India and Global South : Definition, Countries, Challenges & India As The Voice Of Global South
UPSC Prelims
Current affairs
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Gajendra Singh Godara
Jul 20, 2025
8
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The Global South refers to countries often categorized as developing, less developed or underdeveloped, primarily located in Asia, Africa and Latin America. These countries typically experience higher levels of poverty, income inequality and challenging living conditions compared to wealthier nations of the Global North.
India’s recent initiatives, like hosting the Voice of the Global South Summit, underscore efforts to unite developing countries on issues of sustainable development and fair global governance.
Context
India hosted the 3rd Voice of Global South Summit on 17 August 2024 with the theme “An Empowered Global South for a Sustainable Future.” The summit brought together 173 dignitaries from 123 developing nations envisaging a new era.
Key outcomes included a proposed Global Development Compact focused on trade, capacity building, technology sharing, and concessional finance. India also announced a USD 2.5 million fund for trade promotion and USD 1 million for capacity-building. Emphasizing South–South cooperation, the summit urged united action among developing countries to address climate change, health security, and sustainable development challenges.
What constitutes the Global South?
Not a geographical line
Despite how it sounds, it is not really a geographical term.
Many countries included in the Global South are in the northern hemisphere, such as India, China and all of those in the northern half of Africa.
Australia and New Zealand, both in the southern hemisphere, are not in the Global South.
Many people refer to the Brandt Line as the border.
The line was proposed by former German Chancellor Willy Brandt in the 1980s as a visual depiction of the north-south divide based upon per-capita GDP.
It starts in the north of Mexico, goes across the top of Africa and the Middle East, makes a loop around India and China, and then goes down to include most of East Asia. It doesn’t include Japan, Australia, or New Zealand.
From "Third World" to "Global South"
The term Global South was first coined in 1969 by political activist Carl Oglesby.
It gained momentum after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, which marked the end of the "Second World."
Previously, developing nations were commonly referred to as the "Third World," a term coined by Alfred Sauvy in 1952.
However, this term became associated with poverty, instability, and negative stereotypes propagated by Western media.
As a result, the term "Global South" emerged as a more neutral alternative.
India and the Global South
Historical Leadership: Since independence, India has led initiatives like the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the Group of 77 (G-77) at the UN, representing Global South priorities.
Voice of Global South Summits: India now hosts the Voice of Global South Summit (first in 2023) to build solidarity among developing nations. Prime Minister Modi’s call for an “empowered Global South” reflects this renewed leadership.
Global Advocacy: India champions developing-world causes on international platforms. For example, at BRICS and G7 meetings India pushes for development finance, debt relief and fair technology sharing for the Global South
Digital Diplomacy: India’s successes in digital public infrastructure (like UPI and Aadhaar) are showcased as models for the developing world, strengthening cooperation on digital governance.
South–South Cooperation and Initiatives
International Solar Alliance (ISA): India and France launched ISA for solar energy development in sun-rich developing countries. ISA aligns with India’s goals of climate justice and Global South cooperation.
Digital Infrastructure Sharing: India is exporting its digital innovations (e.g., e-governance, mobile payment systems) to other Global South nations, fostering shared technological progress.
Regional Partnerships: Efforts like the African Union and ASEAN-led trade pacts also exemplify South–South economic integration. India's support for such partnerships bolsters collective growth of these countries.
Global Forums: Newer groupings (BRICS+, G20 expansion) serve as platforms for South–South dialogue and collective bargaining power in world affairs.
Key challenges facing Global South countries
Under‑representation in global institutions: Global South voices are marginalized-evident in the exclusion of African and Latin American nations from permanent seats on the UN Security Council and limited say in IMF/World Bank and WTO appellate mechanisms.
High public debt burden: Developing countries now hold ∼$31 trillion in public debt-raising twice as fast as in advanced nations-limiting policy space and diverting resources from education, health and infrastructure.
Historic resource inequality: Since the 1960s, industrialisation and access to technology have been skewed toward the Global North; South-South relations offer hope, but convergence remains elusive.
Climate vulnerability and inequity: Despite contributing just 0.02% of emissions, Pacific Island nations face accelerated sea-level rise-three times global average-threatening their very survival.
Social‑economic shocks: COVID‑19, the Russia‑Ukraine conflict, and high commodity prices deepened existing vulnerabilities, risking development setbacks in Global South nations.
Energy finance injustice: Global North emitters under-deliver on green energy funds, leaving low-emitting Global South countries to bear the brunt of climate impacts.
Geopolitical competition: China’s Belt and Road Initiative raises questions on equitable gains, while US dominance in global finance and diplomacy limits multipolar representation.
These intertwined challenges define the Global South summit agenda: seeking fair governance, debt relief, climate justice, and a unified voice of Global South on the world stage.
How India is emerging as the voice of the Global South?
New Delhi Declaration & G‑20 leadership: India, during its G‑20 presidency (2023), secured consensus on including Global South priorities—debt financing, climate justice, and gender equality—in the New Delhi Declaration, and facilitated the African Union’s entry into the G‑20.
Voice of Global South Summit: First convened in Jan 2023 and followed by virtual editions (Nov ’23, Aug ’24), this summit brings together 100+ Global South countries, fostering south-south relations and providing a platform for shared perspectives.
Five flagship initiatives (Jan 2023): Launched the Global South Centre of Excellence (DAKSHIN), Science & Technology Initiative, Aarogya Maitri for disaster healthcare, Young Diplomats Forum, and Global South Scholarships.
Broader multilateral focus: India has enhanced inclusivity across forums like G‑20, BRICS‑PLUS, and SCO, strengthening the voice of the Global South summit agenda.
Climate leadership: Championed climate justice, co-founding COP28’s Loss & Damage Fund and promoting green energy initiatives like the ISA‑led “One Sun, One World, One Grid.”
Development diplomacy: With Vaccine Maitri during COVID-19 and capacity-building via G‑20‑UN collaboration, India showcased solidarity and south-south relations.
Digital & taxation support: Hosted G‑20 tax event with a Global South focus and launched India‑UN capacity-building initiatives, including satellite and DAKSHIN collaboration
International Relations and Diplomacy
Global Governance Reforms: Southern countries, especially via platforms like BRICS, push for reforming Western-led institutions (UN, IMF, World Bank) so that Global South interests are better represented.
Emerging South Leaders: Countries like India, Brazil and South Africa increasingly use global forums to amplify developing-world concerns. For example, in 2025 India urged G7 leaders to address development financing and debt issues affecting them.
Multilateral Initiatives: Global compacts and agreements (such as the proposed Global Development Compact) aim to align international policies with their priorities. These include shared targets on health, climate and finance.
Regional Diplomacy: Organizations like the African Union and ASEAN provide regional forums to consolidate economic and political goals, contributing to the collective power of the Global South.
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Way Forward for the Global South
Debt Architecture Reform:
Enhance and expand mechanisms like the G20 Common Framework,
involve private creditors
implement green debt-relief and debt-for-adaptation swaps.
Scale Climate Finance:
Create new quantified annual climate goals (e.g. $300–500 billion by 2035),
increase grant-based funding, and blend private-public investments for resilience and adaptation.
Deepen South–South Cooperation:
Establish collective financing via South–South banks (e.g. BRICS New Development Bank, AIIB),
share technology, build capacity, and strengthen regional blocs like AfCFTA and ASEAN
Summary of Past Voice of Global South Summits
Summit (No. & Date) | Key Outcomes & Themes | Future Directions & Way Forward |
2nd Summit (Nov 2023) | Emphasis on human‑centric development, poverty eradication, climate justice & clean energy transition | Highlighted need for demand-led, trust-driven cooperation; focus on LiFE climate action and equitable energy transitions. |
3rd Summit (Aug 17, 2024) | Proposed Global Development Compact (trade, capacity, tech, concessional finance). Funding announcements: USD 2.5M for trade promotion, USD 1M for capacity‑building. India announced $25M Social Impact Fund for DPI expansion | Develop multi-dimensional, human‑centred development through South–South knowledge sharing. Strengthen governance frameworks and institutional delivery. |
Ongoing dialogue | Calls for global governance reform (UNSC, IMF, WTO); green debt restructuring; climate finance; SDG stimulus and resilience funding | Build new Bretton Woods-style initiatives: SDR recycling, debt-for-nature swaps, multilateral bank reforms, coordinated climate and development financing. |
In conclusion, the Global South stands at a pivotal moment. While these nations face serious economic and social challenges, they are uniting to address them through cooperation and diplomacy. Initiatives like the proposed Global Development Compact aim to boost trade, capacity and technology sharing among developing countries. Leaders have emphasized the need for more inclusive global institutions and reforms.
By enhancing regional integration and South–South collaboration, these countries can drive sustainable development and secure a fairer voice in world affairs. With collective resolve and strategic partnerships, an empowered Global South can help build a more just and equitable world.
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