G7 Summit: India isn’t part of the G7, then why does PM Modi get an annual invite?

Why is India’s name not included in the G7 summit? Despite being the fourth largest economy and the most populous country. Read more on Dynamite News

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived to participate in the G-7 summit currently being held in Canada. G-7 is an annual gathering of the world's most developed countries, reports Dynamite News correspondent.

India may not be its formal member, but PM Modi is participating in it on the invitation of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. India's inclusion in the G-7 in this way is proof of its growing international role.

What is G-7, and why is it special?

G-7 (Group of Seven) is a group of seven developed countries, which include America, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, and Japan. This group was established in the 1970s to coordinate on global economic issues. Later it expanded to topics like climate change, technology, global health, and security.

How did India reach this platform?

India first received an invitation to the G-7 (Group of Seven) conference in 2003 during the time of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Since then, India has been invited as a special guest more than 10 times. PM Modi has been participating in this summit every year since 2019—be it in France, the US, the UK, Germany, or Japan.

Why are India and China not given membership?

Although India and China are among the top economies of the world, they are still not members of the G7. The main reason for this is that the G7 is a platform for developed countries only. The per capita income of India and China is still much lower than these countries, so they have not been included in it till now.

The G7 does not add new members, and this is the reason why even an emerging superpower like India does not get formal membership. China itself has been questioning the G7 and calls it 'irrelevant' and a 'group with limited representation.'

Why is India invited?

India today has the largest population and the fourth-largest economy in the world. Its role on global forums has become decisive. In such a situation, every year when the G7 summit is organized, the host country has the right to invite certain countries. India is invited as an outreach partner to continue its engagement on global issues.

Although India is not a member of the G7, its invitation is proof that India cannot be ignored on global platforms. India's role and influence are set to grow in the years to come, and perhaps the G7 will have to change its rules.