India and G20: Priorities and Initiatives

India’s G20 Approach

India’s engagement with the G20 marked a shift from being only a participant to becoming an agenda-setter in global governance. During its presidency, India pushed issues such as the priorities of the Global South, digital public infrastructure, energy security and inclusive development.

The 2023 presidency also helped India project practical models for cooperation that could be adopted beyond the G20, especially in finance, connectivity and digital delivery systems.

Institutional Architecture and India’s Presidency

• Presidency period: India held the G20 Presidency from December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2023.
• Summit held: The 18th G20 Summit took place in New Delhi in September 2023.
• Theme: The presidency was held under the theme “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (One Earth, One Family, One Future).
• Agenda focus: India used the presidency to align global economic priorities with the needs of emerging markets and developing countries.
• Sherpa: Amitabh Kant served as India’s G20 Sherpa during the 2023 presidency.
• Troika: The G20 troika during the transition comprised Indonesia, India and Brazil.
• Consensus outcome: The New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration achieved consensus across all 83 paragraphs.
• African Union: The African Union was admitted as a permanent member of the G20 during the New Delhi Summit.

Digital Public Infrastructure and Global Outreach

• Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): India promoted DPI as an open-source public good for financial inclusion and public service delivery.
• G20 Framework: G20 nations adopted the G20 Framework for Systems of Digital Public Infrastructure during India’s presidency.
• Core principles: The framework focused on interoperable, secure and inclusive digital systems.
• One Future Alliance: India proposed the One Future Alliance to build capacity, provide technical assistance and support DPI funding in low- and middle-income countries.
• Global DPI Repository: The Global DPI Repository was set up as a virtual platform to share tools and practices voluntarily among G20 members and invitee nations.
• MoUs: India has signed Memoranda of Understanding with 24 countries to export DPI and India Stack models.
• Kenya agreement: An agreement with Kenya covers DigiLocker implementation.
• UPI abroad: India’s Unified Payments Interface is active in eight countries: the UAE, Singapore, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, France, Mauritius and Qatar.
• Digital economy: According to the State of India’s Digital Economy Report 2026, the digital sector contributes 12–14% of India’s GDP and is projected to reach 20% by 2036.

Energy Security and Connectivity Corridors

• Global Biofuels Alliance: The GBA was launched on September 9, 2023, by India and other founding nations to expand sustainable biofuels and set global standards.
• Membership: By 2026, the GBA expanded to 22 member countries, including eight G20 members, along with 12 international organizations.
• Ethanol blending: India reached its national target of 20% ethanol blending in petrol in June 2026, ahead of the original timeline.
• IMEC: The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor was initiated through an MoU on September 9, 2023.
• IMEC signatories: India, the US, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the European Union, France, Germany and Italy signed the agreement.
• Follow-up agreement: In February 2024, India and the UAE signed an Intergovernmental Framework Agreement for logistical and digital cooperation on the corridor.
• Implementation: Construction on rail links and port upgrades in the UAE and Saudi sectors began in early 2025.
• Strategic relevance: The corridor links trade routes, infrastructure connectivity and energy diversification.

Key Prelims Takeaways

• G20 presidency: India held the presidency from December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2023.
• Summit theme: Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam was the theme of the 18th G20 Summit in New Delhi.
• African Union: The African Union became a permanent member of the G20 during India’s presidency.
• DPI framework: G20 adopted a framework for systems of Digital Public Infrastructure under India’s leadership.
• GBA launch: The Global Biofuels Alliance was launched on September 9, 2023.
• UPI internationalisation: UPI is active in eight countries, including the UAE, Singapore and France.
• IMEC: The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor was launched through an MoU on September 9, 2023.