High Commission of India, Lilongwe

Special Edition of Newsletter on the occasion of Independence Day 2025

Digital from India: Leapfrogging development through text-enabled citizen-centric governance

By Amb Debnath Shaw

At the 2nd Voice of the Global South Summit hosted virtually by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 17th November 2023, one key focus area was on, “Sustain the momentum of exchange and sharing of ideas and best practices between member countries…” At the 3rd Summit also hosted by the Indian PM on 17th August 2024, there was focus on, “…challenges of new technologies and need for South-South Cooperation co-operation for technology transfers…”. Of the four-fold Global Compact put forward by PM Modi one is on technology sharing. Thus, it is clear, that as a responsible voice of the Global South, India is willing to share its knowledge and expertise acquired in governance and other fields, which accelerate development, and is also keen to learn from other nations.

India’s journey in leapfrogging development through tech-enabled citizen-centric governance has been nothing short of transformative. Key milestones in India’s digital governance experience have been:

Digital India Initiative - the flagship programme of the Government of India, launched in 2015, with a vision to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy;

Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) – platforms like Aadhaar (over one billion citizens with a unique digital identity), UPI (with over 18 billion transactions in June 2025), DigiLocker (eliminating the need for physical documents) and e-Sign, have revolutionized service delivery; 

Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) – India became the first country to use DBT at scale, reducing corruption and ensuring timely delivery of welfare benefits; and

AI Integration in Governance – from grievance redressal systems to predictive analytics in healthcare and agriculture, AI is helping tailor services to citizen needs.

Institutional support and strategic vision to India’s Digital Governance is provided by the Digital India Corporation (DIC), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the National Informatics Centre (NIC), the National Institute of Smart Governance (NISG) and a Digital Brand Identity Manual (DBIM).

The DIC is responsible for establishing the National e-Governance in Accountability, Efficiency, Efficacy and Transparency, to promote digital literacy, accessibility, and inclusion, to develop and empower skilled manpower, to guide ministries/departments in enhancing accessibility and efficiency in public service delivery, and to support the MeitY in all its endeavours.

The NIC integrates emerging technologies like AI, blockchain and data analytics into governance frameworks.

The NISG acts as a strategic partner in implementing digital transformation across central ministries and states, including international collaboration with Global South nations.

DBIM standardizes government websites and applications for a unified citizen-friendly experience.

Impact on Governance and Society

In terms of Transparency and Accountability, E-governance platforms have reduced bureaucratic opacity and increased public trust.

In terms of Efficiency and Accessibility, public services are now available 24/7, with reduced paperwork and faster processing times.

In terms of Inclusivity, AI-driven tools and multilingual platforms ensure services reach marginal communities.

In terms of environmental benefits, the digital processes have led to paperless offices and reduced carbon footprints.

Some of the Programmes and Applications which are noteworthy and have received industry-based awards are:

MyGov.in – a platform to share inputs and ideas on matters of policy and governance, engaging citizens in governance through a “Discuss”, “Do” and “Disseminate” approach

POSHAN Tracker - a mobile-based application used by Anganwadi workers to provide real-time data on the delivery of nutrition and childcare services

DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing) is a national platform for school education

AYUSH Information Hub (AIH) has been set up to disseminate all authentic and verified information related to Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homoeopathy

UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance), for accessing over 1200 central and state government services in multiple languages, including services such as Aadhaar, DigiLocker, Bharat Bill Payment System, PAN EPFO, PMKVY, AICTE, CBSE, etc,

National AI Portal [INDIAai] (https://indiaai.gov.in), is the constant and dynamic source of knowledge on AI related topics

Chic-CAD Plus, is an open-source software used by artisans in making 2D designs like embroidery, chikankari, painting work, etc,.

The Digital India Campaign supports other Government of India schemes such as:

BharatNet, - provides broadband connectivity to unserved regions 

Make in India – to produce in India for the country and the world 

Startup India – aimed at fostering innovation, supporting entrepreneurs and building a robust ecosystem

Industrial Corridors – being developed along new railway and road alignments

Bharatmala - to enhance road connectivity and improve freight and passenger movement through development of highways and economic corridors

Sagarmala - port-led development modernising ports, promoting coastal shipping and boosting maritime activities

Atmanirbhar Bharat, whose aim is to make the country and its citizens independent and self-reliant in all senses. Its five pillars are Economy, Infrastructure, System, Vibrant Demography and Demand

Developed in India – Shared with the World

India ranks high in digital competitiveness among G-20 nations, though challenges remain in data security, cybersecurity and digital literacy. India’s model is now being replicated globally, with the India Stack serving as a blueprint for digital governance in other developing countries. 

UPI system is operational in Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Singapore and France. It is at various stages of integration in Qatar, Cyprus, Malaysia, Thailand, UK, Oman and Maldives. On 9th July 2025, during PM’s Visit, Namibia became the first country globally to sign a licensing agreement to adopt UPI technology. On 4th July 2025, during his meeting with his counterpart, PM Modi congratulated Trinidad & Tobago on becoming the first Caribbean country to adopt UPI.

Several African nations, Cambodia and the Philippines are keen on replicating India’s DPI deployment and India Stack and are availing of capacity building programmes offered by GOI.

DPI, UPI, AI, Aadhaar, DigiLocker, e-Sign, and other digital governance tools have been the subject of discussion and dialogue at the highest levels with countries across Asia, Africa and Latin America, including Singapore, France, Cyprus, Ghana, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Cuba, Argentina, Namibia, BIMSTEC partners, and Central Asian countries.

India is committed to sharing its experience and expertise with its global partners, on using technology for governance and growth. India is also keen to learn and assimilate the positive experience of friendly nations in the development of technology, for the welfare and prosperity of its people.

A Decade of the International Day of Yoga (IDY): Yoga for One earth, one Health
By Dr Raghavendra Rao M

Ten years ago, the idea of a global day dedicated to “yoga” might have seemed far-fetched. But here we are—yoga mats unrolled across the globe, from bustling urban parks to silent, icy outposts in Antarctica. The International Day of Yoga (IDY) has become much more: a movement rooted in well-being, connection, and a shared sense of humanity.

The journey to make yoga a global movement started in the year 2014, when our Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the UN General Assembly in September that year. His message was simple and powerful:

"Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment. It is not about exercise, but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world, and nature." On the directions of our Honorable Prime Minister, India’s permanent representative to the UN moved the resolution in the UN General Assembly on December 11, 2014, to observe June 21st as "International Day of Yoga," which was approved by 177 member states of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). 

In the resolution, adopted under the agenda of "Global Health and Foreign Policy," the UN General Assembly recognised that yoga "provides a holistic approach to health and well-being". For the wider dissemination of information about the benefits of practicing yoga for the health of the world population, the 21st of June is celebrated every year as International Day of Yoga (IDY) across the globe. The main significance of the UN declaring an "International Day" is to focus the attention of the international community on the topic and to encourage activities among the member states to commemorate the day.

As we celebrate the 11th anniversary of International Day of Yoga, the 2025 theme, "Yoga for One Earth, One Health," brings the message home. It’s a reminder that our health and the planet’s health are deeply intertwined. Yoga embodies the philosophy of holistic well-being – uniting the health of individuals with the health of the society and the planet. The principle of “One World, One Health” emphasizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, echoing the ancient yogic wisdom of unity (Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam – the world is one family). It is a philosophy that tries to foster an understanding that the whole of humanity is one family. It is a social philosophy emanating from a spiritual understanding that the whole of humanity is made of one life energy or Universal Consciousness. 

Yoga is a code to connect people with life and to reconnect mankind with nature. It expands our limited sense of self to see our families, societies, and mankind as extensions of our own selves. Yoga is a journey from me to we. Yoga makes an individual a better person in thought, action, knowledge, and devotion. Once an individual develops an interest in yoga and starts diligently practicing it, it will always remain a part of his or her life. Yoga is the entrance point to one’s spiritual journey. By practicing yoga, a spirit of oneness is created—oneness of the mind, body, and intellect. Oneness with our families, with the society we live in, with fellow humans, with all the birds, animals, and trees with whom we share our beautiful planet... this is yoga. Yoga has the potential to herald in a new Yuga (a new era) of peace, compassion, brotherhood, and all-round progress for the human race. Yoga is not only about Asanas. It is much more. It is a blend of Gyan (knowledge), Karma (action), and Bhakti (devotion). Yoga is a symbol of universal aspiration for health and well-being; it is health insurance on a zero budget. Yoga is not only about "Rog Mukti" (eradication of diseases) but also about "Bhog Mukti" (desisting from worldly greed). June 21, 2015, marked the first IDY celebration. In Delhi, nearly 36,000 people, including the Prime Minister, gathered on Rajpath for a mass yoga session. It wasn’t just a moment of national pride—it was the beginning of a global tradition.

Every year, Millions of people across the globe practice yoga, even during COVID-19. The theme was Yoga at Home, Yoga with family, and several people across borders participated in online yoga sessions. The Honorable Prime Minister also encouraged the countrymen to practice yoga during COVID times for community, immunity, and unity. Teleyoga guidelines were also released by the Ministry of Ayush during this year. The scale of participation led to several Guinness World Records, the recent one being around 3 Lakh people doing yoga across a 28 km stretch of beach road in Visakhapatnam, AP, along with our honorable Prime Minister. The scale of celebrations and reach has only grown over the years from the poles to the parks, from far off villages to the bustling urban jungles, from Icy heights of the Himalayas to the deserts, from kids to elderly, from layman to the armed forces yoga is being practiced by all irrespective of race, religion, geographies and age. 

This is reflected in the growing participation numbers each year, reaching approximately 25 crore. 

IDY is celebrated with different themes each year and innovative campaigns to reach out to the masses. This is celebrated using a whole-of-Government approach wherein all Ministries and Indian Foreign Missions take part in this global campaign. The Guardian ring of yoga starts from the coverage of IDY events across cities from the first Sunrise in the eastern Hemisphere to the last sunrise in the western hemisphere. The Sagar Mala or Ocean Ring of Yoga is a calling to observe yoga at all the seaports among nations friendly to India. The Indian Missions also engage the citizens in their countries on yoga by conducting workshops, IDY Common yoga protocol training, seminars, competitions, etc. to spread the message of yoga.

The International Day of Yoga is now a global movement that spreads the ancient Indian wisdom and culture among the comity of Nations with a call for Health, Harmony, and Well-being. Yoga isn’t just about touching your toes, but is about touching and transforming lives. 

Author: Dr Raghavendra Rao M, BNYS, PhD (Yoga & Life Sciences), DSc (Yoga & Life Sciences) Director, Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy, Ministry of Ayush, Govt of India.

India’s Journey towards Viksit Bharat: 11 years of Development, Progress & Nation building
By Amb Anil Trigunayat 

As India embarked on its fast-paced human centric developmental journey to become a developed country “Viksit Bharat @2047” by the time it completes the century of the independence, the past decade has been exceptional across the national and strategic spectrum. PM Narendra Modi’s call to dispense with the slavish mentality and rise and shine with the mantra of reform, perform and transform has already begun to yield remarkable dividends. Over 1550 archaic and cumbersome laws were repealed and jurisprudence updated. At 130 in 2017 in the Doing Business Index of the World Bank India rapidly moved to 63rd place resulting in significant increase in Foreign Direct Investment. Innovation eco system has produced 1.6 Mn start ups from mere 500 ten years ago with 118 unicorns. From fragile five to become the 4th largest economy in a decade is a remarkable achievement by any standards. According to Bloomberg based on IMF data , China, India and USA are projected to be the three global growth engines from 2025-2030.

India has also emerged as a key proponent of fight against climate change and a spokesman against the ‘Green Apartheid” .India has committed to ‘zero carbon’ by 2070 but by all accounts, it seems target may be achieved much earlier . In 2015 , India along with France launched the International Solar Alliance (ISA) perhaps the most consequential initiative after the NAM movement of the 1950s. A monumental achievement is that 50% of India’s installed electricity capacity now is attributable to non-fossil sources . This is integral to the quest for India’s energy security which is essential for it to continue to remain as the fastest growing major economy in the world. India is converting ambition and aspiration into action. Not only India launched another global initiative ‘The Global Biofuels Alliance’ during the Presidency of G20 in September 2023 but also completed the ethanol mixing targets way before . Same applies to its Nationally Determined Conrtributions (NDCs) where India is the first and the fastest to comply with.

The pandemic had hit the world hard in an unprecedented manner. But India’s response was unique since it was driven by its DNA dictum of ‘Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam’-world is one family . When the powerful countries were hoarding vaccines and medicines for geo political ends, India, not only manufactured its own but even for others from UK and Russia, provided billions of vaccines to over a hundred countries as part of its ‘Vaccine Maitri ‘– Vaccine Friendship outreach. More importantly, it had to cater for the one sixth of the world ‘s population which inhabits India. Since health care became a fundamental priority, India launched the government financed insurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), which is reported to have increased substantially since 2014. This is a government healthcare programme operated on a massive scale. Under AB-PMJAY 345 million Ayushman cards have been issued, and 29,914 hospitals have been empanelled. More than sixty-five million authorised hospital admissions have taken place under the scheme. This has been further extended to include senior citizens above 70.

India is essentially an agricultural country and farmers are the back bone of India and its food security. Hence, even at the Doha rounds of WTO, India has always stood for the cause and interests of large number of developing countries. PM Modi had announced doubling of farmers’ income through various initiatives and reforms at the grass roots level. Some of these include a scheme for soil health cards to all the farmers, National Agriculture Market (e-NAM),Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), and Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) which provides very low premium for farmers.” The PMKSY scheme, launched in 2015, supports the use of micro-irrigation technologies- which is a crop insurance scheme. No wonder in past decade the food grain production increased from 252 Mn tonnes to 332 Mn tonnes.

Fighting poverty has been one of the biggest tasks that the Indian Government has undertaken. Operating one of the world's largest food security programs, the Targeted Public Distribution System under the National Food Security Act covers 81.35 (Over 800 million) beneficiaries, providing food grains to rural and urban populations. Recent decisions, such as extending free food grain distribution under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana for another five years, exemplify Government's commitment. 

Self-Reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) has become the key to ‘Make in India for the world’ and local for global to be part of the global value and supply chains as it emerges as the smart manufacturing hub and services centre of the world. With its zero tolerance to terror policy the indigenous defence systems rained hell on the enemy during the Op-Sindoor action against Pakistan based terror hideouts.

India has excelled not only in space exploration from first ever landing on the southern moon and Chandrayaan to Gaganyaan missions but excelled through its Digital Public Infrastructure (DBI) and Unique Digital Identity Aadhar and exceptionally large number of bank accounts across India for distribution of the benefits and payments directly into accounts .By linking Aadhaar with Jan Dhan bank accounts and mobile umbers (the “JAM” Trinity), the government streamlined the By linking Aadhaar with Jan Dhan bank accounts and mobile By linking Aadhaar with Jan Dhan bank accounts and mobile numbers (the “JAM” Trinity), the government streamlined the delivery of social welfare programs, reducing fraud and ensuring that benefits reached the intended recipients directly and efficiently. This proved particularly crucial during the pandemic, enabling swift and targeted disbursement of financial aid to those most in need. numbers (the “JAM” Trinity), the government streamlined the delivery of social welfare programs, reducing fraud and ensuring that benefits reached the intended recipients directly and efficiently. This proved particularly crucial during the pandemic, enabling swift and targeted disbursement of financial aid to those most in need. All these digital tools and Apps and digital public goods have been made available to the world especially the developing countries. AI for All, One earth one health, one grid one world are not mere slogans but policy directives of a resurgent India steeped in its civilizational ethos.

In this fractured world order, India’s sane and value based foreign policy has become robust, resilient and result oriented as it seeks to comprehensively enhance its own power spectrum through strategic autonomy and multi-alignments entrenching reformed multilateralism and multi-polarity. This was evident recently when PM Modi was again invited by PM Mark Carney to G7 Summit in Canada, despite cooler ties with them, since he felt that it was important to have India at the table. It is increasingly becoming a rule shaper from G7 to G20 to BRICS and beyond. Interest of the Global South is served by example and advocacy and by being their credible voice while pursuing inclusivity and human centric approaches.

(Amb Anil Trigunayat is a former Indian Ambassador and a Distinguished Fellow at Vivekananda International Foundation)

India’s Cosmic Leap: A Billion Dreams, Will See Visits to Moon, Mars and Venus 
By Pallava Bagla 

Reaching for the stars is becoming an everyday affair at India’s space agency, having visited the Moon and Mars with orbital missions, now eyes are set on a mission to Venus and a sample return from the Moon. Human space flight to fly an Indian citizen on an Indian rocket from Indian soil where the countdown will also be by India, is also taking shape fast. 

India’s space journey reached new heights with the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 nearer the Moon’s South Pole on August 23, 2023, making India the first country to achieve this feat. This mission demonstrated ISRO’s capability in precision lunar landing and roving. The Vikram lander even performed a hop experiment, and the propulsion module was later maneuvered into Earth orbit for extended operations 2.

Building on this momentum, ISRO achieved its 100th rocket launch in January 2025, launching a navigation satellite, showcasing India’s indigenous cryogenic engine technology. 

The pinnacle came with the July 30, 2025 launch of the nearly $1.3 billion NASA ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar or NISAR satellite, a joint Indo-US Earth observation mission. Launched aboard India’s GSLV F-16, NISAR features dual-frequency SAR payloads from NASA and ISRO, and will monitor climate change, disasters, and agriculture 5. ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan hailed it as a symbol of India’s technological leadership and global collaboration, emphasizing the precision and reliability of India’s cryogenic launch systems.

In a landmark achievement for India’s space program, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla completed a 20-day mission, including 18 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS), as part of the multinational Axiom-4 mission—dubbed Mission Akash Ganga. This marks India’s first human spaceflight since Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma in 1984. Prime Minister Modi hailed Shukla’s courage and dedication as inspiring a billion dreams.

Launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9, Shukla served as mission pilot and conducted seven India-specific experiments. Despite delays, the mission concluded successfully with a splashdown near San Diego. It lays the foundation for India’s Gaganyaan mission, targeting a 2027 launch from Indian soil.

India’s roadmap doesn’t stop at Gaganyaan, Prime Minister Modi has outlined a bold vision: establish an Indian space station by 2035 and land an Indian on the moon by 2040. If successful, India will join the elite club of nations—Russia, the United States, and China—with independent indigenous human spaceflight capabilities.

India’s lunar legacy is already formidable. India’s first foray to the moon with the Chandrayaan-1 mission in 2008 discovered presence of water molecules on the moon, fundamentally altering lunar geological history forever. Chandrayaan-2 provided the first independent images of Apollo mission artefacts left on the lunar surface, and Chandrayaan-3 made global headlines by landing nearer the moon’s South Pole—now considered the gold rush zone for lunar exploration.

With cost-effective yet reliable space missions, India is poised to become a major player in the global space race. The government has already allocated billions of dollars for the human spaceflight program, underscoring its commitment to cosmic exploration. 

India’s science minister Dr Jitendra Singh who also looks after the affairs of the Department of Space says `India’s quantum leap in space research with India’s space economy standing at $8 billion has been only possible due to the courageous decision to open up or unlock the space sector from the shackles of the past.’ Further highlighting that `India’s space economy is projected to grow beyond $40 billion by 2040 which is going to be a gigantic jump’.

The future space missions include lunar sample return mission named Chandrayaan-4; a mission to Venus; the development of the new mighty rocket, as part of this ambitious roadmap, India plans to establish its own space station, the Bhartiya Antariksha Station, by 2035. A precursor to this will be the launch of a space module in 2028. The culmination of this vision is the planned landing of an Indian astronaut on the moon by 2040.

"When we celebrate the 100th year of India’s independence, in 2047, an Indian flag will already be flying on the moon" asserts Dr Singh. 

In a historic collaboration between the United States and India, the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite, also known as NISAR, is poised to revolutionise how we observe and understand our planet, it launched successfully on July 30, 2025 from the Satish Dhawan space Center at Sriharikota in southern India. At its core, NISAR is designed to monitor changes in Earth's surface with unprecedented precision, capturing movements as small as a centimetre. This capability is vital for tracking natural hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity, and glacial shifts, as well as human-induced changes like urban expansion, agricultural development, and infrastructure stress.

ISRO says the NISAR satellite weighs 2,392 kg, and it will scan the entire globe and provide all-weather, day-and-night data at a 12-day interval and enable a wide range of applications. NISAR satellite that has cost upwards of $ 1.3 billion to make can detect changes in the Earth's surface, such as ground deformation, ice sheet movement and vegetation dynamics. Further applications include sea and ice classification, ship detection, shoreline monitoring, storm characterisation, changes in soil moisture, mapping and monitoring of surface water resources and disaster response. It has been dubbed a lifesaving satellite. 

Today over 250 space start-ups are driving innovation and fuelling India's space sector. Among these, Agnikul Cosmos and Skyroot Aerospace made headlines by launching sub-orbital rockets and Pixxel Aerospace makes unique high resolution satellites. 

A recent study estimates that for every dollar spent on space, India has reportedly received a return of $ 2.52. India has end to end capabilities in space, as the country makes its own rockets, satellites and has an enviable space technology applications portfolio. Today India has over fifty operational satellites in space which help power India’s burgeoning economy. India’s vast space ecosystem touches the lives of every Indian. 

(Pallava Bagla is an award winning science journalist currently he is Science Editor for New Delhi Television (NDTV) and Co-author of book `Reaching for the Stars’. He can be reached at pallava.bagla@gmail.com ) 

India’s Maritime Vision: from SAGAR to Indo-Pacific to MAHASAGAR
By Suchitra Durai

A decade ago, on 12 March 2015, while commissioning in Mauritius the gleaming Offshore Patrol Vessel Barracuda, built in Garden Reach, Kolkata to Mauritian specifications, Prime Minister Modi outlined India’s policy towards the Indian Ocean Region (IOR): SAGAR – Security and Growth for All in the Region. The Indian Ocean, he pointed out, was critical to the future of the world bearing two-thirds of the world’s oil shipments, one third of its bulk cargo and half of its container traffic. The forty states that are on its littoral host nearly 40% of the world’s population.

SAGAR policy emphasized five aspects: safety and security of the Indian mainland and island territories and ensuring a safe, secure and stable IOR; deepen economic and security cooperation with friends in the IOR particularly maritime neighbours and island states through capacity building; collective action and cooperation; seek a more integrated and cooperative future towards sustainable development for all; and increased maritime engagement in the IOR as the primary responsibility for the stability and prosperity of IOR lay with those living in the region. If SAGAR was the external outreach of India, in the national context it was complemented by the Sagarmala port-led development initiative. 

For long, India has been criticized for its continental bias, that it was focused on its northern and north west frontiers to the neglect of its vast maritime interests. However, this has been changing. Since the launch of its Look East policy in 1992 which evolved into the proactive Act East policy in 2015, India has reclaimed its maritime legacy. PM Modi recently released a special coin commemorating 1000 years of Emperor Rajendra Chola’s naval achievements. 

The Indian navy has been in the forefront of maritime diplomacy through capacity building initiatives, joint exercises, plurilateral conferences, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and Search and Rescue (SAR) activities. The 2004 Tsunami established India’s credentials in disaster relief operations. India came to be recognized as the first responder and net security provider in the IOR, particularly to states in its neighbourhood. India’s prompt assistance to Myanmar in the aftermath of the devastating Cyclone Nargis in 2008 and being the first country to deliver drinking water to the Maldives after a freshwater crisis in that country in end 2014 consolidated that image. In March, 2025 India mounted a huge relief and rescue Operation Brahma to earthquake hit Myanmar.

India has now graduated to becoming a preferred security partner in the Indo-Pacific region forming defence partnerships that not only include joint exercises and capacity building but also exports of defence equipment either as a grant or under a defence Line of Credit at the request of the partner state. 

Trilateral maritime security cooperation with Sri Lanka and Maldives which began in 2011, has extended to other Indian Ocean states including Mauritius and Bangladesh with Seychelles as observer under the Colombo Security Conclave that now has a charter and a secretariat in Colombo. The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) which began as an initiative of the Indian navy in 2008 is an inclusive platform to discuss maritime issues and to work out effective response mechanisms. IONS has 25 participating countries from South Asia, West Asia, Africa, southeast Asia and European countries with Indian Ocean territories as well as nine observers and a rotating chair (India will take over as chair, at the end of 2025). MILAN is a biennial multinational exercise hosted by Indian navy in harmony with India’s vision of SAGAR and Act East policy. 

A crucial facet of maritime security is enhanced maritime domain awareness. Towards this, India has also been pursuing white shipping agreements with several countries (22 have been concluded till now) and established a state-of-the-art Information Fusion Centre (IFC – IOR) in Gurugram that facilitates sharing of maritime information among member states.

India has a long history of development partnership going back to the period prior to its Independence. Its approach to development partnership has been shaped by its independence struggle, solidarity with other colonized and developing countries and the inspiring leadership of Mahatma Gandhi who declared that “my patriotism includes the good of mankind in general”. It is thus that India has been sharing its developmental experiences and technical expertise in a spirit of Vasudhaivakutumbakam ( the ancient belief that the World is One Family). As PM Modi stated in his address to the Ugandan Parliament in 2018, “Our developmental partnership will be guided by your priorities, it will be on terms that will be comfortable for you, that will liberate your potential and not constrain your future…” The Indian model of developmental cooperation is comprehensive and involves multiple instruments including grant-in-aid, concessional lines of credit, capacity building and technical assistance. Above all, it is unconditional, transparent, sustainable and financially viable.

In June, 2018 at the Shangri La conference, PM Modi outlined India’s Indo-Pacific vision. For India, the Indo-Pacific stands for a free, open, inclusive region that “embraces us all in a common pursuit of progress and prosperity”. He emphasized ASEAN centrality, a rules-based order, freedom of navigation, unimpeded commerce and peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law. There is great synergy between the Indian approach and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. In November 2019 at the East Asia Summit in Bangkok, India launched the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) a coherent initiative comprising seven pillars of practical cooperation built on the SAGAR vision. India’s active participation in the QUAD (Australia, India, Japan and US) is part of our Indo-Pacific vision. Earlier, in 2014, India established FIPIC (Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation), a strategic initiative for strengthening diplomatic and economic engagement with islands in the Pacific ocean.

It was in 2023, during India’s presidency of G-20, whose leitmotif was inclusivity, that the African Union was invited to join the grouping. India’s presidency, inter alia, revived multilateralism, amplified the voice of the global south and championed development. India has hosted three editions of the Voice of the Global South summit since then.

Ten years after SAGAR, during an official visit to Mauritius in 2025, PM Modi announced MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), an updated doctrine. If SAGAR is the sea, then MAHASAGAR denotes ‘ocean’ in Hindi and several other Indian languages. MAHASAGAR marks a strategic evolution from a regional focus on the Indian Ocean to a global maritime vision, with particular emphasis on the global south. PM Modi’s recent engagements with Mauritius, Maldives, Trinidad and Tobago, Ghana and now the Philippines are aligned with the MAHASAGAR vision. 

India’s Neighborhood
by Amb Ashok Sajjanhar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘’Neighborhood First’’ Policy of his administration on assuming power for the first time in May, 2014. From the very beginning he was determined to improve relations with India’s neighbours and remove the misconstrued distrust about India’s dominance and interference in their internal affairs. He sought to achieve this by convincing them of India’s support and goodwill for their security, stability, well- being and prosperity.

As a first step, he invited leaders of all countries of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) and the Prime Minister of Mauritius to the oath taking ceremony of his government on 26th May, 2014. PM Modi met all the visiting leaders to promote trust and strengthen bilateral ties.

This initiative was expanded when PM Modi invited leaders of all countries of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand) and PM of Mauritius and President of Kyrgyzstan, who at that time was the informal coordinator of Central Asian countries on 30th May, 2024. Invitees for PM Modi’s third oath taking ceremony on 9th June, 2024 included leaders of neighboring countries as well as Seychelles, a maritime partner covered by the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) Initiative launched by PM Modi in 2015 to improve India's maritime engagement.

Through these initiatives PM Modi sought to take bilateral ties to a higher level of trust and cooperation. 

In 2014 PM Modi further advanced this Initiative by making Bhutan the first country of his foreign visit in June, 2014. Addressing the Joint Session of the Bhutanese Parliament, PM Modi stated that ‘‘The entire region, especially the SAARC countries, would benefit if India is prosperous. Only a strong, prosperous India can help alleviate the problems that its neighbours face.’’

PM Modi visited Nepal soon thereafter in August, 2014 and Addressing the Nepalese Constituent Assembly, the first foreign leader to do so, said that India would not interfere in Nepal’s internal affairs but will support it. India will do all it could to assist Nepal in its endeavors. He expressed his strong wish that Nepal becomes a developed nation by supplying power to India.

Addressing the UN General Assembly, the next month on 27th September, 2014 PM Modi said ‘’India expects a peaceful and stable environment for its development. Our future is linked with our neighborhood. That is why my Government from its first day has given the highest priority on advancing friendship and cooperation with our neighboring countries.’’ He reiterated the same policy for Pakistan asserting that India is ‘’prepared to engage in a serious bilateral dialogue with Pakistan in a peaceful atmosphere, without the shadow of terrorism, to promote our friendship and cooperation. However, Pakistan must also take its responsibility seriously to create an appropriate atmosphere for bilateral dialogue.’’

Over the ensuing 11 years PM Modi has sought to ‘’Walk the Talk’’ of ‘’Neighborhood First’’ through myriad actions, initiatives, ventures and projects. 

PM Modi’s visit to Nepal in August, 2014 was the first bilateral visit by an Indian PM to that important neighboring country after a long interregnum of 17 years. He followed it up by visiting Nepal 4 more times viz. in May, 2018, November, 2014, August 2019, and May, 2022. All these visits sought to advance the bilateral partnership to a higher level of trust, physical and energy connectivity, economic partnership and cooperation. India was the first responder to reach out to Nepal after its destructive earthquake in March, 2015 as well as during the 2023 Jajarkot earthquake and the 2024 floods and landslides. As is normal between neighboring countries, some hiccups on bilateral ties relating to contested borders, domestic protests etc. did appear over this period but India has sought to resolve them through dialogue.

Pm Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka in March, 2015 was the first bilateral visit by an Indian PM after a hiatus of more than 30 years. He visited Sri Lanka thrice again in May, 2017, June, 2019 and April, 2025 as the first foreign leader to visit Sri Lanka after the advent of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) government led by President Anura Kumar Dissanayake (AKD). Moreover, India pro-actively reached out to Sri Lanka by extending a substantial financial support of US$ 4.5 billion to ameliorate its worst economic crisis in several decades in 2022. This had a salutary impact on the perception of the Sri Lankan people and government about India’s honest and honorable intentions in its dealings with Sri Lanka. This resulted in the first foreign visit by the newly elected Sri Lankan President AKD to India although there were apprehensions about his stance on India when he was elected as JVP has always been inimical to India’s presence in the island nation. AKD invited PM Modi to be the first foreign leader to visit Sri Lanka after his victory in the elections in September, 2024.

India has also been successful in mending ties with the recently elected Muizzu government which came to power on the campaign call of ‘’India Out’’ in November, 2023. Displaying strategic patience and maturity even in the face of hostile comments against India and PM Modi by some Maldivian leaders, India invited Muizzu to PM Modi’s oath taking ceremony in June, 2024 and for a State visit in October, 2025. India generously helped Maldives to rescue it from its grave economic crisis. Maldives realized the significance of the selfless support by India in its times of need. This led to the visit by PM Modi as Chief Guest at Maldives’ 60th independence day celebrations in July, 2025. Leaders of both Sri Lanka and Maldives categorically stated that they will not allow their territory to be used against India’s security.

On relations with Pakistan, India has categorically stated that ‘’Terror and Talks will not go together’’. Pakistan will have to irrevocably and demonstrably abjure its support for terror against India for normal relations to emerge. No change in Pakistan’s policy of supporting terrorism against India has been visible so far.

Even after the advent of the Taliban dispensation in Afghanistan in August, 2021, India has supported the Afghan people by sending Covid-19 vaccines, medicines and 40,000 tons of wheat.

Some challenges remain like the situation in Bangladesh where the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was unseated a year ago through domestic protests. India is confident that through strategic patience and abundant goodwill it will be able to normalize relations after an elected government assumes power, hopefully in the near future.

In addition to specific bilateral projects with most neighboring countries relating to economic and commercial cooperation, culture, spiritual tourism, development partnership etc., India has reached out to all neighbours in their time of need or whenever they have been faced with some natural or manmade disasters. In this context India supported its neighboring countries by sharing its Covid-19 vaccines with them immediately after it had commenced the vaccination drive of its own senior citizens. In total, India shared more than 300 million doses of its Covid-19 vaccines as well as large quantities of medicines and medical devices with more than 100 countries, much of it gratis, including with all its neighboring countries (except Pakistan). Right at the beginning of his tenure PM Modi floated the idea of launching a satellite to help the people of SAARC countries for their economic and cultural development. This satellite was put into space soon thereafter and supports many South Asian countries in their economic, social and educational development.

Prime Minister Modi has used a clear-headed approach to reach out to countries in India's neighborhood to carve out stronger relations with them on the philosophy of ‘’Vasudhaiva Kutmbakam’’ (The Whole World is a Family). PM Modi has been bold, creative, resolute and steadfast in seeking better relations with the neighbours. It is a measure of success of India’s ‘’Neighborhood First’’ Policy that its relations with most neighboring countries today are significantly better than they were when PM Modi took over power in 2014.

India and the Global South
by Amb Ashok Sajjanhar

Introduction

India’s relationship with the Global South has deep roots in shared histories, common struggles, and mutual aspirations for development and self-reliance. As one of the largest and most influential countries in the Global South, India’s role has evolved from being a leader in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to becoming a pivotal player in contemporary South-South cooperation. 

India’s partnership with the Global South was propelled to a whole new level by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he organized the first Voice of the Global South Summit (VOGSS) on 12-13th January, 2023 within a fortnight of India taking over the Presidency of the G20. This Summit was followed by another later during the year and the third one in 2024. 

VOGSS is India’s endeavor to provide a common platform to deliberate on the concerns, interests and priorities of developing countries, exchange ideas and solutions, and unite in voice and purpose in forging development solutions.

Background

The concept of the Global South encompasses regions in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania, representing developing nations with shared historical contexts of colonization and economic marginalization. India’s role within the Global South is pivotal, leveraging its growing economic power, democratic framework, and strategic geopolitical positioning to advocate for equitable global governance. 

India’s economic cooperation with the Global South is characterized by trade, investment, and development assistance. Trade relations have seen substantial growth, particularly with African and Latin American countries. For instance, India’s trade with Africa surged from $5 billion in 2001 to $90 billion in 2020, making India Africa’s third-largest trading partner. Similarly, India’s trade with Latin America reached $50 billion in 2020, driven by oil imports, and exports of pharmaceuticals, automobiles, and engineering goods.

Investment is another critical aspect of India’s economic engagement. Indian companies have made significant investments in sectors such as telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and mining across the Global South. In Africa, Indian enterprises have invested over $50 billion, creating jobs and contributing to infrastructure development. In Latin America, Indian investments in sectors like IT and renewable energy are on the rise, promoting sustainable development.

Moreover, India’s development assistance programs underscore its role as a partner in progress. Through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program, India has provided training, capacity building, and technical assistance to over 160 countries. This program covers a wide range of areas, including healthcare, education, agriculture, and information technology, thereby contributing to human resource development in the Global South.

In recent years, India’s foreign policy has increasingly prioritized the Global South. The “India-Africa Forum Summit,” the “Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation” (FIPIC), and the India-CARICOM Summits are notable examples of India’s structured engagements aimed at deepening ties with Africa, the Pacific Island nations and South America respectively. These platforms facilitate dialogue, development cooperation, and investment partnerships.

Furthermore, India’s leadership in the International Solar Alliance (ISA) exemplifies its role in promoting sustainable development through South-South cooperation. The ISA, an initiative launched by India and France in 2015, aims to mobilize resources and promote solar energy adoption in tropical countries. With 121 member countries, many of which are from the Global South, the ISA underscores India’s commitment to addressing climate change and promoting renewable energy.

The Voice of the Global South Summit (VOGSS)

VOGSS provides a platform for emerging economies and nations from the Global South to express their unique perspectives, challenges, and innovative solutions on the global stage. Initiated with the goal to amplify the voices of low and middle-income countries, the Summit leverages its influence to call upon developed economies to re-orient their approach towards the underdeveloped world.

The Three VOGSSs 

India convened the 1st VOGSS, a one-of-a-kind event, in the early weeks of India’s G20 Presidency in January 2023 in virtual format, spread across 10 sessions, to focus international attention on priorities, perspectives and concerns of the developing world. PM Modi presided over the Inaugural and Concluding Leaders’ sessions. India was able to channelize the inputs received in these sessions into the deliberations and discourse of the G20.

Following on the success of the first VOGSS, India hosted the 2nd VOGSS on 17 November 2023, under the theme – ‘Together, For Everyone's Growth, With Everyone's Trust’. The theme was an extension of India’s philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and PM Modi’s governance ideology of ‘’Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas. ‘’ The key focus of the Summit was threefold:

• To share the outcomes and progress achieved in the priorities of the Global South during India’s G-20 Presidency.
• To amplify the voice of the Global South and deliberate on the way forward to achieve their common objectives.
• To sustain the momentum of exchange and sharing of ideas and best practices between our countries, generated towards our common aspiration of a more inclusive, representative and progressive world order.

Both these editions of the Summit saw participation of over 100 countries from the Global South.
The 3rd VOGSS, with the overarching theme of "An Empowered Global South for a Sustainable Future”, served as a platform to expand discussions held in the previous Summits on a range of complex challenges that continue to affect the world, such as conflicts, food and energy security crises, climate change, debt burdens - all of which disproportionately affect developing countries in a severe manner. At the Summit, the countries of the Global South deliberated on challenges, priorities, and solutions for the Global South, particularly in the developmental domain. The Summit witnessed the participation of 173 dignitaries from 123 countries, including 21 HOS/G, 34 Foreign Ministers and 118 Ministers and Vice Ministers. This was a testimony to India’s sincerity and commitment in advancing the collective developmental journey of the Global South, and priority accorded by PM Modi to engaging with the Global South.

PM Modi put forward a proposal for a comprehensive Global Development Compact comprising four elements:

• Trade for development;
• Capacity building for sustainable growth;
• Technology sharing; and,
• Project specific concessional finance and grants.

With participation of countries representing over 60% of the world’s population, the Summit reinforced the centrality of the Global South in the collective pursuit of a future that is inclusive for all. 

A significant achievement of India’s support and promotion of interests of the Global South was the admittance of the African Union as a full Member of the G20 on the first day of India’s Presidency of the G20 on 9th September, 2023.

Conclusion 

India’s geopolitical dynamics with the Global South have evolved significantly over the years, reflecting its growing economic power, strategic interests, and aspirations to be a major player on the global stage. India’s proactive engagement with the Global South underscores its commitment to a multipolar world where developing nations have a significant voice in global affairs. Through sustained efforts in diplomacy, economic cooperation, and strategic partnerships, India is poised to play a pivotal role in the evolving dynamics of the Global South.

As the world navigates complex challenges such as climate change, economic inequality, and geopolitical shifts, India’s role as a partner to the Global South is poised to become increasingly significant.

As both a leader and a partner, India continues to play a crucial role in shaping the future of the Global South. Through sustained cooperation, mutual respect, and shared aspirations, India and the Global South can collectively navigate the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.