Saurabh Shanker

In 2022, the world was navigating through a perfect storm of crises — the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate disasters, soaring food and fuel prices, and rising geopolitical tensions. Amid this uncertainty, India stepped up to lead the G20, at a time when global unity felt more fragile than ever. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, with his vision of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future,’ India took on the challenge of uniting divided global powers and finding solutions that could offer hope to a struggling world.

In his book How India Scaled Mt G20: The Inside Story of the G20 Presidency, Amitabh Kant, India’s G20 Sherpa, shares a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the intense negotiations, strategic maneuvers, and complex diplomacy that shaped India’s presidency. With firsthand insights, Kant reveals how India was able to lead the charge on some of the world’s most pressing issues — from climate action and digital transformation to tackling inequality.

The book highlights how Modi’s vision of global unity became the guiding force for India’s presidency. Rather than pursuing narrow national interests, India sought to bring the world together, helping fractured global powers to find common ground. At a time when the world seemed more divided than ever, India’s leadership became a symbol of hope and possibility.

Kant takes readers through the intense discussions, behind closed doors, that led to breakthrough moments on critical issues. From confronting the climate crisis to addressing economic inequalities, India played a pivotal role in fostering dialogue and driving progress. The book paints a vivid picture of how India used its presidency to champion a more inclusive and sustainable global future, offering fresh perspectives on issues that often seemed too complex to resolve.

Throughout the book, Kant reflects on the challenges of building consensus among world leaders, especially on difficult issues like climate policies and economic recovery. But even in moments of disagreement, India was able to guide conversations toward cooperative solutions — always with an eye on the broader vision of global harmony.

At the heart of the book is the idea that leadership isn’t just about representing one’s own interests; it’s about inspiring a shared vision for the future. Through tireless negotiations and strategic decision-making, India’s presidency was about more than just diplomacy — it was about fostering hope for a better, more sustainable world.

Kant, who worked alongside Modi in his role as G20 Sherpa, offers a candid account of the behind-the-scenes work that went into this historic leadership moment. He reveals the challenges and triumphs of uniting world leaders in the pursuit of common goals, and how India’s presidency helped set the stage for a new era of global cooperation.

How India Scaled Mt G20 offers an intimate and compelling narrative of India’s historic role at the G20. It’s a story of how vision, diplomacy, and leadership can drive positive change in the world, and a reminder that even in the toughest times, collaboration and unity can lead to progress.

This isn’t just a book about India’s G20 presidency; it’s a testament to the power of leadership in shaping global history. With a shared commitment to tackling the challenges facing the world today, India’s role as a unifier of nations stands as a hopeful chapter in the ongoing quest for a fairer, more sustainable future.

AUTHOR OF THE BOOK
Amitabh Kant is India’s G20 Sherpa. He has served as the CEO of National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog, the Government of India’s premier policy think tank. Prior to that, he was Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion. A 1980-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Kerala cadre, Kant has been a key driver of initiatives like Make in India, Startup India, Incredible India! and God’s Own Country, which have positioned India as a leading manufacturing and tourism destination.

Kant is the author of Made in India: 75 Years of Business and Enterprise; Incredible India 2.0: Synergies for Growth and Governance; and Branding India: An Incredible Story; and the editor of The Path Ahead: Transformative Ideas for India.