G-20 : India can lead the World
Staff blogger (the views presented does not necessarily reflect the official viewpoint toward the said issue)
As the world grapples with the unprecedented challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, India is set to assume the G20 Presidency for the year 2021. With this, India has a great opportunity to lead the world out of this crisis and beyond. India is already demonstrating its leadership in the world, and the G20 platform provides it an excellent opportunity to shape the global economic and political agenda.
This is an exceptional responsibility at a challenging time for the global community. India’s presidency will be a historic first for the nation and the most significant international event that India has ever hosted. Given the strong geopolitical polarizations of the day, the challenges and expectations from India’s presidency will be onerous and out of the ordinary.
The G20 Summit will see the world’s leaders discuss and address the pressing global issues and challenges. We can expect the G20 India Presidency to further India’s vision of a self-reliant and equitable world with sustainable development at its core. This blog post will explore how India can lead the world through the G20 platform, and the various initiatives that are expected to be taken.
History leads to future
Since its independence, India has been a strong advocate of multilateralism, actively participating in forums on issues including nuclear nonproliferation, global trade rules, climate change, and humanitarian intervention. As part of its presidency, India plans to hold 200 meetings of different G-20 tracks in cities across the country—making Indian states stakeholders in New Delhi’s global engagement. These meetings will mark some of the most significant diplomatic outreach that India has ever undertaken; they also follow a recent trend of India holding high-level meetings outside the capital.
The G-20 presidency gives India a chance to shape the agenda for global cooperation as the world emerges from the shadows of the COVID-19 pandemic. The group’s importance is reflected by its economic strength: Its member states account for more than 80 percent of global GDP, 75 percent of global trade, and 60 percent of the world’s population. New Delhi is eager to project the presidency as an opportunity to underline its emerging status as a “leading power,” as Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has described it.
Takeaways from Andaman
At a pre-presidency briefing of G20 ambassadors held in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, there was a widely held sentiment that if any country can rise to the challenges of the day, it is India. Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has been a valued interlocutor at the high table of global decision-making, be it the United Nations, G7, World Trade Organization, climate conversations, Quad, Shanghai Cooperation Organization or BRICS. Developing countries that have felt the adverse impact of the pandemic and the consequences of the Ukraine conflict — due to rising costs of food and energy imports — look to India’s G20 presidency to give voice to their aspirations and for solutions that can usher in greater macroeconomic and financial stability. India, by virtue of its recent experiences and achievements in providing inclusive and accelerated.
Digital Technology, G 20 and India
In the recent G20 Summit in India, the country made a huge statement to the world about its leadership in the digital revolution and its commitment to digital technology. With the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government's commitment to the cause, India was able to push the agenda of digital transformation across the world.
The Prime Minister spoke of India's progress in the digital space, especially in the development of the Digital India and Digital India Mission initiatives. In addition, he also spoke of the government's commitment to using digital technology to bridge gaps between the rich and the poor, create opportunities for growth and generate jobs. He also highlighted the importance of digital technology in terms of improving healthcare, education, communications and trade.
The G20 Summit also highlighted India's role as a leader in the digital revolution with the government's focus on using digital technology to drive economic transformation and create an inclusive society. The government's commitment to building digital infrastructure, making India a global leader in the digital space and ensuring data security were also discussed at the Summit.
Overall, the G20 Summit showed that India is a leader in digital technology and is committed to leveraging it to drive economic transformation and create an inclusive society.
Technology as Game-Changer –
For India, technology has always been a great equalizer, where citizens from all walks of life have used a veritable toolkit of digital public goods to access public services, make payments, and even address their collective grievances. In a world splintered by polarization and technological Balkanization, India will strive to ensure that the world in the coming years is a just, equitable place.
Covid-19 presented India with extraordinary challenges. The government responded by unleashing a whole-of-government approach toward ensuring the welfare of citizens. India also embarked on a vaccine diplomacy mission that facilitated access to supply chains and raw materials, including obtaining waivers and linking its manufacturing facilities with other nations. India was at the forefront of global efforts to combat the pandemic.
The biggest takeaway from this unprecedented collaboration was that as a global family of nations, we are larger than the sum of our parts. International collaboration is not a zero-sum game. As PM Modi said in 2014 at the UN General Assembly, “Our destinies are interlinked”. We must usher in an era that is marked by a globally integrated approach to problem-solving. The PM has emphasized that the focus of India’s G20 presidency will be on global good and world welfare.
India is the fastest-growing large economy with sound macroeconomic fundamentals, robust public finances and strong manufacturing and export growth. It is a top foreign direct investment destination. It is the largest smartphone data consumer and global Fintech adopter, demonstrating its strengths in the digital space and as a source of innovation.
India has one of the world’s best digital public infrastructure models, including transformative structures like the Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and mobile phone trinity, UPI, CoWIN, Ayushman Bharat and FASTag.
At the G20 summit in Bali, the PM pointed out that over 40% of the world’s real-time payment transactions took place through UPI last year. India’s digital transformation, he said, has developed digital public goods whose basic architecture has in-built democratic principles. Sadly, citizens of most developing countries do not have any kind of digital identity. India’s experience has shown that if digital architecture is made widely accessible, it can bring about socio-economic transformation. The proper use of digital technologies can become a force multiplier in the fight against poverty.
India’s health architecture is innovative, low-cost, inclusive and globally scalable. Some of its signature initiatives include Ayushman Bharat, a large vaccine production ecosystem, CoWin, Vaccine Maitri, a capacity to produce and supply generics on a global scale, and the National Digital Health Mission. India is also a leader in promoting a holistic approach to health and well-being through Ayurveda and yoga. This robust, diverse and inclusive health model has catalyzed the emergence of India as a player in global health.
Future of digital technologies
The world needs new and innovative approaches to tackle today’s complex challenges. Digital technologies present us with the tools to deal with some contemporary challenges. Digital India could provide a tech model for global solutions for development and welfare as well as facilitating growth. India’s efforts to track the pandemic’s spread relied on the success of the Aarogya Setu digital platform. India’s successful vaccination program was underpinned by the CoWIN digital platform.
Flowing from this, it could be expected that India’s G20 presidency will focus on the use of technology for the benefit of countries and people across the globe. The principle of “data for development” will be an integral part of the overall theme of India’s tenure. Under our presidency, we will make efforts with other G20 partners to create mechanisms that strengthen the capacity of developing countries to tackle health crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic. India will take forward efforts to create a holistic, global health architecture that can respond better to future health crises.
Opportunity and Challenges
The upcoming G20 summit in India provides a unique opportunity for the country to take a leadership role in the world. India is one of the world's most populous countries and is continuing to develop rapidly. With the right policies and initiatives, India can lead the world in tackling some of the biggest global challenges we face.
However, there are also some challenges that India will have to overcome in order to achieve this goal. India is facing a number of socio-economic issues such as poverty, inequality, and joblessness which will need to be addressed. India will also need to reform and modernize its infrastructure and financial systems in order to keep up with other countries.
Furthermore, India will have to invest in education and skills development in order to ensure its citizens have the knowledge and resources needed to compete in the global economy. India will also need to focus on developing its renewable energy sector in order to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and protect the environment.
Overall, the G20 summit provides India with an opportunity to demonstrate its leadership capabilities and to showcase the progress and potential of the country. With the right policies and initiatives, India can be a global leader and set an example for the rest of the world.
Global Situation and Indian perspective in 2022
The world is currently in the midst of a global crisis, both economic and environmental. With the emergence of the pandemic, the world’s economy has slumped and global leaders are looking for ways to restore and rebuild. India, being a key member of the G20 and the fifth-largest economy in the world, is in a unique position to lead the global recovery effort.
As the world progresses towards 2022, India is well-positioned to take a leadership role in the global economy. India has a strong track record of providing financial assistance to developing countries and is considered to be a reliable partner for global economic initiatives. India’s commitment to sustainable development, its role in regional affairs, and its ambitious infrastructure plans all play a role in making the country a major force in global economic recovery.
The Indian government has also taken a number of steps to stimulate the economy in 2021. This includes measures such as tax relief, stimulus packages, and foreign investment reforms, as well as a focus on healthcare and renewable energy. All of these measures will help to strengthen the foundation of India’s economic recovery and ensure that the country can provide leadership in the global arena.
Way forward
We need new approaches to intellectual property, innovation, and co-development of health technology to ensure a more inclusive response to health crises. We must also focus on the benefits that technological progress and evidence-based policy can provide us when it comes to expanding access to health.
At the G20, this model could be internationalized. Digital India must go global. A new tech order must combine cross-border flows of technology and investment with development and growth aspirations.
The G20 is a grouping that accounts for nearly 85% of the world’s Gross Domestic Product, 75% of international trade and two-thirds of the world’s population. The decisions that are implemented at G20 will have an intergenerational impact across nations. With India at the helm, it is time to navigate these testing times in a holistic and inclusive manner.