Answer: India has come up with a New Orientation for Reformed Multilateralism System (NORMS) to reform the multilateral institutions. It envisages reforms in all three pillars of the current multilateral architecture – peace and security, development, and human rights with the United Nations at its center. The rationale behind India’s recent pitch for NORMS to reflect the present-day geo-political realities is as follows:

• Lack of inclusivity and representation: The basic structure of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has remained almost unchanged since its foundation. Member states from Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Small Island Developing States do not have adequate representation.

• • Misuse of veto power: Misuse of veto power is criticized for stalling the governing capacity of the UNSC.
• Altered global order: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many vulnerable nations of the Global South got their first vaccines from beyond their traditional sources. This diversification of global production was itself a recognition of how much the old order has changed. Also, recent concerns over food, fertilizer, and fuel security were not adequately articulated in the highest Councils of decision-making.
• Dominated by the Western countries: Multilateral Institutions are dominated by the Western countries where European and American interests have prevailed. For instance, institutions like the International Monetary Fund condition loans on features like trade liberalization, private enterprise, and an overall reduction in public spending.
• Procedural issues: Established multilateral organizations arguably do not meet standards of accountability and transparency that are considered legitimate. A recent example is ambiguity and lack of transparency in the World Health Organization’s investigation of the origins of COVID-19.
• The backlash against globalization: Recent events like Brexit, trade wars among nations, paralysis of the dispute settlement body of the WTO due to blocked appointments/reappointments of judges in its Appellate Body, etc. point towards it.
• Funding gap: Despite a growing share of official development assistance channeled through multilateral organizations, their resources fall short in aiding the developing and least developed countries.

The multi-dimensional crises facing the world today demand a representative multilateral architecture that is reflective of contemporary global realities and is well-equipped to meet emerging challenges. The rapidly shifting global security landscape, the persistence of traditional security challenges, and the emergence of new and complicated challenges such as climate change demand a clear, pragmatic, nimble, and effective platform for collaboration to ensure sustainable peace. Adoption of NORMS by the global multilateral institutions will be the right step in this direction.