Prof D Mukherjee
The 2025 G-7 Summit in Banff, Alberta, Canada, marked a pivotal moment in global diplomacy. While India’s presence was significant, her role must be interpreted with precision and grounded in verifiable data. This wite up provides a research-driven assessment of India’s measured impact on the summit, supported by confirmed economic, diplomatic, and strategic discourses as of June 2025. The Summit is observed to have been a transformative juncture in international relations, spotlighting Her ascent from invited guest to a key influencer shaping global narratives. This write-up explores the paradigm shift in global power dynamics observed during the summit, with special emphasis on the emergence of India as a central force in a rapidly transitioning multipolar world and underscores the diminishing clout of traditional Western powers alongside the growing influence of Mother India as a policy-shaping global actor.
The G-7 Summit held from 15-17 June 2025 in Banff, Alberta, Canada, was a defining moment in international diplomacy. Originally conceived in the 1970s to unite the world’s most industrialized democracies-namely the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom-the G-7 has long been a bastion of Western economic and political influence. However, the 2025 Summit marked a departure from past conventions, both in participation and in outcomes. The G-7, once an exclusive club of industrialized democracies, has historically addressed issues ranging from economic crises to climate change and security. Yet its Western-centric framework has faced increasing scrutiny in light of emerging powers from the Global South. India, previously relegated to observer status, has undergone a strategic transformation. More critically, her foreign policy-characterized by strategic autonomy, non-alignment, and inclusive development-has begun to resonate globally. The 2025 Summit served as a platform where India’s evolving role was not only acknowledged but widely respected.
The Group of Seven (G-7) has traditionally served as a forum for the world’s most advanced economies. As global dynamics evolve, the group increasingly invites voices from influential non-G7 nations to reflect a more multipolar world. India, the world’s most populous country and the fourth-largest economy with a nominal GDP of $4.19 trillion according to NITI Aayog, has gained prominence through consistent economic growth, digital innovation, and strategic diplomacy. Her foreign policy emphasizes strategic autonomy, regional engagement, and global multilateralism. Her invitation to the 2025 G-7 Summit aligns with Her increasing inclusion in high-level international forums such as the G20 and BRICS. What began as a potentially marginal presence evolved into a central axis of the summit’s discourse. For years, India had attended G-7 sessions without permanent status. This year, however, her presence was not merely noted but actively sought after. Multiple geopolitical shifts, including the waning dominance of Western powers and India’s rising global clout, converged to position her as one of the most influential voices at the summit while the economic metrics on records support this ascendance.
The summit stands as a testament to the emergence of a new world order, with notable shifts in global power dynamics. While the U.S. and Europe continue to wield influence, their relative dominance is being recalibrated. The IMF (2024) reports that the U.S. economy grew at 2.1% and the Euro Area at 1.2%, whereas India expanded by over 6%, signalling a stronger growth trajectory. The Summit centred on geopolitical security, economic resilience, and technological governance. India’s participation, alongside Brazil and South Africa, enabled broader Global South perspectives in key deliberations. Her strategic and diplomatic engagement is shaping a new global roadmap that favours diplomatic consensus over geopolitical discord. Her strength lies in economic reforms, technological capacity, and an independent, pragmatic foreign policy. The World Bank (2023) acknowledged Her Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as a model of inclusive innovation. In 2023, Her UPI platform processed over 100 billion transactions (NPCI, 2023), representing a leap in financial inclusion. She has fortified bilateral ties with France, Japan, and the EU in sectors such as defence, green energy, and semiconductors. Her leadership during the 2023 G20 presidency underscored Her commitment to digital equity and supply chain resilience.
There has been a clear paradigm shift in India’s role at the 2025 G-7 Summit, from guest participant to strategic contributor. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended as an invited observer, participating in discussions on food security, AI governance, and critical mineral supply chains. His inclusion was supported by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who underscored India’s economic significance. Despite ongoing diplomatic strains between India and Canada, no bilateral meeting between Modi and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was reported. While India did not shape the final communiqué, her involvement added credibility to the summit’s emphasis on diverse global perspectives. Her growing international influence is substantiated by economic strength, technological innovation, and strategic outreach. As of 2024, India is the fifth-largest global economy, with a GDP exceeding $3.7 trillion (IMF) and a 2023 growth rate surpassing 6%, unmatched by any G-7 nation. By 2025, She has advanced to the fourth position in terms of nominal GDP.
India’s technological achievements are equally notable. The UPI alone processed over 100 billion transactions in 2023, reflecting Her strides in digital empowerment. NPCI’s robust infrastructure has revolutionized domestic payments and attracted interest from nations like France, Singapore, and the UAE, all of which are exploring similar systems through partnerships with Indian fintech firms.
Internationally, India is one of the leading contributors to United Nations peacekeeping missions, exemplifying Her commitment to global peace and security. With thousands of troops deployed worldwide, her presence is both operational and symbolic of Her responsible global leadership.India’s digital public goods-including Aadhaar, CoWIN, and ONDC-have gained global recognition for scalability and inclusivity. These platforms serve as models for other developing nations. Her thriving tech ecosystem, boasting over 100 unicorn startups as of 2024, continues to attract substantial foreign direct investment (FDI). With growing investment in fintech, semiconductors, and manufacturing, she is evolving as a global innovation hub and a critical component in diversified supply chains.At the 2025 G-7 Summit in Banff, India emerged as a diplomatic fulcrum in an increasingly multipolar world. India’s presence reflected her influence rooted in strategic autonomy, economic performance, and diplomatic prudence.India’s foreign policy-long shaped by principled neutrality-was on display during the recent Iran-Israel military escalation. While refraining from endorsing either side in the UN Resolution vote, India reinforced her belief that wars begin when diplomacy failsand asserted that diplomacy remains the only sustainable solution to geopolitical conflict. This abstention was not indifference but a calibrated signal- India would neither succumb to bloc politics nor validate militarism.
These factors collectively affirm that India’s rising role is grounded in concrete achievements across economic, technological, and diplomatic domains. Her presence at the 2025 G-7 Summit, even as an invited guest, carried weight and influence.The Summit reflects a balanced and realistic recognition of India’s international standing. While not yet a central decision-maker, India’s inclusion validates her strategic and economic importance. Rather than depicting her as a dominant leader, evidence suggests that she is a vital contributor to shaping multipolar global dialogue. The 2025 G-7 Summit highlighted a shifting world order in which non-G7 nations like India are gaining increased recognition. Though India is not yet redefining global leadership, she is actively shaping global debates on digital innovation, South-South cooperation, and climate resilience.
To maintain economic momentum and global relevance amid rising geopolitical tensions, India must continue infrastructure investments, uphold fiscal discipline, and drive export-led growth through initiatives like PLI and Make in India. Enhancing cybersecurity and forming global digital partnerships will amplify Her soft power. Expanding strategic partnerships with ASEAN, the Middle East, and the Global South, while strengthening alliances such as Quad and I2U2, will broaden Her strategic depth. To navigate global uncertainties, she must ensure access to critical resources and champion a peaceful, rules-based international order grounded in democratic values. Her rise is not abrupt nor absolute but supported by consistent economic progress, digital innovation, and a balanced diplomatic stance. Her increasing importance should be seen through a clear, realistic lens: as an influential and emerging force whose voice is essential in shaping a complex, interdependent world. She must now pursue proactive diplomacy in contributing to a balanced new world order.The G-7 Summit marked a shift from viewing India as a passive participant to recognizing her as a stabilizing voice in turbulent times. As Western influence gradually rebalances, India’s pragmatic, dialogue-driven approach positions her as the world’s credible neutral mediator-a nation uniquely suited to champion peace, foster connectivity, and advance diplomacy over confrontation. In an age of fractured geopolitics, India is not just rising-she has been redefining what responsible global leadership looks like and India must continue with her conscience supported approach to resolving conflicts.
(The author is an educationist, a management scientist and an independent researcher)
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