Lok Sabha Question No. 231 (STARRED), answered on 2023-08-04
Subject: Achievements of G-20
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Khan Saumitra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 231 ANSWERED ON 04.08.2023

## Achievements of G-20

## *231. SHRI SAUMITRA KHAN:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) the details about past achievements of the country on ongoing multilateral events including G-20; and

- (b) the detailed account of India's growing influence in the world?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (DR. SUBRAHMANYAM JAISHANKAR)

(a & b): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (b) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *231 REGARDING 'ACHIEVEMENTS OF G-20' FOR ANSWER ON 04.08.2023

- i. India's persistent efforts are towards making a strong contribution to international peace, stability, growth, and security, at every multilateral forum. Towards this end, India has been able to focus global attention on the most pressing challenges faced by humanity, including through Mission LiFE, aimed at democratizing climate action and empowering people to adopt climate friendly lifestyles and the popularization of Millets to address the challenge of food   security.   India   has   also   advocated   for   an   inclusive   human-centric   approach   to development and use of technology to transform the lives of people. We have redoubled efforts   towards   reformed   multilateralism   for   a   more   accountable,   inclusive,   and representative international system.
- ii. India is actively engaged in various multilateral forums like the United Nations (UN), G20, Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), BRICS, The International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, etc.
- iii. India's G20 Presidency's theme, 'One Earth, One Family, One Future' is reflected in our G20  Presidency's   priorities,   which   include   advocacy   for   inclusive   and   resilient   growth; progress on SDGs; green development and Mission LiFE; technological transformation and public digital infrastructure; reforming multilateral institutions; women led development; and international peace and harmony. Further, India is also amplifying the voice and concerns of the Global South and developing countries. At the G20 Development Ministers Meeting held in Varanasi on 12 June 2023, the G20 Development Ministers endorsed the work done by the Development Working Group and had unanimously adopted two outcome documents: (1) G20 2023 Action Plan on Accelerating Progress on the SDGs; and (2) High-level Principles on Lifestyles for Sustainable Development.
- iv. India's achievements in the multilateral events and its growing significance are reflected in the country's higher standing and greater influence in various international institutions and multilateral forums, and in the larger footprint of Indians in every walk of life across the globe, contributing to stronger global common good.
- v. There is a global recognition today that India is a force of global good in the world, that is contributions to regional and global stability, peace, and prosperity.
- vi. Some of the prominent achievements in major multilateral forums in the recent past are tabulated in Annexure-A.
7. *****

2

## United Nations

## ANNEXURE-A

India was elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 8th time for the term 2021-22, with an overwhelming majority (184 of 193 votes) during the elections held on June 2020 in New York.

In August 2021, Prime Minister chaired an Open Debate of the Security Council on international maritime security. It was for the first time in 75 years that Prime Minister of India chaired a meeting of the UN Security Council on the issue of maritime security.

During another signature event at the UN Security Council on 'Technology & Peacekeeping', chaired by EAM in August 2021, a first of its kind Security Council Resolution on 'Protecting the Protectors' with focus on accountability for crimes against UN Peacekeepers, as well as a Presidential Statement on 'Technology and Peacekeeping' were unanimously adopted. As a leading troop contributing country to UN Peacekeeping Missions, use of technology in UN peacekeeping is an important focus for India.

India donated US$ 1.6 million dollars to the UN to develop a situational awareness platform called UNITE AWARE for the benefit of peacekeeping missions. This software platform aims to provide real-time, updated data on a range of parameters-such as topography, demography, security situation, etc., to peacekeepers deployed in conflict areas.

During this tenure as a non-permanent member, India also served as the Chair of the 1988 (Taliban) Sanctions Committee and 1970 (Libya) Sanctions Committee of the Security Council for two years, and of the 1373 (Counter Terrorism) Committee for the year 2022.

During India's second Presidency of the Security Council in December 2022, a High-Level Open Debate   was   organized   on   the   theme   of   "New   Orientation   for   Reformed   Multilateralism' [NORMS] chaired by EAM. The primary focus of the  Open  Debate  was   on   Reforming Multilateralism and encouraging all Member States to decisively address the pressing needs for such reforms in the global governance architecture, including of course the long-debated reforms in the UN Security Council. For the first time, India brought the debate on UNSC reforms to the Security Council itself.

As Chair of the important Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC) of the Security Council in 2022, a historic and successful Special Meeting of the UN Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee was held for 2 days in Mumbai and Delhi in October 2022. This was the first time the UNSC convened in India in any format. Again, for the first time, all 15 Members of the UN Security Council jointly paid tributes to the victims of terrorism at the 26/11 Memorial in Taj Palace Hotel in Mumbai on 28 October 2022.

The Special Meeting of the Security Council's Counter Terrorism Committee meeting in Delhi on 29 October 2022 unanimously adopted the 'Delhi Declaration' on Countering the Use of New and Emerging Technologies for Terrorist Purposes.

In December 2022, during our second Presidency of the Security Council, EAM chaired a highlevel UNSC Briefing on 'Global Counter terrorism Approach: Challenges and Way Forward'.

Following this briefing, the Security Council approved a Security Council Presidential Statement on Counter terrorism.

India also held the 3 rd No Money for Terror Ministerial Conference to strengthen global efforts against terrorism.

India   co-sponsored   a   landmark   UN   General   Assembly   Resolution   (A/RES/76/268)   on 'Multilingualism' which was unanimously adopted on 10 June 2022. For the first time, this Resolution   mentioned   Hindi   language,   encouraging   the   UN   Department   of   Global Communications to continue disseminating important communications and messages in official as well as in non-official languages, including in Hindi.

On 21 June 2023, Prime Minister led the Yoga Day celebrations at the UN headquarters, creating the Guinness World Record for the participation of people of most nationalities in a single Yoga session. The idea for declaring an International Day of Yoga (IDY) at the United Nations was formally proposed by the Prime Minister in his maiden address to the 69th UNGA on 27 September 2014. The resolution establishing the IDY was co-sponsored by 177 countries and was adopted by the UNGA in December, 2014.

'Mission LIFE' was launched by the Prime Minister in 2022. The UN Secretary General travelled to India to grace the occasion. At the launch, leaders from across the world joined the Hon'ble PM by sending video messages supporting the Mission LiFE initiative.

India successfully sponsored a UN General Assembly resolution, declaring the year 2023 as the 'International Year of Millets'. The resolution, supported by more than 70 countries, is intended to increase public awareness on the health benefits of millets and their suitability for cultivation under tough conditions marked by Climate Change.

## G20

During India's year-long G20 Presidency from 01 December 2022 to 30 November 2023, over 200 meetings are being held across all Indian States and Union Territories. The G-20 Leaders' Summit will be held in New Delhi on 09-10 September 2023.

To ensure that our G-20 Presidency focuses on the priorities, perspectives and concerns of the developing world, India organized the first ever Voice of Global South Summit in January 2023. High level  participation   from   125   countries   reflected   their   trust   in   India's   efforts   towards building a prosperous and inclusive future for the entire World.

India's G-20 Presidency's priorities include advocacy for inclusive and resilient growth; progress on SDGs; green development and Mission LiFE; technological transformation and public digital infrastructure; reforming multilateral institutions; women led development; and international peace and harmony. Further, India is also amplifying the voice and concerns of the Global South and developing countries.

## Export Control Regimes

India   engages   as   a   member   of   Missile   Technology   Control   Regime   (MTCR),   Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) and Australia Group (AG). India assumed the Plenary Chairmanship of WA

from 1 January 2023 for a period of one year, which is significant considering that India became the latest member of WA only around than five years back in December 2017.

## SCO

India joined the organization as a full Member State in the year 2017 and held the first-ever presidency of SCO from September 17, 2022 to July 4, 2023. In this period, India hosted around 134 events including 14 ministerial level meetings  with a key focus on SECURE: Security, Economic development, Connectivity, Unity, Respect for Sovereignty & territorial integrity and Environmental protection.

India also successfully created five new pillars of cooperation in SCO namely, Startups & Innovations, Traditional Medicine, Digital Inclusion, Youth Empowerment and Shared Buddhist Heritage.

India hosted the Heads of State Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation organization (SCO) on July 4, 2023 in virtual format.

India's leadership of the organization has led to various meaningful outcome document like the New Delhi Declaration of SCO Heads of State, two Statements of Heads of State, on Countering Radicalization leading to Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism and on Cooperation in Digital Transformation.

India also successfully introduced the concept of De-carbonization of Transport, Promotion of Digital   Transformation   and   Innovative   Technologies   to   Achieve   Higher   Efficiency   and Sustainability which was endorsed by Heads of all Member States of SCO.

At India's initiative, two new mechanisms (working groups) were created Special Working Group on Startups and Innovation and an Experts Working Group on Traditional Medicine.

## ISA

ISA aims to provide collective work towards the massive deployment of solar energy in terms of technology,   finance   and   capacity   building.  As   of   July   2023,   the   ISA   has   strengthened   its membership with 116 countries that, includes 94 Member Countries (countries having ratified the ISA Framework Agreement) and 22 Signatory Countries (countries having signed but yet to ratify the ISA Framework Agreement).

## CDRI

Global population is increasingly becoming vulnerable to the impact of climate change and natural   hazards.   India   through   its   dedicated   initiative   of   Coalition   for   Disaster   Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) is bringing together nations to building a future that is disaster resilient through disaster and climate resilient infrastructure. India prioritizes to localize disaster and climate resilience information and technical capacity building through CDRI.

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