Addressing the NDTV World Summit 2026 in New Delhi on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a sharp critique of legacy multilateral bodies, stating that the structural limits of the United Nations and other international institutions are increasingly apparent in the face of modern geopolitical and economic challenges.
Describing the current era as a “World Between Orders,” PM Modi emphasized that global governance frameworks established in the wake of the Second World War have failed to adapt to shifting global realities, new economic powers, and the aspirations of the Global South.
”The United Nations and other global institutions have had their historical role, but in the face of today’s challenges, their limits are clearly visible,” PM Modi stated, adding that decision-making bodies must evolve to reflect contemporary realities rather than clinging to outdated management structures.
Highlighting India’s consistent advocacy for comprehensive global governance reforms—a sentiment echoed by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar regarding institutional gridlocks—the Prime Minister urged international cooperation, inclusive multilateralism, and fresh solutions to navigate complex twenty-first-century crises.
