Amitabh Kant has stepped down from his role as India’s G20 Sherpa, marking the end of a 45-year-long career in government service. In a LinkedIn post titled ‘My New Journey’, he expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for accepting his resignation and providing him opportunities to lead major developmental efforts.
Key Role in G20 and Global Collaboration
Kant became India’s G20 Sherpa in July 2022, just before India took over the G20 presidency. He led negotiations and global coordination, achieving unanimous agreement on the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration. He emphasized India’s push for digital infrastructure, women-led development, and the inclusion of the African Union in the G20.
Contributions Through NITI Aayog
Before the G20 role, Kant was the CEO of NITI Aayog from 2016 to 2022. During this time, he worked on several key programs like the Aspirational Districts Programme, the Atal Innovation Mission, and the Green Hydrogen Mission. He highlighted NITI Aayog’s role in laying the groundwork for India’s digital infrastructure and promoting sustainable development.
Previous Work with ‘Startup India’ and ‘Make in India’
Kant also served as the Secretary at the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. There, he played a key part in launching the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Startup India’ initiatives. Reflecting on his career beginnings, he recalled his early work in Kerala where he helped promote the ‘God’s Own Country’ tourism campaign and worked on infrastructure projects.
Mohandas Pai’s Suggestion to the Prime Minister
After Kant’s resignation, Aarin Capital chairman Mohandas Pai suggested that the Prime Minister appoint him to lead a national startup initiative. Pai proposed a ₹50,000 crore fund of funds to support deep tech startups in India. In a post on X, he said, “PM Narendra Modi, please have him head India Start-Up Mission… to transform Indian startups into a Deep Tech Global Power.”Kant’s New Plans
Kant has shared that he now plans to focus on supporting startups, academic institutions, and think tanks as India moves towards becoming a developed nation. He said he will continue contributing to India’s growth journey through free enterprise and innovation.
