United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on February 20, 2026.
The President welcomed Guterres’ initiative to establish a global scientific panel on artificial intelligence aimed at benefiting all of humanity.
Guterres expressed appreciation for India’s leadership in convening the successful AI Impact Summit and highlighted the country’s longstanding collaboration with the United Nations across various domains.
President Murmu emphasized that, amid growing global uncertainties, multilateralism faces significant challenges, including a widening trust deficit. She called for urgent reform of the United Nations Security Council to better reflect contemporary geopolitical realities and ensure greater representation for the Global South in decision-making processes.
She stressed that reforming the UN Security Council is essential to preserving the organization’s relevance and effectiveness.
The President noted that while the “UN-80” initiative provides a valuable platform for broader reforms, any restructuring must safeguard the developmental priorities of the Global South.
President Murmu extended her best wishes for the remainder of Guterres’ tenure as UN Secretary-General and reaffirmed India’s steadfast support for multilateralism.
