In a resounding declaration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that India achieved the extraordinary during its G20 presidency. This accomplishment involved breathing new life into multilateralism, amplifying the voice of the Global South, championing development, and fervently advocating for the empowerment of women worldwide.
As Brazil prepares to take the reins of G-20 from December 1, 2023, Modi reflected on the elite group’s transformative journey under India’s stewardship. He expressed unwavering confidence that the collective steps taken for people, planet, peace, and prosperity will echo for years to come.
Modi Reflects on G20 Challenges and Triumphs
In an opulent opinion piece featured across various newspapers on Thursday, November 30, 2023, Modi delineated India’s approach, characterized by being ‘inclusive, ambitious, action-oriented, and decisive.’ The crowning jewel of this approach was the unanimous adoption of the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration (NDLD) by all G20 members, serving as a powerful testament to India’s steadfast commitment to delivering on these principles.
Acknowledging the passage of 365 days since India assumed the G20 chair, Modi recalled the global landscape grappling with multifaceted challenges. These ranged from the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic to looming climate threats, financial instability, and debt distress in developing nations – all transpiring against the backdrop of declining multilateralism.
As India hands over the reins to Brazil, Modi framed the moment as an opportunity to reflect, recommit, and rejuvenate the spirit encapsulated by Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future.’
In a poignant recollection of India’s assumption of the G20 chair, Modi highlighted the adverse impact of conflicts and competition on development cooperation, impeding progress. The Indian approach sought to present an alternative to the status quo, pivoting from a GDP-centric to human-centric progress.
Modi emphasized the need to remind the world of shared values, transcending divisive elements, and called for a fundamental reform of multilateralism, where the aspirations of the many take precedence over the interests of the few.
From ‘People’s Presidency’ to Global Leadership: Modi’s G20 Impact
The groundbreaking ‘Voice of the Global South Summit,’ convened by India in two editions, emerged as a harbinger of a new era for multilateralism. Modi underscored India’s role in mainstreaming the concerns of the Global South in international discourse, ushering in an epoch where developing countries rightfully shape the global narrative.
As India’s G20 presidency culminates, the Prime Minister’s words stand as a testament to a period marked by inclusivity, ambition, decisive action, and an unwavering commitment to a future where nations, irrespective of their stature, play pivotal roles in shaping a harmonious global narrative. The baton passes to Brazil, but the echoes of India’s transformative leadership resonate as a clarion call for a more inclusive and united world.
India’s domestic approach to the G20 was distinguished by inclusivity, transforming it into a ‘People’s Presidency,’ aligning seamlessly with the ethos of the world’s largest democracy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi affirmed. As the 2030 agenda reached its critical midpoint, India unveiled the G20 2023 Action Plan, a dynamic initiative accelerating progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Modi emphasized a cross-cutting, action-oriented strategy, encompassing health, education, gender equality, and environmental sustainability.
A pivotal driver of this progress emerged in the form of the robust Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), Modi highlighted. He revealed a significant achievement through the completion of the Digital Public Infrastructure Repository via G20 collaboration. With over 50 DPIs from 16 countries featured, Modi emphasized its potential to empower the Global South in building, adopting, and scaling DPI for inclusive growth.
India’s Role in G20 and UN Reforms for Global Equity Talked
Underlining India’s commitment to One Earth, Modi introduced ambitious and inclusive aims, emphasizing the need for urgent, lasting, and equitable change. The leaders’ declaration, a cornerstone of this commitment, echoed the call for climate justice and equity. Modi urged substantial financial and technological support from the Global North, marking the first acknowledgment of the quantum leap required in development financing, transitioning from billions to trillions of dollars.
Recognizing the monumental resources necessary, the G20 emphasized the significance of enhanced Multilateral Development Banks for better, larger, and more effective outcomes, Modi observed. Simultaneously, India took a leading role in UN reforms, particularly in the restructuring of principal organs like the UN Security Council, aiming for a more equitable global order.
Gender equality claimed the spotlight during India’s G20 presidency, culminating in the establishment of a dedicated Working Group on the Empowerment of Women in the coming year, Modi announced. He highlighted the landmark Women’s Reservation Bill 2023, reserving one-third of India’s Parliament and state legislative assembly seats for women, epitomizing India’s unwavering commitment to women-led development.
War Not an Option
In the realm of geopolitical deliberations, India, during its G20 presidency, assumed a leadership role in addressing the nexus between geopolitical issues, economic growth, and development, Modi asserted. In addressing terrorism, Modi adopted a stance of zero tolerance, emphasizing the imperative to embody humanitarianism over hostility.
In this era, he proclaimed, war is not an option; instead, the emphasis must be on fostering an environment of peace and compassion. As the curtain falls on India’s G20 presidency, Modi’s words resonate as a testament to a period marked by inclusive governance, transformative initiatives, and a resolute commitment to global harmony.
