India’s G20 Presidency came at a time when the world was engulfed with some of the pressing challenges including the Ukraine-Russian conflict, the looming food crisis, global inflation, the world economy nearing recession and the accompanying post-Covid challenges. However, India withstood the challenges and became a roaring voice of the Global South.
India’s G20 Presidency baton was passed from a developing country Indonesia and now it has been passed on to another developing country Brazil. This last one year has been a remarkable one for India- both in terms of internal developments as well as its nuanced global positioning. The countries of the Global South were looking upto India for representing their concerns and challenges globally, even beyond the G20 platform whereas the Global North is seen keen to intensify its relations with India. What exactly has changed and how has this transformation been possible for India?
India becomes “Voice of Global South”
Let’s look at the last one year for India and how its global significance, influence and impact has made a difference for India. It all began with India virtually hosting the “Voice of Global South Summit” in January this year to address collectively the concerns, interests and priorities of around 125 countries from the Global South. The summit was presided over by Indian PM Narendra Modi and India ensured that the valuable inputs from the Summit will be given due cognisance globally. This was evident through India’s constant reiteration of the concerns of Global South at the G7 Summit in May 2023 and at the recently convened 15th BRICS Summit 2023 in South Africa. Also, India has been extremely vocal and supportive of African Unions’ (AU) inclusion as a full member in the G20 highlighting, Africa being India’s “top priority”.
India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has called for advancement of Global South and transitioning them from just ‘consumers’ to also being ‘producers’. India has called for ‘re-globalisation’, a need to shift from US-led west and China’s dominancy to a more multilateral, diversified and democratic global system, thereby reemphasising the importance and role of the Global South.
Over the last one year, India through its various official G20 engagement groups has significantly impacted different dimensions of development. From business and global economic development (B20) to women-led development (W20), from policy frameworks and solution-led development (T20) to capturing and harnessing youth-led development (Y20), India has outrightly raised its voice for ‘one world, one family, one future’ and holistic development. At the same time, India is leading and advancing the need for sustainability and science to meet the global challenges.
At the BRICS Summit, PM Modi proposed for a BRICS Space Exploration Consortium to conduct space research and make the societies future ready. Meeting the rocket scientist at the BRICS Summit, PM Modi discussed the issue of disease screening and future of energy sustainability. Amidst the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict, India has successfully maintained a balanced momentum between the United States and Russia through a safe interplay of ‘trade and trust’ and keeping itself away from ‘foe or friend’ trap in international relations.
With PM Modi’s historic state visit to the United States in June, to France accepting India’s digital payment system UPI to Australian PM Albanese referring to PM Modi as ‘the boss’ to United Kingdom’s PM Rishi Sunk referring to “India as ‘right’ country at the ‘right’ time to hold G20 presidency”, the Global North is truly in awe of India’s possibilities, potential and power and a lot of these instances became more viable in the last one year.
Apart from India’s global outreach, what makes India a potential international player is the series of developments inside the country over the last one year that had a profound global impact.
India is leaving its footprints at all levels of development
From India’s growth in 3 S’s- Science, Space and Sports to 3 E’s- Education, Energy and Economy, India is leaving its footprints at all levels of development. The historic Chandrayaan3 mission to moon made India the first country to land on the South Pole and the fourth in the world to have a successful moon mission. India also became the first country from the Global South to achieve such a feat. India’s achievements in the Sports sector is no more limited to Cricket but also visible in chess, javelin throw, hockey, athletics and so on. The science sector is steadily progressing with greater women’s participation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), standing at around 52% enrolment for them.
NEP 2020 heralds new era in the education system
The education system in India is beginning to experience the advantages of the new National Education Policy 2020 which provides for a more multidisciplinary, open and quality education. The energy sector in India is becoming more resilient, sustainable and renewable-dependent, aligning itself with the global climate change goals and aiming to reduce its dependence on imported sources of energy. In terms of India’s economy, it is not only the fastest growing economy that has recently surpassed the UK, but is also expected to become the third largest economy with USD 5 trillion by 2027, surpassing both Japan and Germany, provided that it continues to grow at the current pace of development.
India’s position strenthen at global level
With all these year-round developments for India-both at the local and global levels, it has helped to strengthen India’s G20 presidency. India’s voice is now more pronounced, effective and thoughtful. The G20 presidency is not just well-captivated and utilised by India but also has proved to be golden opportunity for India to diversify its reach at all levels of development. With India strongly advocating the need for reformed multilateralism and “Vasudaiv Kutumbakam” (world is one family), it is surely to set the global agenda driven by peace, prosperity and progress at the G20 Summit in New Delhi.
As India leads the presidency of the G20, it has ensured to keep the concerns of the emerging economies intact- ranging from digital public infrastructure to entrepreneurship and innovation, climate justice, and affordable access to health care. India’s goal at the G20 was driven by having a global consensus on the world’s pressing problems and move beyond the narrative of G20 being a mere ‘talk show’. To a greater extent, India has been successful in bringing the G20 countries to discuss, debate and deliberate on areas of cooperation and mutual interest without sidelining the concerns of the developing world.
It won’t be wrong to say that India’s G20 presidency has brought a sense of ‘identity’, ‘fulfilment’ and ‘growth’ for the country today and it is with this identity that “India i.e. Bharat” is driving itself into the Amrit Kaal, with a vision to make India a developed country, a global player and a Vishwa Guru by 2047 when India will mark the completion of its hundred years of independence.
