In a sign of pragmatism, India has decided to be more flexible in its pursuit of a permanent seat in the UN Security Council to muster the support of the maximum number of countries for its aspirations. 

"We have not given up on the veto power yet. We are just being flexible to get more support for the UN reforms," an official source said, reacting to the new draft resolution unveiled by the G-4 countries - India, Brazil, Germany and Japan.

The G-4 distributed the draft resolution Wednesday at the United Nations under which new permanent members would not exercise the right of veto until 2020, at the earliest.

"We will pursue the veto power without giving up on the principle of non-discrimination," the source said.
  
"There can be changes in the way we present our case for veto," the source said, referring to the 15-year freeze on the right of veto for new members in the draft resolution.

"There can be changes in the way we articulate our position."

The new permanent members shall not exercise the right of veto until after the General Assembly meets to review the Security Council 15 years after the proposed expansion comes into force, the draft said.

The review conference would decide on the question of expanding veto power to new permanent members, according to the draft.

The G-4 want the 191-nation General Assembly to adopt a framework resolution in June that will add six new permanent members and four new non-permanent seats to the Security Council.

"For us the entire gamut of UN reforms is important and not just the expansion of the Security Council," the source said.   

"We are not looking at consensus as a precondition for taking the reforms process forward. To get 191 members behind any reforms package is unrealistic," said the source.

"We are trying to get as many co-sponsors as possible. In our consultations with the G-4 and with co-sponsors, there can be some give and take."

Describing the UN reforms as "an obstacle race", the source said getting the framework resolution through is "only the first step". 

There is no exact figure on the number of countries supporting India's bid for permanent Security Council membership. "But we are near the number that gives us sufficient hope to go on and push forward our claim," said the source.