Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented six major proposals at the Johannesburg G20 Summit, focusing on clean energy, disaster resilience, traditional knowledge, skills for Africa, healthcare cooperation and tackling the drug–terror nexus. His plan aims to strengthen global development, improve sustainability and expand cooperation among G20 nations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed six new global initiatives on the opening day of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. The proposals aim to strengthen global development, improve cooperation among nations, and support sustainable growth. Modi presented these ideas during two key sessions, saying the initiatives reflect India’s approach to inclusive development and well-being for all.

Global Traditional Knowledge Repository

Modi’s first proposal centred on creating a Global Traditional Knowledge Repository. The initiative aims to document, preserve and share traditional wisdom from various cultures, including India’s own rich heritage of sustainable living. He said such a repository would help future generations benefit from time-tested models of harmonious living with nature. This effort, he added, will strengthen global well-being and support community-centric approaches to health, environment and lifestyle.

Africa Skills Multiplier Programme

Recognising Africa’s youth dividend, Modi proposed an Africa Skills Multiplier Programme aimed at developing one million certified trainers for skill-building across the continent. The initiative seeks to boost local capacity, generate employment, and support long-term economic development. Modi said the programme will help Africa unlock its demographic potential while strengthening India–Africa cooperation in education, technology and human capital.

G20 Global Healthcare Response Team

To ensure preparedness for future pandemics, Modi called for establishing a G20 Global Healthcare Response Team. The team would comprise healthcare experts from all G20 countries and could be deployed to any region facing a health crisis. Modi noted that the world must move beyond reactive approaches and institutionalise global readiness by creating rapid-response medical teams equipped to deal with emerging health challenges.

Countering the Drug–Terror Nexus Initiative

Modi also proposed a dedicated G20 initiative to counter the drug–terror nexus. He warned that drug trafficking fuels terrorism, enabling criminal networks to destabilise societies and threaten global security. The initiative aims to boost cooperation on intelligence sharing, border security, and dismantling illicit drug networks—particularly focusing on synthetic drugs like fentanyl, which have become a major transnational threat.

Open Satellite Data Partnership

Highlighting the importance of technology-driven development, Modi proposed a G20 Open Satellite Data Partnership. Under this programme, satellite data from G20 space agencies would be made accessible to developing countries—especially those in the Global South. The data could support agriculture, fisheries, disaster management and climate monitoring. Modi stressed that democratising space data will help nations strengthen climate resilience and food security.

Critical Minerals Circularity Initiative

In the second session, focused on climate resilience, the Prime Minister unveiled the Critical Minerals Circularity Initiative. This initiative aims to promote recycling, urban mining, second-life battery projects and other innovations that reduce pressure on global mineral supply chains. Modi said strengthening circular systems for critical minerals is essential to accelerating clean energy transitions and ensuring supply chain security for technologies like batteries, solar panels and electric vehicles.

Prime Minister Modi concluded by urging the G20 to adopt new development parameters rooted in balance, sustainability and human-centric progress. He welcomed the continuation of India’s Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group and called for deeper collaboration with the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). Stressing that resilience “cannot be built in silos,” he reminded members that global challenges demand global solutions.