India's overwhelming triumph in its quest to secure a non-permanent UN Security Council seat is another indication of its rising stature on the world stage, and of the respect it enjoys in global forums. It also provides a timely reputational boost at a moment when it has attracted international criticism for its Hindu nationalist policies at home, and when it is bogged down in a bitter border dispute with China.



As big a diplomatic victory as this is for New Delhi, it has its eyes on the biggest prize: a permanent seat on the UN security council. This is a much more ambitious goal, and one it's unlikely to achieve anytime soon given that China would almost certainly wield its veto power on the council.