G20 — Formation, Structure, India's Presidency & Recent Summits

Formation and Evolution of the G20

The Group of Twenty (G20) was formally established on 26 September 1999 at the G7 Finance Ministers' meeting in Washington, D.C., with an inaugural ministerial meeting on 15–16 December 1999 in Berlin. Its creation was a direct response to the 1997–98 Asian Financial Crisis, which revealed that the G7 alone could not manage the interconnected global economy.

Elevation to Leaders' Summit (2008): The G20 operated only at the Finance Ministers level until the 2008 Global Financial Crisis triggered its elevation. The first G20 Leaders' Summit was held in Washington, D.C. on 14–15 November 2008 — the G20's transformation from a technocratic forum to the premier platform for international economic cooperation.

Composition

The G20 comprises 19 individual countries + 2 regional blocs = 21 members:

Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States + European Union (founding member) + African Union (admitted September 2023)

African Union (AU) Inclusion: At the New Delhi Summit on 9 September 2023, the AU was formally admitted as the 21st permanent member — the first expansion since the G20's founding in 1999. The AU represents 55 African nations and approximately 1.4 billion people.

The G20 accounts for approximately:

• 85% of global GDP
• 75% of global trade
• Two-thirds of the world's population

G20 Structure

The G20 operates through two parallel tracks:

Finance Track (Sherpa Track)

• Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meetings (quarterly)
• Managed by Sherpas (personal representatives of Leaders)
• Working Groups: Sustainable Finance, International Financial Architecture, Global Health, Digital Economy, etc.

Leaders Track

• Annual Leaders' Summit — the apex body

Engagement Groups (Civil Society Parallel Tracks)

Troika System

The G20 Presidency rotates among members under a regional rotation system. The Troika consists of the current, past, and incoming Presidencies working together for continuity:

India's G20 Presidency 2023

India held the G20 Presidency from 1 December 2022 to 30 November 2023.

Theme: "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — One Earth, One Family, One Future"

Scale: Over 200 meetings across 60 cities — the largest multilateral exercise India has ever organised.

New Delhi Declaration (9–10 September 2023)

The Leaders' Summit adopted the New Delhi Declaration — an 83-paragraph consensus document, with 100% consensus across all 21 members including on Ukraine conflict language (a significant diplomatic feat given Russia-West tensions).

Key outcomes:

IMEC — Current Status (2025)

The India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor was the flagship connectivity initiative of India's G20 Presidency, but its implementation has been complicated:

• The October 2023 Hamas-Israel war froze Saudi-Israeli normalisation talks that were the political bedrock of the corridor
• Physical rail segments between Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel remain largely on paper
• Diplomatically alive: All signatories remain committed; Modi-Trump White House meeting (2025) reaffirmed IMEC's importance
• April 2025: Construction of some infrastructure components officially began
• February 2025: European Commission President Von der Leyen and PM Modi reaffirmed IMEC during her India visit
• Key challenge: The corridor requires Saudi-Israeli normalisation, different technical rail standards across nations, and coordinated investment

Brazil G20 Presidency 2024

Summit: Rio de Janeiro, 18–19 November 2024

Three Priorities of Brazil's Presidency:

1. Social inclusion and the fight against hunger and poverty
2. Sustainable development, energy transitions, and climate action
3. Reform of global governance institutions

Key outcomes of the Rio Summit:

South Africa G20 Presidency 2025

Summit date: Johannesburg Expo Centre, 22–23 November 2025 — first G20 summit on African soil and first since the AU became a permanent G20 member.

Theme: "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability"

Four Operational Pillars:

1. Economic Growth and Employment
2. Sustainable Finance and Investment
3. Energy Transition and Climate Action
4. Health and Food Security

Johannesburg Declaration — Key Outcomes

The summit adopted a 122-paragraph Johannesburg Declaration (Argentina was the only member not to subscribe). Notably, the US sent no head-of-state representative — the Trump administration did not attend, and seven of 19 member states were absent at the leaders' level; despite this, all other members adopted the declaration at the opening of the summit rather than at its close — an unusual procedural signal of solidarity.

G20 vs G7 vs BRICS — Comparison

Global Minimum Corporate Tax (Pillar Two) — G20 Context

The OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on BEPS (Base Erosion and Profit Shifting) introduced the 15% global minimum corporate tax (Pillar Two) for multinationals with revenue above €750 million.

• Income Inclusion Rule (IIR) came into effect 1 January 2024 in jurisdictions that enacted it
• As of early 2025: 55+ jurisdictions have enacted implementing legislation
• India's status: Has participated in the Inclusive Framework but has not yet enacted domestic GloBE (Global Anti-Base Erosion) legislation

India's Strategic Interests in the G20

1. Global South representation: India used its Presidency to amplify voices of developing nations — AU admission, Voice of the Global South, debt restructuring for African/Sri Lankan economies
2. Digital governance: Exporting the India Stack (DPI) model as a global public good
3. Climate finance: Pushing developed nations to honour $100 billion/year pledge and establish a loss-and-damage fund
4. Reform of multilateralism: Advocating for UNSC expansion, IMF quota reform, and WTO reform
5. Connectivity: IMEC as an alternative to China's BRI

Cross-paper relevance

• GS2 (primary) — India's G20 Presidency 2023; AU as permanent G20 member; Voice of Global South; G20 New Delhi Declaration; G20 Brazil 2024; IMEC; digital public infrastructure (DPI) as G20 outcome
• GS3 — Global debt architecture; climate finance pledges; global minimum corporate tax; digital economy governance; IMEC trade route
• GS4 (Ethics) — India's responsibility as G20 host to represent Global South; ethics of global financial architecture dominated by the West
• Essay — "India's G20 Presidency: from Vishwabandhu to Vishwaguru?"; "Global governance in the age of multipolarity: can the G20 deliver?"

Recent Developments (2024–2026)

G20 Brazil Summit 2024 — Rio de Janeiro (November 2024)

The 19th G20 Summit under Brazil's Presidency was held in Rio de Janeiro on 18–19 November 2024. Brazil's three presidency priorities were: social inclusion and fight against hunger and poverty; sustainable development and energy transition; and global governance reform. Key outcomes:

The Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty was launched with 148 endorsers (82 countries, AU, EU, 9 international financial institutions) — aimed at achieving SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) through coordinated national structured programmes. G20 leaders endorsed progressive taxation for ultra-high-net-worth individuals (a Brazilian proposal). The Rio de Janeiro Declaration was adopted. The African Union's permanent G20 membership (achieved under India's 2023 presidency) was further institutionalised.

UPSC angle: G20 Brazil 2024 — Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty (148 endorsers), Rio Declaration, progressive taxation proposal. Next in sequence: G20 South Africa 2025.

G20 South Africa Presidency 2025 — Summit Outcomes (Johannesburg, 22–23 November 2025)

The 20th G20 Leaders' Summit was held at the Johannesburg Expo Centre on 22–23 November 2025 — making South Africa the first African nation to host the G20, and the first summit since the African Union joined as a permanent member. The 122-paragraph Johannesburg Declaration was adopted with all members except Argentina; the US sent no head-of-state representative (Trump administration boycott — unprecedented in G20 history).

Key outcomes: Mission 300 (electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030); Cost of Capital Commission (reform credit rating practices, reduce "African risk premium"); Nelson Mandela Bay Target (cut NEET youth rate by 5% by 2030); Partnership for African Infrastructure; Ubuntu Approaches on Food Security; AI for Africa initiative; Critical Minerals Framework commitment; strong climate finance language adopted despite US opposition.

India's role: PM Modi attended, using the summit to amplify Global South priorities and showcase India's DPI model. India's engagement demonstrated the lasting relevance of its 2023 G20 legacy.

UPSC angle: G20 South Africa 2025 — first African G20 summit; 122-para declaration (US absent, Argentina dissented); Mission 300; Cost of Capital Commission; Nelson Mandela Bay Target; Ubuntu Approaches on Food Security. US absence and Argentina's non-subscription are important Mains dimensions on G20 effectiveness.

Troika Continuity — India-Brazil-South Africa-USA Sequence

The G20 Troika (current, previous, and upcoming presidency holders) through 2025 was: India (2023) — Brazil (2024) — South Africa (2025). India remained in the Troika throughout 2023–2025, giving India sustained influence across three consecutive presidencies.

For 2026, the Troika became South Africa (2025) — USA (2026) — UK (2027). The USA assumed the G20 Presidency on 1 December 2025, with the 2026 G20 Leaders' Summit to be held at Trump National Doral, Miami in December 2026. The US under Trump has announced a narrowed agenda — focused on energy supply chains, deregulation, and technology; it has removed climate change, debt relief, development, and sustainability from the presidency priorities. The US also announced it would bar South Africa from the 2026 summit (later walked back), raising concerns about Troika continuity.

UPSC angle: G20 Troika 2023–2025 = India + Brazil + South Africa. India's unusually long Troika membership (2023–2025) is a strategic detail. For 2026: USA chairs; UK is incoming president (2027). US G20 agenda narrowing — climate language removal — is a major Mains dimension on multilateral governance effectiveness.

India's Continuing G20 Legacy — Global Biofuel Alliance and GBA Progress

The Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA), launched at India's G20 presidency in September 2023, gained additional members through 2024. The GBA aims to accelerate adoption of sustainable biofuels as part of the clean energy transition. By mid-2024, GBA had 24 member countries and 12 international organisations. India has positioned GBA as part of its energy transition diplomacy alongside the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative.

UPSC angle: Global Biofuel Alliance — launched India G20 2023, membership growing (24 countries by mid-2024), part of India's renewable energy multilateral strategy alongside ISA.

PYQ Relevance

• (GS2 Mains 2023): "Assess India's G20 Presidency 2023 and evaluate whether it successfully represented the interests of the Global South." (15 marks)
• (Prelims 2024 pattern): G20 founding year, AU inclusion, Troika system, New Delhi Declaration specifics
• (GS2 Mains 2022): "Discuss the relevance of the G20 as a forum for global economic governance."

Exam Strategy

Non-negotiable Prelims facts:

• G20 founded: 26 September 1999 (ministerial meeting); Leaders' Summit from 2008
• 21 members = 19 countries + EU + AU
• AU admitted: 9 September 2023 (New Delhi Summit) — first expansion in G20's history
• India's Presidency: 1 Dec 2022 – 30 Nov 2023, theme: Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam
• GBA launched: 9 September 2023 alongside New Delhi Declaration
• Brazil 2024: Rio Summit; Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty (148 members)
• South Africa 2025: Johannesburg Expo Centre, 22–23 Nov; theme "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability" — first G20 on African soil; 122-para declaration; US absent; Mission 300; Cost of Capital Commission; Nelson Mandela Bay Target
• USA 2026: Trump National Doral, Miami; 14–15 December 2026 (confirmed); Troika = South Africa + USA + UK; narrowed agenda (climate, development language removed); US assumed G20 Presidency 1 December 2025

Mains angles:

• G20 as the premier forum for global economic governance — why it matters more than G7 or UN bodies
• India's presidency success: DPI, AU inclusion, 100% consensus on Ukraine language
• IMEC: connectivity ambition vs. geopolitical reality; contrast with BRI
• Limitations of G20: non-binding decisions, structural inequality between members, absence of enforcement mechanism
• Global Minimum Tax: 15% Pillar Two — implications for India's competitiveness as a destination for MNC profits

Cross-link: For current G20 developments under the US 2026 Presidency and BRICS India 2026, follow Ujiyari.com.

Key Terms

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• Definition: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 interlinked global goals with 169 targets, adopted by all 193 UN member states in September 2015 as the core of the "2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development", providing a shared blueprint to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure peace and prosperity by 2030.
• Context: The SDGs were adopted on 25 September 2015 through UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/70/1 ("Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development") and took effect in January 2016. They succeeded the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs, 2000–2015), expanding the agenda from a narrow set of development targets for poorer nations to a universal framework that integrates economic, social and environmental dimensions for all countries. In India, NITI Aayog is the nodal agency for monitoring SDG implementation and publishes the SDG India Index to track state and UT progress.
• UPSC Relevance: This is a foundational GS2 (international institutions, governance) and GS3 (sustainable development, environment) concept that UPSC tests repeatedly. Prelims commonly probes factual recall — number of goals (17) and targets (169), year of adoption (2015), the predecessor MDGs, and the nodal agency (NITI Aayog). Mains and Essay use the SDGs as an analytical frame for poverty, climate action, gender equality and cooperative federalism, often linked to the SDG India Index. Note: no PYQ ID is cited here, as none has been independently verified for this exact term — treat the above as the established testing pattern.

Gujral Doctrine vs Modi Doctrine

• Definition: The Gujral Doctrine is a set of five principles for India's South Asia policy articulated by I.K. Gujral in 1996, built on non-reciprocal goodwill towards smaller neighbours; the "Modi Doctrine" is an informal umbrella label for the Narendra Modi government's foreign-policy framework since 2014, organised around "Neighbourhood First", "Act East" and SAGAR. Together they represent two distinct phases of India's neighbourhood and regional strategy.
• Context: I.K. Gujral first set out his principles in a speech at Chatham House, London, in September 1996, while serving as External Affairs Minister; the term "Gujral Doctrine" was later coined by journalist Bhabani Sen Gupta. Nearly two decades later, the Modi government rebranded the 1990s "Look East" approach into "Act East" (announced at the East Asia Summit in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, on 13 November 2014) and launched the SAGAR maritime vision (Mauritius, 12 March 2015). Unlike the Gujral Doctrine, "Modi Doctrine" is not a single codified text but an analytical label applied by commentators to a cluster of initiatives.
• UPSC Relevance: This pairing is a foundational concept for GS2 (India and its neighbourhood; bilateral and regional groupings) and is best handled as a comparative analytical theme rather than rote recall. UPSC tends to test it through Mains questions on the evolution of India's neighbourhood policy, the shift from idealism/non-reciprocity to a more assertive, connectivity- and security-driven approach, and how doctrines respond to China's regional footprint. No verified PYQ exists for this exact paired term; treat it as underpinning the broader question family on India's foreign-policy doctrines, SAARC/BIMSTEC dynamics, and the Indian Ocean Region.