Concepts

G20 (Group of Twenty)

CAPF wiki1 min read7 sections
At a glance
SubjectInternational Relations

Definition

The premier forum for international economic cooperation, made up of nineteen major economies, the European Union, and (from 2023) the African Union, accounting for the bulk of world output and trade.

Key points

  • Formed in 1999 at the finance-minister level after the Asian financial crisis; it was upgraded to a leaders' summit in 2008 during the global financial crisis.
  • It has no permanent secretariat; a rotating presidency steers the agenda, supported by the "troika" of the previous, current, and next presidencies.
  • India held the G20 presidency in 2023 and hosted the New Delhi summit; the African Union was admitted as a permanent member during India's presidency.
  • The G20 covers finance and the broader development, climate, digital, and health agenda; the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration was a notable outcome.
  • It complements but does not replace the United Nations and the Bretton Woods institutions; its strength is informal coordination among the largest economies.

Why it matters for CAPF

The G20, its origin, its members, India's 2023 presidency, and the African Union's inclusion are high-frequency current-affairs and international-economy facts.

Common confusion

The G20 is a broad economic forum (no permanent secretariat, rotating presidency); the G7 is a smaller club of advanced economies. India is in the G20 but not the G7.

One-line recall

Premier economic forum of major economies plus the EU and AU; India held the presidency and hosted the New Delhi summit in 2023.

concept brics, concept quad, concept united nations system

Parent note

international organisations and india

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