PM Modi Unveils Six Global Initiatives at G20 Johannesburg Summit

During the G20 Leaders’ Summit held in Johannesburg, South Africa, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented six new global initiatives that reflect India’s expanding global leadership in sustainable development, innovation, and humanitarian cooperation. These proposals, made on the summit’s opening day, aim to enhance inclusive economic growth, reinforce global resilience, and address critical global challenges.

Overview of the Six New Initiatives Proposed by India

1. Global Traditional Knowledge Repository

Aimed at preserving and sharing the ancestral wisdom of diverse civilizations, this digital platform will store traditional practices in medicine, agriculture, and sustainability. It will ensure that valuable knowledge is not lost to time and can be harnessed to benefit future generations across the globe.

2. Africa Skills Multiplier Program

This initiative envisions training and certifying one million skilled trainers in Africa to create a long-lasting human capital base. It aims to generate employment, build local capacity, and promote self-reliant growth by leveraging India’s experience in large-scale skill development.

3. Global Healthcare Response Team

Modi proposed the creation of a rapid-deployment healthcare team composed of experts from G20 countries to address global health crises, pandemics, or emergencies. This would strengthen preparedness and build a global healthcare safety net for future outbreaks.

4. Countering the Drug-Terror Nexus

Recognising the growing link between drug trafficking and terrorism, this initiative aims to enhance global cooperation to combat the drug-terror economy through joint enforcement, intelligence sharing, and legal frameworks among G20 members.

5. Open Satellite Data Partnership

This partnership seeks to make satellite data from G20 space agencies available to developing countries, especially in the Global South. Such access will benefit agriculture, fisheries, disaster response, and environmental monitoring, enabling smart data-driven development.

6. Critical Minerals Circularity Initiative

As demand for critical minerals soars due to green technologies, this initiative promotes urban mining, battery recycling, and circular economy models. It aims to ensure sustainable mineral use and reduce dependence on mining, thus securing resilient supply chains.

India’s Broader Climate and Development Vision

In the summit’s second session on “A Resilient World,” PM Modi linked these initiatives to India’s climate leadership and vision for a just energy transition. He highlighted,

• The importance of climate adaptation and disaster resilience
• The Deccan Principles on Food Security adopted under India’s G20 Presidency
• Support for the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) to mobilise finance, tech, and skills

He also acknowledged India’s work in food security, insurance, and nutrition through programmes like,

• Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (world’s largest food security scheme)
• Ayushman Bharat (world’s largest health insurance scheme)
• PM Fasal Bima Yojana (comprehensive crop insurance)

Promoting Millets and Sustainable Agriculture

India continues championing Shree Anna (millets) as climate-resilient and nutritious grains, advocating their global adoption as a tool to fight hunger and climate change. This ties into India’s larger food system reforms and its role as a global food security contributor.

Embracing Integral Humanism for Balanced Development

In a philosophical conclusion, PM Modi urged world leaders to explore Integral Humanism, a development approach rooted in India’s civilizational ethos. He stressed the need to harmonise human well-being with nature, especially as the G20 summit took place in Africa for the first time.

India’s message: development must balance prosperity with planetary health, and not come at the cost of environmental or social degradation.

About the G20

• The Group of Twenty (G20) is an intergovernmental forum of the world’s largest economies, including 19 countries and the European Union.
• It represents 85% of global GDP, 75% of international trade, and two-thirds of the world’s population.
• African Union was the Latest member to inducted in the group.

Ready Takeaways

• Modi proposed six initiatives: knowledge repository, Africa skilling, healthcare response, drug-terror countering, satellite data sharing, and minerals circularity.
• He linked them to India’s broader climate action, sustainability, and food security leadership.
• The initiatives emphasise inclusivity, innovation, and South-South cooperation.
• Concepts like Integral Humanism and Shree Anna reflect India’s cultural approach to sustainable development.