1. Sixty-five years ago, Belgrade hosted the first conference of the Non-Aligned Movement, where the principles of peaceful coexistence, sovereignty and equality of states as foundations of a new approach to international relations were established. How does India view the importance of these principles today and their role in a world that is once again being reshaped?

Kiren Rijiju (KR)- Belgrade evokes fond memories among Indians at large. While the unique charm of this city and the friendliness of Serbian people towards India is a major driver of this fondness, its recognition as the seat of the 1^st Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement exactly sixty-five years ago is no less a factor.

In 1961, twenty five member countries recognized the developmental and societal aspirations of newly-independent nations across varied geographies and embarked on a journey where the people of those countries were the real sovereign, where the decisions were for them to take and not imposed from elsewhere, and where the countries were equal in all respects. Peace and stability, to ensure growth and prosperity of the people and the country, and peaceful co-existence among countries were the aims of the Non-Aligned Movement. NAM actually meant that the real alignment was inwards, towards the interests of the nation and its people, in the pursuit of growth and development, after decades and in many cases, centuries of colonial subjugation and exploitation.

This is the enduring importance of the principles that guided the Non-Aligned Movement. These remain as relevant as ever when the world is today grappling with instability, both geo-political and geo-economic and multi-dimensional inequality, be it in terms of asymmetric access to resources, supply-chains, finances or technology.

2. Non-alignment has never meant passive neutrality, but rather the right of states to pursue an independent foreign policy. In a world increasingly shaped by multiple centres of power, what contribution can India make to the Global South?

KR- India has always endeavoured to be a part of solutions, not of disruptions. This gains even more salience when the world today is confronted with multiple challenges. India’s focus lies in addressing the needs and aspirations of the countries of the Global South, and taking the lead in areas that impact the developing world the most, be it environment and sustainability, disaster resilience of access to energy, technology, supply chains and resources.  Initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance (ISA), Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), Global Bio-fuels Alliance and Mission LiFE (Lifestyle For Environment) to name a few prove that our thoughts and intent are more than matched by our actions.

India’s Development Partnership with other developing countries in the form of projects, grants, loans and training programmes is a stellar example of our approach that assigns high priority to the needs and aspirations of Global South in a spirit of solidarity with them. India’s approach is human-centric and marked by respect, diversity, care for the future, and sustainable development. For India, the most fundamental principle in development cooperation is respecting development partners and be guided by their development priorities. India’s development cooperation does not come with any conditions, as reaffirmed by the Prime Minister of India in his address at the Parliament of Uganda in July 2018- "Our development partnership will be guided by your priorities. It will be on terms that will be comfortable for you, that will liberate your potential and not constrain your future… We will build as much local capacity and create as many local opportunities as possible”.

Not long back, in 2023 during our G20 presidency, we converted the ancient Indian ethos and the presidency theme of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam- the world is one family, into an actionable framework by enabling permanent membership of the 55-nation African Union. In the run up to the G20 Summit, India also convened the Voice of Global South Summits which brought together leaders and ministers from over 125 developing countries, including President Aleksandar Vucic, and embedded the aspirations of the Global South in fields like energy access, food security and debt relief into the G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration. 

At this point, I must also dwell upon India’s civilizational ethos as an inspiration behind our contemporary foreign policy approaches. India’s foreign policy directly reframes the principles of peaceful coexistence through timeless philosophical concepts like Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam- the world is one family which serves as a foundational doctrine for global cooperation, and human-centric, collaborative governance.

We look at ourselves as Vishwabandhu, friend to the world, ready to offer our capabilities for global good, as seen during the painful times of the Covid-19 pandemic when India’s capabilities served both Indians as well as people in 150 other countries who were benefitted by our vaccines, essential medicines and kits.

In that sense, NAM provides India an opportunity to serve as an effective voice for addressing issues that concern the developing world.

3. Almost all the key principles on which the Non-Aligned Movement was founded – sovereignty and equality of states, territorial integrity, non-interference in internal affairs and the peaceful settlement of disputes – are also contained in the Charter of the United Nations. How does India view the importance of these principles today?

KR- India considers these principles, namely sovereignty and territorial integrity, equality of states, non-interference in internal affairs and the peaceful settlement of disputes as inviolable and fundamental to maintaining global peace and stability. India’s interventions in the United Nations have amply illustrated this approach.

India gives principled support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia and has not recognized the Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) by Kosovo.

4. What does India expect from the new Secretary-General of the United Nations, and should he be a driving force in restoring confidence in the UN, strengthening multilateralism and reforming the international system?

KR- Elections for the next Secretary General occur at a critical juncture, when the global order is undergoing a period of profound transition. As the geopolitical landscape changes, so do the circumstances in which the United Nations was first conceptualized and created. Today, the world as well as the UN are facing multiple challenges, and it is imperative, now more than ever, that the United Nations is reformed, suited to and able to effectively deal with contemporary realities.

The first step in that direction has already been taken through the UN80 initiative which aims to achieve efficiencies, streamline functions and improve processes. It is vital for the next UN Secretary General to take this agenda forward, and strive towards a more ambitious reform of the UN in order to make it more accountable, inclusive and participative.

5.How does India view the UN Security Council of today, given that contemporary realities are markedly different from the times the UN Security Council was first conceived? How do India’s aspirations to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council fit in this picture?

KR- The United Nations was created in 1945. Eighty years hence, while the geopolitical landscape has changed, the United Nations continues to reflect an image of the past. The world has changed substantially since we last established institutions to understand and interpret the same. It is only natural that this asymmetry has affected the efficiency of the United Nations. In order to remain relevant, the United Nations must be in sync with the contemporary realities of the emerging multi-polar world order. What the UN needs today is comprehensive reforms to reflect the same hope that it was created with. As our Prime Minister Narendra Modi succinctly stated during the Summit of the Future in 2024, “reform is the key to relevance”.

A significant step towards reform must start with reforms of the UN Security Council, which is entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining international peace and security. As the nucleus of the entire UN system, it is essential that the Security Council does not remain frozen in time. The UN Security Council of 2020s must reflect the geopolitical order of the 2020s. Expanding membership of the UN Security Council – in both permanent and non-permanent categories hence becomes vital. India has also been advocating for early commencement of text-based negotiations with clearly laid out timelines and milestones.

India is contesting elections for the 2028-29 term at the UN Security Council. During our tenure at the UN Security Council, we endeavour to work towards a more secure, peaceful and equitable world. Our approach at the Council can be encapsulated in the word shanti which means peace, and stands for securing holistic advancement through norms, trust and integrity. We also envisage addressing multiple, and often interlinked priorities. It is evident from recent developments around us that global peace, progress and prosperity are tightly bound through supply chains, technology or communication. This makes it imperative - that our oceans and maritime environments are safe and secure, that threats posed due to the misuse of Artificial Intelligence are addressed, and that the scourge of terrorism is countered.

Those goals are best achieved through dialogue and cooperation with like-minded countries and bridging differences. We believe that India’s presence will help strengthen decision making in the Council.

6. Can India’s BRICS presidency be expected to deliver concrete progress in issues of interest to the countries in the Global South, particularly in areas like access to energy, finance and technology?

KR- India will host the 18th BRICS Summit from 12-13 September 2026. BRICS today brings together eleven major emerging and developing economies across different geographies- Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia. In addition, the Summit will have leaders of Partner Countries as well as Outreach Invitees. Collectively, BRICS represents around 49 percent of the world’s population, about 40 percent of the global GDP and approximately 25 percent of the global trade, making it an important platform for advancing the priorities and aspirations of the emerging and developing economies.

India’s BRICS Chairship will be guided by the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability” reflecting a people-centric and humanity-first approach articulated by the Prime Minister at the 2025 Rio Summit.

The theme of India’s BRICS Chairship as well as the key pillars, namely Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability cover the priorities and aspirations of the countries in Global South. India’s chairship will aim to strengthening economic, social, and institutional resilience to navigate global uncertainties, supply chain disruptions, health challenges, and climate risks. We will work to deploy new and emerging technologies such as digital public infrastructure, fintech, AI, and knowledge sharing to enable effective service delivery and future-ready growth. We will also strive to deepening multilateral engagement among BRICS members through enhanced policy coordination, development finance, trade facilitation, reforms in global institutional governance, and people- centric partnerships. Accelerating collective efforts toward climate action, green finance, energy transitions, and sustainable development aligned with national and global priorities will also be one of the objectives of India’s BRICS Chairship.

We are confident that India’s BRICS Chairship will not only consolidate the achievements of previous chairship but also build a lasting framework to advance the interests and aspirations of the Global South. 

7. You are currently Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and previously served as Minister of Law and Justice. How can parliamentary democracy and the balance between the legislative, executive and judicial branches be strengthened today, so that each is strong and accountable within the framework of the Constitution and the rule of law?

KR- Our parliamentary democracy draws strength from our rich civilisational heritage and constitutional framework. Diversity, democratic traditions and the constitutional principle of checks and balances have enabled the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary to function as strong and accountable institutions within their respective domains.

The guiding principles are constitutional supremacy, rule of law, institutional accountability, mutual respect and restraint. This ensures that India's parliamentary democracy remains vibrant, resilient and responsive to the aspirations of its citizens.

The democratic foundation of India, the Mother of Democracy, is rooted deeply in our history. References to democratic foundation in the Vedas, the epics, and ancient republic states (such as the Ganrajyas like Vaishali dating back to 6^th century BCE) demonstrate that consultative governance, collective decision-making, and non-hereditary leadership existed in India since ancient times.

Our democratic journey thrives on our Constitutional ethos of social justice (social, economic, and political), human dignity, liberty, equality and fraternity for all its citizens. The principle of the Rule of Law is deeply woven into our Constitutionalism. The State ensures equality before law and the equal protection of the laws for each person.

Our Constitution does not enforce a rigid separation of powers akin to presidential systems; instead, it establishes a functional balance where the legislature makes laws, the executive implements them, and the judiciary interprets them under the supreme framework of the Constitution.

Each organ of our polity remains strong and accountable when it operates within its designated constitutional sphere—with the legislature ensuring executive accountability through rigorous debates and questions, the executive delivering policy outcomes efficiently, and the judiciary exercising judicial review with institutional restraint.

Under the decisive and dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India has reinforced democratic delivery through citizen-centric governance, digital empowerment (JAM trinity), and Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, proving that robust democracy drives the fastest-growing economy in the world.

8. How do you assess the strength of relations between Serbia and India today – Serbia as the successor to Yugoslavia and one of the founders of the Non-Aligned Movement, today an observer in the Movement – and how close are our two countries in the new international circumstances?

KR- India and the former Yugoslavia traditionally enjoyed deep friendship, as co-founders of the Non-Aligned Movement. The deep bond of friendship continued in subsequent decades resulting in close and friendly ties between India and Serbia. We are partners in Global South.

India and Serbia are time-tested friends. Our relationship is underpinned by long-standing bonds of friendship between our two peoples. India and Serbia share converging views on many global issues and support each other in international fora.

We are grateful to Serbia for supporting India’s candidature in UN and other international bodies, including our candidature to the non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council in 2028-29. India gives principled support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia and has not recognized the Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) by Kosovo.

India sees immense potential in our relationship. We are aiming at not just intensifying our relationship in existing areas of collaboration, but also expanding it to newer areas like science & technology, fintech, start-ups, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, etc. We hope that Serbia will join the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Global Bio-fuels Alliance (GBA).

As the countries in the world grapple with more challenges on account of geo-political turbulences, I think that traditional and reliable partnerships like India and Serbia will become all the more important.