Name: Pushpa Rani
Country: India

Year: 2025
Volume: Volume-10, Issue-1 (January-June)
Page Number: 11-19
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17355670

ABSTRACT
India‟s pursuit of a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reflects
its evolving foreign policy and broader ambition to reshape global governance. Since
independence, India‟s external engagement has shifted from Nehruvian non-alignment to a
pragmatic and assertive diplomacy that blends principled multilateralism with strategic
realpolitik. This transformation is most evident in its sustained campaign for UNSC reform,
driven by its growing economic and geopolitical stature, democratic credentials, and active
contributions to UN peacekeeping. India has leveraged multilateral forums such as the G4,
BRICS, and G20, while maintaining solidarity with the Global South, to advocate for a more
inclusive and representative international order. Despite these efforts, India's bid continues to
face significant challenges, including opposition from entrenched powers, institutional
inertia, and regional instability. This paper examines how India‟s evolving foreign policy
characterized by a shift from idealism to issue-based pragmatism aligns with its strategic
aspiration for UNSC reform. It also explores the tensions between India‟s post-colonial
identity, domestic constraints, and global leadership ambitions. Ultimately, India's approach
reveals the complexities faced by emerging powers in navigating traditional power structures
and contributing to the democratization of global institutions.
Keywords: Strategic autonomy, Multilateralism, UNSC permanent membership.