New Delhi: G20 Summit has been a massive success and the world has applauded PM Narendra Modi for his vision and dynamism. From organizing of such a mammoth event to the successful consensus in the form of a joint communique called the 'G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration’, the bureaucracy played a critical role. We salute and celebrate their contributions.
The event was gigantic by any yardstick, and first-of-its-kind global event of such magnitude for India. By November this year, when India’s Presidency ends, the event would have achieved enormous success and this is borne out of the magnitude of the event. Spread over a year, the event saw 220 meetings across 60 cities in 28 states and 8 Union Territories with involvement of over 1.5 cr people, and over 1 lakh participants from around 125 nationalities having seen the length and breadth of India.
While the G20 secretariat with around 250 officers were working round-the-clock to handle work related to content, technical, media, security and logistical aspects of India's G20 Presidency, about 100-young IAS, IPS and Indian Forest Service officers were marshalled from across the country to help gain experience from the media. There were senior bureaucrats who brainstormed and oversaw the preparations, pushing forward India's interest to the forefront.
While the preparations were meticulous, the outcomes were equally astounding. One of the substantive outcomes of this was the joint communique, which involved rigourous negotiations and deliberations by senior bureaucrats. The communique was an outcome of over 200-hour of non-stop negotiations, 300 bilateral meetings, 15 drafts and endless cups of coffee. Led by G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, they crafted the draft that was endorsed by all leaders. Needless to say the most complex part was to bring consensus on the geopolitical paras (Russia-Ukraine) conflict.
Bureaucrats India profiles some of the magnificent senior bureaucrats, who made the mega event a grand success.
PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to PM
Dr PK Mishra is a 1972-batch Gujarat cadre IAS officer. Dr Mishra has varied work experience in the management of programmes relating to agriculture, disaster management, power sector, infrastructure financing, and regulatory issues. He has had vast experience in policy making and administration and has handled major assignments such as Additional Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister; Secretary, Agriculture and Cooperation, Government of India; Chairman, State Electricity Regulatory Commission and in the area of disaster management. As Secretary Agriculture & Cooperation, he was actively involved in path-breaking national initiatives such as the National Agriculture Development Programme (RKVY) and the National Food Security Mission (NFSM).
Dr Mishra had been keeping a close watch on the preparations for the G20 summit. He played a key role in the planning and execution of the mega event.
Harsh Vardhan Shringla, former Foreign Secretary
A 1984-batch IFS officer, Shringla served 38 years as career diplomat and had served as Foreign Secretary of India and the country's Ambassador to the United States, High Commissioner to Bangladesh and Ambassador to Thailand. Shringla was the chief coordinator for the G20 and a key player in India's G20 team. He has used his past experience to push India's point of view and work behind the scenes to bridge differences.
Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa
Senior bureaucrat Amitabh Kant is a Kerala cadre 1980-batch IAS officer. An expert in public policy and international cooperation, Kant, who earlier served as CEO of NITI Aayog, has been the driving force for India's meticulous preparations for the G20 Summit. Through his skills he ensured that India's interests resonated in the global forum. Kant has been honoured with Padma Shri for his remarkable contribution to the Indian administrative landscape. He is also author of 'Branding India: An incredible story', that offers insights into the bureaucrat's vision of repositioning India on the global investment map.
Muktesh K Pardeshi, Special Secretary, G20 Operations
India's former ambassador to Mexico headed the crucial desk at the G20 operations group. Pardeshi is a 1991-batch IFS officer. He had also served as India's High Commissioner to New Zealand.
Abhay Thakur, Additional Secretary, G20 Secretariat
Abhay Thakur is 1992-batch engineer-turned IFS officer. Despite his unassuming demeanour, he collaborated effectively with Kant and his extensive experience played a pivotal role in securing agreement on numerous matters. Thakur has served in various Indian missions abroad, including Moscow, London, Ho Chi Minh City and held the position of High Commissioner of India in both Nigeria and Mauritius.
Nagaraj Naidu Kakanur, Joint Secretary, G20 Secretariat
Nagaraj Kakanur is a 1998-batch IFS officer. As a joint secretary at the G20 secretariat, he manages various responsibilities, including overseeing work related to anti-corruption, culture, development, the digital economy, education, foreign ministers, and the tourism working group. He holds a master's degree in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in the US.
He has served in China on four different occasions and is proficient in the Chinese language. He's passionate about Yoga and fitness. Additionally, his experience in the United Nations and his skill in facilitating challenging negotiations and drafting documents have been highly valuable.
Enam Gambhir, Jt Secy, G20 Secretariat
Gambhir is a 2005-batch IFS officer. The diplomat is proficient in speaking Spanish and has worked in various important roles in different countries. Renowned for her gentle demeanor, this diplomat is a multilingual poet, writing in Hindi, English, and Spanish.
She has dealt with matters concerning Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran. Despite being deeply involved in academics, with two master's degrees in Mathematics and Advanced International Security, she used her expertise to overcome significant challenges during negotiations.
Ashish Kumar Sinha, Joint Secretary, G20 Secretariat
Ashish Kumar Sinha is a 2005-batch IFS officer and a diplomat with more than 18 years of experience. Having served as India's Deputy High Commissioner in Nairobi, Kenya, Sinha brings a wealth of diplomatic experience to the table. As a Counsellor in the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations, he deftly managed matters related to Pakistan.
Sinha's proficiency in Spanish has proven invaluable during critical negotiations, where he consistently plays a substantial role. Within the Sherpa's team, he is highly regarded for his composed and resolute approach when tackling intricate negotiations.
