Prime Minister Modi Attends G7 Summit in Canada: India's Role Explained

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is attending the G7 summit in Canada, marking India's ongoing engagement with this influential group despite not being a formal member. The G7, comprising major developed nations, has evolved to address various global issues beyond economic policies. This article delves into the historical context of the G7, India's past invitations, and the reasons why both India and China, despite their significant economic standings, are not included in this elite group. Discover the implications of their absence and the evolving role of the G7 in today's world.
 | 
Prime Minister Modi Attends G7 Summit in Canada: India's Role Explained

Modi's Participation in the G7 Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently in Canada to participate in the G7 summit, an event from which India is not a formal member. His attendance comes at the invitation of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. This marks a continuation of a trend where Indian Prime Ministers have engaged in this summit since 2003. Despite not being a formal member, India, recognized as the world's most populous nation and the fourth-largest economy, has previously attended as an outreach partner.


Understanding the G7

The G7 is a coalition of developed nations, including the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the United States, and Japan. Notably, China, the world's second-largest economy, is also excluded from this group. Established in the 1970s to coordinate global economic policies, the G7 has expanded its agenda in recent years to encompass issues like climate change, security, development, and technology.


Historical Context of the G7

Origins of the G7

The G7 originated as the G6 in 1975 and became G7 after Canada joined in 1976. It transformed into the G8 with Russia's inclusion in 1997, but following Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, it reverted to G7.


Annual G7 Meetings

The G7 summit is an annual gathering of heads of state or government from the seven member countries. It serves as a high-level platform where leaders discuss critical issues such as the economy, climate change, global health, conflict, and artificial intelligence in closed-door sessions. Each year, a different country hosts the summit, setting the agenda and inviting other nations to participate.


India's Invitations to the G7

India's First Invitation in 2003

India has received invitations to the G7 summit over ten times, with its first invitation occurring in 2003 when then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee attended as a special guest in France. From 2005 to 2009, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh participated annually.

Since 2019, PM Modi has consistently attended the G7 summit, receiving invitations from France (2019), the USA (2020, although the summit was canceled), the UK (2021, virtual), Germany (2022), and Japan (2023).


Why India and China Are Not G7 Members

Economic Considerations

Despite being among the top four economies globally, both India and China are not part of the G7. China's significant global economic presence has not led to its inclusion, primarily due to its relatively low per capita wealth compared to other member nations. China has also criticized the G7, arguing that its structure and relevance are outdated, as it represents only 10% of the world's population and contributes less to global economic growth than China.

Similarly, India's per capita income remains lower than that of the G7 countries. When the G7 was formed, India was still a developing nation grappling with poverty. The G7 was designed for countries with robust global economies, and India did not meet these criteria at that time. Currently, the G7 does not expand its membership, which is why both India and China remain outside this group.


News Hub