Context:

• The 20th G-20 Summit was held from 22–23 November 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Key Points:

• This summit was the first G-20 Summit held on the African continent.
• Host country: South Africa
• City: Johannesburg
• Dates: 22–23 November 2025
• India’s representation: Prime Minister Narendra Modi
• Chairmanship: The summit was chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
• Theme: "Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability"
• The theme particularly focused on three broad priorities:

1. Inclusive and Sustainable Development: Address economic inequality, fight poverty and hunger, and revive                      Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

2. Climate Finance and Disaster Resilience: Mobilize finance for equitable energy transition in developing countries and      strengthen coordinated action to reduce disaster risks.

3. Reform in Global Governance: Make multilateral institutions (such as UN, WTO, MDBs) more inclusive and                      representative of the Global South.

• This was the fourth consecutive G20 Summit chaired by a Global South country (Indonesia-2022, India-2023, Brazil-2024, South Africa-2025).
• It highlighted the growing role of Global South countries in global economic governance.
• The main objective of South Africa’s chairmanship was to reduce global inequality and promote industrial development and sustainable utilization of critical minerals for the African continent.
• The summit faced geopolitical tension due to the absence of top leaders from the United States (and China).
• The U.S. did not participate due to deteriorating relations with South Africa.

Important Outcomes and Declarations:

• Leaders adopted the “Johannesburg Declaration,” a comprehensive 122-point joint document, reflecting consensus to address global challenges.
• Highlights of the Declaration:

• • Climate Action: Called for accelerated energy transition strategies to achieve global net-zero targets. It also recognized that developing countries would need at least $1.3 trillion by 2035 for climate adaptation.
  • Debt Relief: Emphasized strengthening debt sustainability frameworks for vulnerable and low-income countries and making debt restructuring more transparent and faster.
  • Multilateral Cooperation: The declaration reaffirmed adherence to the UN Charter, sovereignty, and principles of regional integrity, sending a message of peaceful resolution amidst geopolitical tensions.
  • Critical Minerals: Emphasized a sustainable framework for minerals like lithium and cobalt to ensure the Global South benefits more from these resources.

India’s Role:

• India strongly raised the voice of the Global South.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented India’s perspective in the opening session, based on the principle of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is one family).
• He emphasized rethinking the global development model, breaking the economic backbone of terrorism (e.g., drug-terror nexus), and ensuring resource equity for the Global South.
• This reflected India’s vision of “One Earth, One Family, One Future,” continuing from the Delhi G20 2023.

Three Key Proposals by PM Modi:

1. Rethinking the Development Model: Called for replacing traditional GDP-centric development parameters. Modi                highlighted that these models increase inequality and environmental harm, especially in Africa. He proposed a human-    centric, sustainable model, including green energy and digital inclusion. This is inspired by India’s Integral Humanism,      emphasizing harmony between nature, society, and individuals.

2. Breaking the Backbone of Terrorism: Proposed a G20 initiative targeting the drug-terror nexus, including multi-                  dimensional frameworks for financial, intelligence, and security measures to dismantle synthetic drug networks (e.g.,        fentanyl) funding terrorism. This extends India’s zero-tolerance policy.

3. Resource Equity for the Global South: Focused on critical minerals and circular economy practices such as recycling,     urban mining, and “second-life” batteries. Aim: Ensure equal access for developing countries in the clean energy              transition.

• PM Modi announced that India will host an AI Impact Summit in February 2026 on the theme “Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay” and invite all G20 countries.

About G-20 (Group of Twenty)

• Established: 1999, after the financial crisis of 1997-98
• Upgraded: Post-2008 global financial crisis, leaders/head of state level
• Designated as: “Key platform for international economic cooperation” in 2009
• Membership: 19 countries + European Union, African Union (added during India’s 2023 chairmanship)
• Secretariat: No permanent secretariat
• Operations: Annual, through rotating chairmanship
• Selection for Chairmanship: From five regional groups (EU and AU are outside these groups)