Under India’s presidency, G20 has moved towards a human-centric globalisation project: PM Modi

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. These two words capture a deep philosophy - the world is one family. This is an all-embracing outlook that encourages us to progress as one universal family, transcending borders, languages and ideologies. During India's G20 presidency, this has translated into a call for human-centric progress. As one Earth, we are coming together to nurture our planet. As one family, we support each other in the pursuit of growth. And we move together towards one shared future in these interconnected times.

The post-pandemic world order is very different from the one before it. There are three important changes:

• A growing realisation that a shift away from a GDP-centric view of the world to a human-centric view is needed.
• Recognition of the importance of resilience and reliability in global supply chains.
• A collective call for boosting multilateralism through the reform of global institutions.

India's G20 presidency has played the role of a catalyst in these shifts. In December 2022, when we took over from Indonesia, I had written that a mindset shift must be catalysed by G20. This was especially needed in the context of mainstreaming the marginalised aspirations of developing countries, the global south and Africa.

The 125 countries-strong Voice of Global South Summit this January was one of the foremost initiatives under our presidency. It was an important exercise to gather inputs and ideas from the global south. India's presidency has not only seen the largest-ever participation from African countries but has also pushed for the inclusion of the African Union as a G20 permanent member.

An interconnected world means our challenges across domains are interlinked. This is the midway year of the 2030 Agenda. Many are noting with great concern that the progress on SDGs is off-track. G20 2023 Action Plan on Accelerating Progress on the SDGs will spearhead the future direction of G20 towards implementing SDGs.

In India, living in harmony with nature has been a norm for ages. Even more recently, we have been contributing our share towards climate action. Many countries of the global south are at various stages of development, and climate action must be a complementary pursuit with actions on climate finance and transfer of technology. There is a need to move away from a purely restrictive attitude of what should not be done, to a more constructive attitude focusing on what can be done to fight climate change.

The Chennai High-Level Principles for a Sustainable and Resilient Blue/Ocean-Based Economy focus on keeping our oceans healthy. A global ecosystem for clean and green hydrogen will emerge from our presidency, along with a Green Hydrogen Innovation Centre. In 2015, India launched the International Solar Alliance (ISA). Now, through the Global Biofuel Alliance, we will support the world to enable energy transitions in tune with the benefits of a circular economy.

Democratising climate action is the best way to impart momentum to the movement. Just as individuals make daily decisions based on their long-term health, they can make lifestyle decisions based on the impact on the planet's long-term health. Just like yoga became a global mass movement for wellness, we have also nudged the world with Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE).

Ensuring food and nutritional security will be crucial. In the International Year of Millets, we have taken millets - shree anna - to global palates while boosting climate-smart agriculture. The Deccan High-Level Principles on Food Security and Nutrition is helpful in this direction.

Technology is transformative, but it also needs to be made inclusive. For instance, the billions who remain unbanked, or lack digital identities, across the world can be financially included through digital public infrastructure (DPI). The solutions India has built using its DPI have now been recognised globally. Now, through G20, developing countries can adapt, build and scale DPI to unlock the power of inclusive growth.

That India is the fastest-growing large economy is no accident. From space to sports, economy to entrepreneurship, Indian women have taken the lead in various sectors. They have shifted the narrative from the development of women to women-led development. India's G20 presidency is working on bridging the gender digital divide, reducing labour force participation gaps and enabling a larger role for women in leadership and decision-making. For India, the presidency is not merely a high-level diplomatic endeavour. As the mother of democracy and a model of diversity, we opened the doors of this experience to the world.

Today, accomplishing things at scale is a quality associated with India. The G20 presidency is no exception. It has become a people-driven movement. Over 200 meetings have been organised in 60 Indian cities, hosting nearly 100,000 delegates from 125 countries by the end of our term. No presidency has ever encompassed such a vast and diverse geographical expanse.

It is one thing to hear about India's demography, democracy, diversity and development from someone else. It is quite another for G20 delegates to experience them first-hand.

Our G20 presidency strives to bridge divides, dismantle barriers and sow seeds of collaboration that nourish a world where unity prevails over discord, shared destiny eclipses isolation. As G20 president, we had pledged to make the global table larger, ensuring that every voice is heard and every country contributes. I am positive we have matched our pledge with actions and outcomes.

The writer is prime minister of India