Why India has never became part of the G7 nations? The principal reasons are:
A strong net national wealth and a very high Human Development Index are requirements for G-7 membership.
India falls short of the fundamental criteria for raising its Human Development Index, and its human rights status is a significant barrier.
The seven countries in the G7 represent more than 64% of the net global wealth of $263 trillion while India had $2.85 trillion in the year 2022. India, because of lagging in Human Development Index is not a member of the G7. The GDP per capita and wealth per capita of India are far lesser than the G7 countries.
What is G7?
G7 is a bloc of industrialized democracies Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. India is not a member of the G7 group.
There are no headquarters of G7 as it is an informal forum. Also, it has no secretary office. However, the Presidency (host country) organizes yearly meetings of the G7 summit.
The Group of Seven (G7) countries, made up of the world’s most prosperous democracies, have long served as a forum for determining global economic policy and debating urgent global concerns.
However, India’s exclusion from this elite club, one of the largest and fastest-growing economies in the world, raises important issues regarding global representation and balance.
Some academics have questioned the G7’s usefulness in light of internal conflicts and the emergence of substitute organisations like the G20.
India’s non-aligned foreign policy during the Cold War era has historical origins in its absence from the G7. Although the G7 was first established to address economic issues among Western countries, its function has expanded to include more general geopolitical debates. India chose to distance itself from what it seen as a Western-centric bloc because its foreign policy is more oriented on self-sufficiency and South-South cooperation.
But there have been requests for India to be included to the G7 due to its fast growing economy and its prominence in world affairs. The nation’s expanding population, technological advancements, and vital geopolitical location in the Asia-Pacific region highlight its ability to make a significant contribution to the G7 debates. Additionally, India’s participation may improve the group’s efficiency in solving international problems including trade imbalances, counterterrorism, and climate change.
The exclusion of India from the G7 emphasizes the need for a more inclusive and representative global governance structure rather than just reflecting previous decisions. Addressing global challenges requires a wide range of ideas and solutions as the globe grows more linked.
The G7 nations as well as the larger international community may benefit from a more balanced and comprehensive approach to international problem-solving if India is included in the group.
In conclusion, India’s exclusion from the G7 is a result of historically differing foreign policy goals coupled with Human Rights Index situation there. However, there is a strong argument for India’s involvement in setting the global agenda given its expanding economic might and geopolitical relevance.
Russia, former G8 member, was excluded and G7 was formed:
Russia’s membership was suspended in 2014 over the annexation of Crimea.
The Group of Eight (G8) was an inter-governmental political forum from 1997 until 2014. It had formed from incorporating Russia into the Group of Seven, or G7, and returned to its previous name after Russia was expelled in 2014.
Due to internal divisions and the rise of alternative institutions such as the G20, some experts have questioned the G7’s relevance.
2014 saw the suspension of Russia’s membership due to the annexation of Crimea.
From 1998 until 2014, while the organization was still known as the Group of Eight (G8), Russia was a member of the forum; however, membership was suspended as a result of its invasion of the Crimean peninsula of Ukraine.
In 1998, Russia formally joined the group, transforming it into the G8. Russian President Boris Yeltsin would be inspired to align himself more closely with the West if the country were admitted to the elite club, according to U.S. President Bill Clinton. As the NATO security organization welcomed former Soviet satellites in Eastern Europe, Clinton also thought that participation would help appease Russia.
India’s history of being invited as guest in G7 meetings?
Japan held the presidency of the G7 for 2023, and in an attempt to reach to the “Global South” of nations, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida invited the leaders of Australia, Brazil, Comoros, Cook Islands, India, Indonesia, South Korea, and Vietnam.
India’s participation in the G7 proves that India is a responsible democratic great power but not a brutal authoritarian power like China. And India’s participation in the G7 will contribute to Global South countries. That is why India has been invited to the G7 every year since 2019.
The G7 meeting will take place in Hiroshima, Japan, in May 2023. India will be invited as a guest nation by Japan this year. India has received invitations from the G7 before, in fact. India received an invitation when France hosted the G7 in 2019.
India was invited to the G7, which the US meant to host, however it was postponed because to COVID-19 in 2020. India was welcomed when the UK served as the host in 2021. India was also invited to the 2022 Germany hosting event. As a guest nation, India seems to be a permanent member of the G7. Will India become an official member of the G7? According to the historical evidence presented above, it may happen soon. Three of them are listed.
Why is China not included in G7?
China also lags in Human Development Index, that’s why China is not a member of the G7. China is not a democracy. China is run by a single communist party. The GDP per capita and wealth per capita of China are far lesser than the G7 countries.
The G7 is a loose association of developed democracies that meets once a year to coordinate international economic policies and discuss other matters of a global nature.
Future of the G7 is threatened by ongoing tensions with Russia and, to a greater extent, China, as well as by internal conflicts over trade and climate policy. Before its meeting in 2021, the G7 came to a historic agreement to change the world’s business taxation regulations as a show of rekindled collaboration.
In reaction to Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, the G7 has more recently slapped concerted sanctions on the country, including a price ceiling on Russian oil.
What is the purpose of G7 and how does it operate?
The Group of Six was established in 1975 by the United States, France, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and West Germany to provide a forum for noncommunist powers to discuss urgent economic issues, such as inflation and a recession brought on by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) oil embargo. After Canada joined the organization the next year, Cold War issues were always on the group’s agenda.
Why is India not a G7 member?
In terms of total nominal GDP, India has the fifth-largest economy, but its GDP per person and per capita wealth are significantly lower than those of the other G7 members. India is not a G7 member since it also lags behind in the Human Development Index.
India’s wealth and GDP per capita are significantly lower than those of the G7 nations. India’s nominal GDP per capita is roughly $2,000, compared to the G7 countries’ average nominal GDP per capita of around $45,000.
India is a developing nation, while the G7 is a collection of advanced industrialized nations, according to the IMF and the World Bank.
Will India be a member of the G7?
Vladimir Putin, the president of the Russian Federation, had expressed support for Turkey, China, and India joining the G7 if Russia is allowed to rejoin in 2019. India might perhaps join the G7 in the future.
Under the Trump administration, the United States has expressed support for include Australia, Brazil, India, South Korea, and Russia once again in 2020.
India received several invitations to visit the G7 host nation. Australia, India, and South Korea were invited by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to the G7 conference in June 2021.
India is a natural ally for the G7 nations, according to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in defending their common values against a variety of dangers such as autocracy, terrorism, violent extremism, misinformation, and economic pressure.
The G7 cannot disregard India’s views for several reasons, the first of which being the increasing importance and responsibility of India in the globe. The G7 is now the most powerful collection of nations. This is crucial at a time when the UN Security Council (UNSC) is waning in power. The UNSC is unable to take more decisive action at this time because of the worsening US-China-Russia ties.
Other than the G7’s powerful nations, it is expected to continue losing importance in the future. India may join the G7 as a new member. In terms of global defence spending, India ranks in third. India’s GDP is higher than that of France, Italy, and Canada and comparable to that of the UK. Additionally, India is a democratic nation, therefore the G7 welcomes her every year and want to interact with her.
According to experts, there is reluctance among countries to join the G7 since it is probable that China may provoke India if they do. India needs enhanced defensive capabilities in this situation, as well as confidence in its ability to thwart and counteract China’s provocations. Additionally, the G7 must do more to help India counteract China’s provocations.
