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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5644
ANSWERED ON- 27.03.2026
COOPERATION AMONG GLOBAL SOUTH COUNTRIES
5644. SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-
(a) the recent initiatives undertaken by India to strengthen
multilateralism and promote cooperation among countries of the
Global South, through platforms such as the G20, BRICS, SCO and
the Voice of Global South Summit;
(b) the objectives and strategic priorities guiding these initiatives,
particularly in the context of evolving global governance structures
and emerging geopolitical challenges;
(c) the steps taken to ensure that the concerns of developing
countries are adequately reflected in multilateral deliberations; and
(d) the manner in which these initiatives contribute to addressing
shared priorities of the Global South, including food, fertiliser and
1energy security, climate action, debt sustainability and inclusive
development?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a to d) India has undertaken significant initiatives to strengthen
multilateralism and promote Global South cooperation through
major multilateral platforms. During its G20 Presidency, India hosted
the G20 Summit in New Delhi on 9-10 September 2023 under the
theme 'One Earth, One Family, One Future', rooted in 'Vasudhaiva
Kutumbakam'. At India's initiative, the African Union was admitted
as a permanent member of the G20, marking a historic expansion of
Global South representation in premier global governance forums.
India assumed the BRICS Chairship on 1 January 2026 under the
theme 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and
Sustainability', with particular focus on a people-centric and
humanity-first approach. India pioneered the Voice of Global South
Summit (VOGSS) as a unique platform for developing countries to
share perspectives and priorities, with three editions held (January
2023, November 2023, August 2024), each seeing participation of
2over 100 countries from Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Pacific
Islands. Inputs emanating from the first VOGSS contributed in
framing outcomes on matters important to the Global South during
India’s G20 presidency. India also engages actively in the SCO
framework, having hosted the SCO Summit on 4 July 2023 during its
Chairship.
Through these engagements, India seeks a reinvigorated,
inclusive multilateral order reflecting contemporary realities,
including reform of international financial institutions, the UN
Security Council, and other global governance structures for
equitable developing country representation.
India continues to work with partners in amplifying the voice
of the Global South. On food and fertiliser security, the G20 New
Delhi Leaders' Declaration emphasised open, fair, and transparent
agricultural trade, resilient supply chains, and sustainable
practices. On energy security, India launched the Global Biofuel
Alliance at the G20 New Delhi Summit, and continues advocating
energy access through the International Solar Alliance and 'One Sun
One World One Grid' initiative. India's G20 Presidency secured
significant progress on climate finance for developing countries on
3concessional terms, culminating in the Green Development Pact
with High-level Principles on LiFE. India also launched the Coalition
for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) to promote resilience of
infrastructure systems in developing countries to climate and
disaster risks. On debt sustainability, India advocated reforms in
Multilateral Development Banks, with the G20 agreeing on
sustainable financing mechanisms to address developing country
vulnerabilities. India championed Digital Public Infrastructure for
inclusive development, with G20 decisions on global value chain
mapping and digital certificate recognition benefiting MSMEs, and
contributed $25 million for DPI acceleration in the Global South.
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