The recent G20 summit will see India making significant pledges towards accelerated, inclusive, and resilient economic growth. With a focus on sustainable development, technological transformation, and gender equality, India displayed its commitment to shaping a brighter future for its citizens. In this article, we will delve into India’s key initiatives that underscore its dedication to positive change.

Accelerated, Inclusive & Resilient Growth: India has pledged to accelerate its economic growth and make it more inclusive and resilient. This includes initiatives to promote investment, create jobs, and improve infrastructure.

• India, a rapidly growing economy, is determined to sustain its progress and achieve high middle-income status by 2047. Notably, between 2011 and 2019, the country successfully halved the share of its population living in extreme poverty, below $2.15 (INR 176.28) per person per day (2017 PPP) (World Bank Poverty and Inequality Portal and Macro Poverty Outlook, Spring 2023).

Progress on SDGs, Green Development and Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE): India has committed to making progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including those related to climate change, environmental protection, and sustainable development. The LiFE initiative is a new global framework for promoting sustainable lifestyles.

• While most States/UTs have either improved or maintained their overall composite scores from 2018 to 2019, the extent of change has varied. Notably, the top three States that showed remarkable improvement deserve special recognition.
• Uttar Pradesh stands out as the highest gainer, increasing its overall score from 42 in 2018 to 55 in 2019. The most significant advancement was in goal 7 – affordable and clean energy, with an impressive 40-point increase. Additionally, goal 6 – clean water and sanitation, and goal 9 – industry, innovation, and infrastructure, witnessed commendable progress with gains of 39 and 34 points, respectively. Following Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim secured notable positions in the overall composite score.

Technological Transformation & Digital Public Infrastructure: India has pledged to invest in technological transformation and digital public infrastructure. This includes initiatives to promote the use of technology in government, education, and healthcare.

• India is at the forefront of DPI, with over 13 billion Aadhaar numbers generated and 300 million users on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as of September. This remarkable accomplishment is a result of a strategic blend of offline grassroots outreach and a mobile-first approach to connect even the most remote areas.

Reforming Multilateral Institutions for the 21st century: India has called for reform of multilateral institutions, such as the United Nations and the World Bank. This includes initiatives to make these institutions more democratic and accountable.

Women-led Development: India has pledged to promote women-led development. This includes initiatives to increase women’s participation in the workforce, improve access to education and healthcare for women, and promote gender equality.

• Increased internet and mobile penetration in India has led to significant growth in female entrepreneurship. With approximately 13.5 million to 15.7 million women-owned MSMEs and agribusinesses, India surpasses many other countries in promoting women-led enterprises.

India’s participation in the G20 summit showcased its determination to achieve accelerated, inclusive, and sustainable growth. The outlined initiatives, coupled with relevant statistics, demonstrate India’s firm commitment to realizing its vision for a prosperous and equitable future. By addressing critical areas such as environmental sustainability, digital transformation, and gender equality, India is paving the way for positive change, not only within its borders but on the global stage as well.

I welcome your thoughts and engagement on India’s inspiring journey towards progress and prosperity. Together, let us build a brighter and more inclusive tomorrow.