President Pratibha Patil today pressed for making India a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Mrs. Patil was speaking after receiving credentials from eleven envoys from different countries including France, Belarus and Hungary. She underlined the need for taking up reforms in international bodies, so that they reflect contemporary realities and become more credible and effective.

Welcoming the envoys, the President said that India is working for greater growth to meet the aspirations of its people and is committed to inclusive growth. Announcing that the government will spend over one trillion dollars on building the country's infrastructure. She said it is expanding social infrastructure particularly in education, skill building and health, as well as putting in place extensive physical infrastructure over the next five years. Mrs. Patil said that India seeks to enlarge economic engagement with other countries for peace, progress and development.She asserted that it will expand opportunities for the global economy.