In his video address to the high-level meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the UN faces a "crisis of confidence" without comprehensive reforms.

PM Modi asserted that the world needs a reformed multilateralism that reflects today's realities, gives voice to all stakeholders, addresses contemporary challenges and focuses on human welfare.

PM Modi's call for reformed multilateralism assumes special significance as it comes on the eve of India taking a seat at the powerful UN Security Council as an elected non-permanent member for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2021.

"We cannot fight today's challenges with outdated structures. Without comprehensive reforms, the UN faces a crisis of confidence," PM Modi said.

As the UN marks 75 years of its existence, the 193-member UN General Assembly adopted a forward-looking political declaration that gave a clarion call for strengthening mechanism to combat terrorism, reformed multilateralism, inclusive development and better preparedness to deal with challenges like the Covid-19 pandemic.

Noting that the declaration also acknowledges the need for reform of the UN itself, PM Modi said, "For today's interconnected world, we need a reformed multilateralism that reflects today's realities, gives voice to all stakeholders, addresses contemporary challenges and focuses on human welfare."