COUNTING INDIA'S GEOPOLITICAL GAINS AND LOSSES

India convinced the G20 that it is a leader of the Global South and on climate issues. It manoeuvered diplomatic minefields to draw key allies closer

- LT GEN SYED ATA HASNAIN RETD)

G20 took the world by storm. The group had perhaps never witnessed the sort of commitment that India displayed. A couple of things characterised the country's presidency. All stops were pulled out to prepare. And each working sub-group had specially appointed government functionaries who were redeployed from their normal duties.

The appointment of Amitabh Kant, former CEO of Niti Aayog, as India's Sherpa, conveyed the right message. He has the correct mix of diplomatic savvy and knowledge of social and economic issues. For the over 200 meetings spread across 60 locations, one lakh delegates travelled to different corners of the country. While visiting the Corbett National Park, I was surprised to know that hectic preparations were underway for the G20 Chief Science Advisers Roundtable at faraway Ramnagar in Uttarakhand.

India introduced a working group that established disaster risk resilience (DRR) as the latest domain for review and action. There was a dire requirement for DRR on the G20 agenda because climatic disasters have been on the rise. The group had committed to mitigate related threats. Acts like these have helped improve India's stature in the international community.

It is not just a stroke of luck that India's economic parameters simultaneously witnessed an improvement. The international financial institutions' estimate of the growth in India's gross domestic product has been assessed to be on an upward spiral, contributing to the positive perception around the world. The abysmal state we had sunk to during the pandemic now seems like a distant past. The organisational capability on display-although it drew some criticism about the national capital's virtual lockdown-helped boost the image about India's capability to host big events.

This comes not too long before a potential bid to host the Olympic Games.