NEW DELHI, Dec 18: India is considering the possibility of accepting permanent membership of an enlarged UN Security Council without veto powers, as New Delhi feels it could still push to get veto rights after getting a toehold in the big league , official sources said on Saturday.

Their remarks followed statements from senior echelons in Beijing last week that China could consider accepting India as a permanent member in the recast Security Council, but without veto powers.

Russia President Vladimir Putin was less direct recently, saying one day that the UN's veto powers could not be diluted to accommodate anyone else, but insisting the next day that India deserved to have veto powers in the United Nations.

The director of Beijing's Centre for Counter-terrorism Studies, Mr Li Wei, said last week: "There are at least three requirements that India should meet before putting forward its claim. One, it should ensure stability in South Asia. Two, it should have friendly relations with its neighbours. Third, it should contribute towards world peace."

Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh had told parliament that India would not accept a non-veto status in the Security Council, but later appeared to row back from his rigid position. Mr Li said: "If India sticks to this (veto only) position, I don't see India becoming a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council any time soon."

The Press Trust of India quoted government sources as saying that though the UK, France and Russia, three of the five permanent members of the Security Council, supported India's candidature, New Delhi was well aware that getting veto rights might not be an easy task.

"Under the new thinking, India should become a permanent member and work for veto powers even if it take some time," PTI said.

India has been receiving the backing of a number of countries including Japan and Germany.