Why this matters now
India’s Global-South leadership is a central plank of its current foreign policy — tested for the concept, India’s initiatives and the strategic rationale.
What is the Global South?
The “Global South” broadly refers to the developing and emerging economies of Asia, Africa and Latin America — diverse nations sharing concerns about development, equity, debt, climate justice and a fairer world order. It echoes the older non-aligned and South-South cooperation traditions.
India’s leadership
India has hosted the Voice of Global South Summit, used its G20 presidency to mainstream Global-South priorities (e.g. admitting the African Union), and offers development partnerships — concessional credit (lines of credit), capacity-building (ITEC), vaccines (Vaccine Maitri), disaster relief and digital public infrastructure — based on demand-driven, non-prescriptive cooperation.
Rationale and challenges
The rationale: strategic autonomy, markets and resources, countering China’s influence, and a claim to global leadership (“vishwaguru”). Challenges: the diversity of the South, resource constraints, competition with China’s BRI, and managing ties with the West simultaneously.
UPSC angle
Know the Global South concept, India’s initiatives (Voice of Global South Summit, AU in G20, ITEC, Vaccine Maitri, lines of credit, DPI sharing), and the strategic rationale vs China.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Global South?
A broad term for the developing and emerging economies of Asia, Africa and Latin America with shared development concerns.
How does India lead the Global South?
Through the Voice of Global South Summit, its G20 presidency, development partnerships, capacity-building and vaccine diplomacy.
What is Vaccine Maitri?
India’s initiative to supply COVID-19 vaccines to other countries, especially in the developing world.
Why does India champion the Global South?
For strategic autonomy, markets and resources, countering China’s influence, and a claim to global leadership.