India assumed the presidency of the Group of Twenty (G20), a forum for international economic cooperation, on Dec. 1, 2022 and will hold it until Nov. 30, 2023. For the South Asian nation, the presidency marks the beginning of ‘Amritkaal’, the 25-year period beginning from the 75th anniversary of its independence on Aug. 15 2022, leading up to the centenary of its freedom from the British.
India’s Ministry of Education has published some documents and prepared videos to highlight the importance of the G20 for India and the world. Below are some salient points from the detailed text:
G20 Presidency of India Under PM Narendra Modi’s Leadership
- The G20 is an intergovernmental forum of the world’s 20 major developed and developing economies. There are 19 governments of countries and the European Union
- G20 forum gives India the unique opportunity to communicate its democratic ethos to the world
- The G20 was founded in 1999 after the Asian financial crisis as a forum for Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to discuss global economic and financial issues
- G20 comprises 19 countries and the European Union. The members are: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union.
- The members represent around 85% of the global GDP, over 75% of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population
- G20 logo has been designed to convey the essence and indigenous wisdom of India. It has drawn inspiration from the vibrant colours of India’s national flag – saffron, white and green, and blue. It juxtaposes planet Earth with the lotus, India’s national flower that reflects growth amid challenges
- G20 agenda: The group was launched as a forum for economic cooperation focusing majorly on broad macroeconomic issues, but it has expanded to include trade, climate change, sustainable development, health, agriculture, energy, environment, and anti-corruption
- Life Style For Environment (LiFE) – one of the themes in the agenda is LiFE with the aim of living in harmony with nature for a sustainable living. LiFE envisages a way of living which respects nature and other organisms co-exist with us, the humans for a greener and cleaner earth
- The G20 consists of two parallel tracks: the Finance Track and the Sherpa Track. Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors lead the Finance Track, while Sherpas lead the Sherpa Track after Finance Track
- A Sherpa is the representative of a Head of State or Head of Government who prepares an international summit. The name is derived from the Sherpa people, a Nepalese ethnic community, who serve as guides in the Himalayas. Within the two tracks, there are thematically oriented working groups represented from the relevant ministries of the members as well as from guest countries and invited international organizations
- G20 brings together the world’s major developed and developing economies, making it a premier forum for international economic cooperation. In a way this forum attempts to reduce the inequality and disparity among the world economies
- India will host over 200 meetings in over 50 cities across 32 different work streams, and would have the opportunity to offer G20 delegates and guests a glimpse of India’s rich cultural heritage and provide them with a unique Indian experience
NCERT’s reading material on G20 for Classes VI to VIII
NCERT’s reading material on G20 for Classes IX to XII
Introduction to G20 School Connect
- Some countries and international groups are invited as guests to the G20 Summits and meetings. Seven international organizations invited as guests are: The United Nations, the International Monitory Fund (IMF), the World Bank (WB), the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Financial Stability Board (FSB), the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and many more regional organizations like the Asian Development Bank (ADB)
- There are many activities and events for school and university students. They include: Life Style for Environment (LiFFE) Quiz; Slogan Writing Competition on G20; Exhibition of best practices of technology enabled activities (Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) exhibition for school students; Science Exhibitions and General awareness Quiz on G20