The government of India has appointed Mata Amritanandamayi as the Chair of Civil 20 (C20), an official engagement group of the G20.

India will assume the presidency of the G20 for one year from December 1, 2022, to 30 November 2023.

What is Civil 20 (C20)?

• The Civil 20 (C20) is one of the official engagement groups of the G20.

• It provides a platform for Civil Society Organisations (CSO) around the world to voice the people’s aspirations with the world’s leaders in G20.

• The Civil 20 (C20) became an official engagement group of the G20 in 2013. 

• Since then, the C20 has grown stronger every year, ensuring that world leaders listen not only to voices representing the government and business sectors, but also to the proposals and demands of civil society, with the aim of protecting the environment and promoting social and economic development, human rights and the principle of leaving no one behind.

• The C20 engages more than 800 civil societies representatives and networks from various countries beyond the members of G20, which are endorsed and structured by the C20 Principles.

The role of C20:

i) They provide expertise: Civil society groups include some of the world’s leading experts on a wide range of issues relevant to the G20.

ii) They hold governments accountable: Civil society challenges governments to achieve higher standards and holds them accountable to their own commitments, seeking positive outcomes for society as a whole and pushing for an effective allocation of resources to achieve those outcomes.

iii) They explain complex issues in lay terms: Much government policy is too technical or abstract for non-specialists. Civil society can help citizens understand what these policies mean and how they will impact their everyday lives.

iv) They provide balance: One of the greatest weaknesses of the G20 has been its reluctance to grant civil society the same kind of access it provides to business interests. In a context in which people around the world believe governments are too close to business or only act in their own interests, it is vital to involve civil society to ensure that government decisions reflect the interests of citizens and are worthy of people’s trust.

v) They collaborate: Besides acting as a watchdog, civil society is the home of innovators and experts on technology and policy who are able and willing to provide cutting-edge solutions, innovative ideas and support to G20 governments on the key issues of our time.

C20 Secretariat is responsible for the administrative, financial and logistical coordination tasks. The troika structure, which is part of the C20 Steering Committee (SC), allows for dialogue and coordination between the lead civil society organizations from the current, previous and following G20/C20 host countries. 

The C20 Chair and Co-Chair are responsible for facilitating the C20 process. The appointment of each year’s Chair and Co-Chair is the prerogative of civil society in the host country.

What is G20?

• The G20 is the international forum that brings together the world’s major economies.

• The members of G20 are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the UK, the US and the European Union (EU). 

• Its members account for more than 85 per cent of world GDP, 75 per cent of global trade and 60 per cent of the population of the planet.

• India has been a member of the G20 since its inception in 1999. 

• Prime Minister Modi has been leading India’s representation at G20 summits since 2014. 

• India is currently part of the G20 troika (current, previous, and incoming G20 presidencies) comprising Indonesia, Italy, and India.

Genesis of G20

• After the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997-1998, it was acknowledged that the participation of major emerging market countries is needed in discussions on the international financial system, and G-8 finance ministers agreed to establish the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in 1999.

• The G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meetings were centered on major economic and monetary policy issues amongst major countries in the global financial system and aimed at promoting cooperation toward achieving stable and sustainable global economic growth for the benefit of all countries. 

• The participating members in the meetings were the same as the current G20 members.

• Since then, finance ministers and central bank governors have met annually. 

• India hosted a meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors in 2002.

• In November 2008, the inaugural G20 Summit was held in Washington, D.C. in response to the global financial crisis that occurred in the wake of the collapse of the Lehman Brothers. 

• The G20 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors was upgraded to the head of state level, as a forum for leaders from major developed and emerging market countries. 

• In September 2009, the third summit was held in Pittsburgh where the leaders designated the G20 as the “premier forum for international economic cooperation.” 

• From thereon, the summit meetings were held semi-annually until 2010 and annually from 2011 onwards.

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