Context

• India’s recent diplomatic moves indicate a renewed ambition to champion the interests of the Global South.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speeches at the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention and the 3rd Voice of Global South Summit highlight India’s commitment to fostering an inclusive global governance structure.
• Unlike its past involvement in the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM), India’s current approach does not focus on decolonisation or Western opposition but seeks to establish itself as a bridge between the Global North and the Global South.
• The question arises: What has driven India’s proactive stance, and how can it effectively influence global development?

Motivations Behind India’s Engagement with the Global South

• The China Factor
  • Several factors contribute to India’s growing enthusiasm in global governance, particularly in championing the interests of developing nations.
  • A frequently cited explanation is India’s strategic competition with China. Given China’s dominant presence in Africa and Asia through infrastructure investments and financial assistance, India is keen to present an alternative development model.
  • Unlike China’s state-led, loan-driven approach, India emphasises equal partnerships and sustainable growth.
  • Moreover, industrialised countries appear to be supporting India in counterbalancing China’s expanding global influence, as seen in alliances like the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) between India, the United States, Japan, and Australia.
• India’s Aspiration to Become a Self-Reliant Power
  • However, India’s aspirations are not solely based on geopolitical rivalry.
  • It seeks to establish itself as a self-reliant power advocating for fairer economic structures.
  • Many developing nations face economic struggles due to debt burdens and policy conditionalities imposed by international financial institutions.
  • India positions itself as a leader that understands these concerns, given its own development trajectory.
  • This nuanced approach differentiates India from both China and Western powers, making it a viable candidate for leadership within the Global South.

Steps India Must Take to Strengthen Its Global Role

• Redefining Development Cooperation
  • India must reinforce its commitment to a bottom-up development approach rather than replicating traditional donor-recipient models.
  • While its recently launched ‘Global Development Compact’ aims to support growth in the Global South, it is largely shaped by Indian experiences.
  • To be truly effective, India should move beyond a unilateral approach and engage in collaborative learning with partner nations.
  • Countries are more likely to embrace India’s leadership if they see it as an equal partner rather than a dominant force.
• A Human-Centric Development Model
  • India’s promotion of sustainable development through initiatives like Mission LiFE (‘Lifestyle for Environment’) is commendable, but it must expand its definition of human-centric progress.
  • Beyond sustainability, India should focus on building human capital through skill development, entrepreneurship, and capacity-building programs.
  • Programs such as Skill India and initiatives for integrating women into the workforce can be tailored to other developing nations seeking to strengthen their domestic industries.
  • Moreover, India’s experience in developing micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) offers valuable lessons for other economies.
  • By sharing knowledge on digital infrastructure, climate solutions, and food security, India can establish long-term development partnerships rather than short-term engagements.
• Institutional Strengthening and Global Governance Reform
  • India has taken notable steps toward reforming international governance structures. Its advocacy for the African Union’s inclusion in the G-20 in 2023 exemplifies its commitment to amplifying the voices of the Global South.
  • However, to emerge as a credible global development partner, India must also invest in building its own institutional capacities.
  • Relying solely on external partnerships, such as those with the United Nations or European countries, may be a short-term necessity, but in the long run, India needs robust domestic mechanisms to lead global initiatives independently.
  • Engaging in trilateral partnerships with experienced global actors can serve as a valuable learning opportunity to refine India’s approach to development cooperation.

The Way Forward

• As India aspires to become a stronger global development player, it must establish norms, standards and systems to work with partner countries.
• Initially, it is beneficial to use existing institutional channels of partners such as the United Nations or Germany and France that are more experienced in development cooperation.
• However, the long-term goal should be for India to create its own robust domestic systems for international cooperation.
• Trilateral partnerships and increased engagement with new partners need to be seen as a learning by doing process, where India imbibes its experiences to scale up India-led global initiatives.

Conclusion

• India stands at a pivotal moment in global politics, where it has the opportunity to redefine its role as a leader of the Global South.
• By positioning itself as an advocate for more inclusive economic structures, promoting a human-centric development model, and strengthening its institutional frameworks, India can emerge as an effective global development partner.
• However, for India to be the ‘Voice’ of the Global South, it must also ‘listen’—ensuring that its policies align with the needs and aspirations of developing nations.