacturing, and critical sectors, while engaging actively in global cooperation.
For India’s foreign policy, this statement underscores a posture of assertive multilateralism: seeking reform of global institutions (UN, WTO, IMF), ensuring climate and trade justice, and amplifying the voice of the Global South. It frames India not just as a rule-follower, but as a rule-shaper, combining normative appeals (justice, equity) with pragmatic diplomacy (development cooperation, capacity building).
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How can India build durable coalitions with other Global South countries to drive institutional reforms while balancing relations with major powers?
Follow the full statement here: MEA – EAM’s Statement at the General Debate of the 80th UNGA (Sept 27, 2025)