US President Barack Obama has endorsed India's long-held demand for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
India says a seat on the council would reflect the importance of the G20 nation as its trillion dollar economy helps spur global growth and its government exerts more influence over issues from Doha trade to climate change talks.
'In the years ahead, I look forward to a reformed United Nations Security Council that includes India as a permanent member,' Mr Obama said in a speech to India's parliament on his first official visit to the country.
'Let me suggest that with increased power comes increased responsibility,' he added.
Mr Obama ended the first leg of a ten-day Asian tour that has also been about gathering support from countries such as India to exert pressure on China on its currency.
Ben Rhodes, White House deputy national security adviser, said ahead of Mr Obama's speech that 'this was a full endorsement' for India's permanent membership of a reformed Security Council.
In his three-day trip - the longest stay in any foreign country by Mr Obama - the US leader announced $10bn in business deals, aiming at reassuring voters at home that countries such as India offer benefits for US jobs rather than causing unemployment through outsourcing.
The UN move comes as India increasingly competes with China for global resources, from Africa to Latin America.
The UN Security Council has since the body's inception had five permanent members with the power to veto resolutions.
It has been criticised for not reflecting global 21st century power.
Mr Obama's trip with more than 200 business executives, and his UN announcement, underscored the growing importance of India, which by 2020 is expected to be one of the five largest economies in the world, along with Asian powers China and Japan.
'I don't think India is emerging. It has emerged. India is a key actor on the world stage,' Mr Obama told a joint news conference with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh earlier today.
Mr Obama will also visit Indonesia, South Korea and Japan on the tour that will see Washington push to prevent countries unilaterally devaluing currencies to protect their exports, a top theme at the G20 summit in Seoul this week.
Mr Obama has also announced the US would relax export controls over sensitive technology, another demand of India's.
