Inclusivity At Heart Of India's G20 Presidency Aimed To Remind World What Unites Us: PM Modi Writes

As India’s G20 presidency completes one year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a column, said that inclusivity has been at the heart of India’s presidency. PM Modi stated that India’s approach as G20 President has been defined by four words: inclusive, ambitious, action-oriented, and decisive, and he highlighted that the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration (NDLD), which all G20 members unanimously adopted, is a testimony to India’s commitment to deliver on these principles.

In the column, PM Modi also threw light on the inclusion of the African Union (AU) as a permanent member of the G20, integrated 55 African nations into the forum, and said that this proactive stance has fostered a more comprehensive dialogue on global challenges and opportunities.

He stated that as today India marks 365 days since assuming the G20 presidency, it is a moment to reflect, recommit, and rejuvenate the spirit of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (One Earth, One Family, One Future).

“As we undertook this responsibility last year, the global landscape grappled with multifaceted challenges— recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, looming climate threats, financial instability, and debt distress in developing nations, all amid declining multilateralism. In the midst of conflicts and competition, development cooperation suffered, impeding progress,” he said.

PM Modi also underlined that during the G20 presidency India “revitalised multilateralism, amplified Global South’s voice, championed development, and fought for the empowerment of women”. The prime minister stated that by assuming the G20 Chair, India sought to offer the world an alternative to the status quo, a shift from GDP-centric to human-centric progress.

He said that India aimed to “remind the world of what unites us, rather than what divides us.”

New Dawn Of Multilateralism

PM Modi said that “Voice of the Global South Summit”, the first-of-its-kind convened by India in two editions, heralded a new dawn of multilateralism.

Speaking on the Summit, PM Modi said that India has managed to bring into main stream the Global South’s concerns in international discourse and has ushered in an era where developing countries take their rightful place in shaping the global narrative.

G20 Inclusivity

PM Modi also stated that Inclusivity also infused India’s domestic approach to G20 and made it a people’s presidency that befits the world’s largest democracy.

“Through “Jan Bhagidari”(people's participation) events, G20 reached 1.4 billion citizens, involving all states and Union Territories (UTs) as partners, On substantive elements, India ensured that international attention was directed to broader developmental aims, aligning with G20's mandate, PM Modi wrote.

In the column, PM Modi elaborated on our One Earth and stated that India has introduced ambitious and inclusive aims to create urgent, lasting, and equitable change.

‘Green DevelopmentPact’

PM Modi said that the “Green DevelopmentPact” in the declaration has highlighted the challenges of choosing between combating hunger and protecting the planet, by underlining a comprehensive roadmap where employment and ecosystems are complimentary, consumption is climate-conscious, and production is planet-friendly.

“In tandem, the G20 Declaration calls for an ambitious tripling of global renewable energy capacity by 2030. Coupled with the establishment of the Global Biofuels Alliance and a concerted push for Green Hydrogen, the G20’s ambition to build a cleaner, greener world is undeniable. This has always been India’s ethos, and through Lifestyles for Sustainable Development (LiFE), the world can benefit from our age-old sustainable traditions,” PM Modi wrote.

The Prime Minister said that the Declaration has underscored India’s commitment to climate justice and equity, urging substantial financial and technological support from the Global North.

Gender Equality

PM Modi also made a mention of gender equality and said that it took centre stage in the Declaration, culminating in the formation of a dedicated Working Group on the Empowerment of Women next year.

He said that India’s Women’s Reservation Bill 2023, which reserves one-third of India's Parliament and state legislative assembly seats for women, epitomises India’s commitment to women-led development.

Terrorism And Senseless Killing Of Civilians Unacceptable: PM Modi

PM Modi also underlined the issue of terrorism and said that terrorism and the senseless killing of civilians are unacceptable and it must be addressed with a policy of zero tolerance. “We must embody humanitarianism over hostility and reiterate that this is not an era of war,” PM Modi said.

He asserted that India led deliberations on geopolitical issues and their impact on economic growth and development during G20 presidency. As India hands over the G20 Presidency to Brazil, PM Modi exuded confidence that collective steps for people, planet, peace, and prosperity, will resonate for years to come.