New Delhi, Oct. 5 -- External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar has described the United Nations as "largely irrelevant" to decision-making on major global issues, citing a "gridlock" in the UN Security Council and calling for reforms to make the world body more representative.

Speaking during a discussion at the 5th Kautilya Economic Conclave in the national capital on Monday, Jaishankar said the UN's effectiveness had been affected by the inability of the Security Council to reach decisions on major international crises.

"Where the UN is concerned, it's obvious to everybody by now that the UN is gridlocked, that if you look at the big issues of the day, whether you look at the conflict in the Gulf, whether you look at the conflict i...