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India hosted the third Voice of Global South Summit in virtual format.

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• India hosted the 1^st Voice of Global South Summit in January 2023 and the 2^nd edition was held in November 2023, both in virtual format.
• The Voice of Global South Summit is an extension of India’s philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, or "One Earth, One Family, One Future” to the international arena.

Key Highlights of the 3^rd VOGSS

• Participation: 123 countries (China & Pakistan not invited)
• Theme: An Empowered Global South for a Sustainable Future.
• India has proposed a comprehensive and human-centric "Global Development Compact" to address the rising debt of the developing countries for the Global South. 

Click here to read in detail about the Global Development Compact.

• India will work to provide affordable generic medicines, share experiences in natural farming with Global South countries.
• India will also launch a special fund of $2.5 million to boost trade promotion activities, and $ 1 million fund for capacity building in in trade policy and trade negotiation.

What is Global South?                      

• It refers to technically and socially less developed countries which are located in Southern Hemisphere, primarily in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
• Brandt Report proposed a division between North and South countries based on various parameters such as technological advancement, GDP etc.

Challenges faced by Global South

• Underrepresentation in global forums: E.g. Exclusion of African and Latin America from the UN Security Council’s permanent membership. 
• High Public Debt: E.g. As per UNCTAD’s ‘A world of debt Report 2024’, public debt in developing countries is rising at twice the rate of that in developed countries. 
• Obsolete global governance and financial institutions: E.g. dysfunctional WTO’s appellate dispute settlement mechanism, under-representation in Bretton Woods Institutions such as World Bank and IMF.
• Disproportionate vulnerability to climate change. E.g. As per WMO’s ‘State of the Climate in the South-West Pacific 2023 Report’ Pacific Islands are at higher risk due to the increasing sea level despite accounting for merely 0.02% of global emissions.
• Divergence from Global North: E.g. lack of consensus over interpretation of democracy, human rights, and agenda for climate governance etc.
  • Moreover, geopolitical conflicts of Global North impacts the Global South. E.g. Russia-Ukraine conflict has led to inflation in food and oil prices

Significance of Global South for India

• International influence: The Global South is an important support for India’s international influence and its economic transformation and development.
• Strategic consideration: Relations with the Global South is an important part of India’s “multidirectional alignment” strategy.
  • It also helps to offset China’s influence. 
• Economic development: Global South can provide abundant resources and provide a vast market for the export of Indian products. 

How is India positioning itself as a voice for Global South?

• Enhancing connectivity and economic inter-linkages: By undertaking projects ranging from large scale infrastructure development to community related projects in various sectors, including health, housing, environment and education. 
  • Extending financial, budgetary and humanitarian assistance to partner countries to aid them in mitigating economic challenges and overcome crises.
• Capacity building and emerging as 1^st responder of the Global South. E.g. India-UN Capacity Building Initiative, Vaccine Maitri initiative during Covid-19.
• Leading the Global Climate Agenda: E.g. championing International Solar Alliance (ISA) & Coalition for Disaster Resilience (CDRI), supporting Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR)
• Advocacy of issues relevant for Global South: E.g. The induction of the African Union into the G20.
• Reforming multilateral institutions: E.g. demand for broadening of the UNSC’s permanent membership.
• Alternative Mechanisms on issues like democracy and human rights: E.g. based on Panchsheel, Gujral Doctrine and Principle of Non- Aligned Movement.

Challenges for India in leading the Global South

• Diverse Interests: Global South is a diverse region with varying economic, political, and social interests which makes it difficult to align into a unified stance.
• Competition with China: China's competition and interference in development finance, infrastructure, trade, delivery of projects etc. E.g. BRI, cheque book diplomacy.
• Diplomatic Challenge: Balancing strategic partnerships with powers such as USA, Russia while trying to represent Global South can be diplomatically challenging. 
  • Moreover, it may undermine its credibility as it might be seen as a tilt away from traditional Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) principles.
• Limited Comprehensive National Strength: India's limited national strength and poor manufacturing industry, coupled with low S&T innovation and labour quality, pose challenges in addressing the complexities of the Global South.
• Issue with energy transition: India faces criticism for its reliance on fossil fuels and challenges in meeting its own climate commitments. E.g. Western Countries criticized India after it opposed a commitment to "phase out" coal at COP 26.

Conclusion

As India transitions from a balancing to a leading power, it should leverage its rich cultural ethos like “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” to unite Global South countries. By bridging the digital divide, supporting disaster-resilient infrastructure, and advocating for an inclusive, equitable international order, India can amplify their collective voice on global platforms.