Friday 24 / October / 2025
New Delhi: The term Global South goes beyond a simple classification based on economic development. While it is often contrasted with the Global North—a group comprising the world’s developed, wealthy, and highly industrialized nations—the concept encompasses much more than just economics or geography.
Typically, countries in Africa, Asia, and South America are considered part of the Global South, as their economies tend to rely more heavily on natural resources and are in various stages of industrialization and transition. In terms of development, they generally occupy the middle to lower tiers of the global economic hierarchy.
Yet, what truly defines the Global South is not only its economic position or geographic concentration but a shared historical experience of colonialism, post-colonial development challenges, exposure to neoliberal global frameworks, and enduring power asymmetries in relation to the West.
These power imbalances are often reflected in developing economies having a weaker voice in the “democratic institutions” of the contemporary global economy, like the WTO, WB, and IMF. Over time, for the Global South to put up a sustained resistance, to address the conflict between them and West and attain justice at the global platforms, the need for engagement has become even stronger.
The need for cooperation and coordination between the Global South acquired a key role in the diplomatic relations in the post-colonial world. This traces back to India’s association with Egypt, Indonesia, and Ghana to co-lead and openly challenge the Western hegemony through the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to the current stress on South-South Cooperation.
Historically speaking, from the need for raising a voice against colonial rule across the globe, to NAM, from stressing the need for a multi-polar world to the contemporary phenomenon of South-South Cooperation, India has always been at the forefront in raising a voice and action of the Global South. Indeed, leveraging the shared historical, cultural, and economic identities as well as development experience is a key aspect of India’s involvement in the Global South.
For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, India established “vaccine maitri” (vaccina friendship), in which India provided nearly 300 million vaccine doses to less developed and vulnerable countries, often free of cost. This was in contrast to many countries that imposed export controls during the pandemic .
Similarly, given the humanitarian crisis situation, in October 2024, India sent a total of 33 tonnes of humanitarian aid, including essential medicines, to Lebanon. Moreover, after the massive earthquake devastation in Türkiye and Syria, India, being among the first international responders, launched "Operation Dost" to provide extensive assistance to both, which involved sending its National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, medical assistance, and relief material .
These are not the instances highlighting the acts of benevolence on a country towards another, but rather a model of conduct for South-South cooperation, in emergency situations or otherwise. Moreover, if one focuses on the vocabulary used, even in terms of sense-making, the terms ‘Maitri’ or ‘Dost’ used for naming their international missions, using different languages of India, reflect New Delhi’s commitment to friendship, bond, and support.
The importance of shared historical and economic belongingness between the Global South can’t be stressed enough. It sublimes into the core principle of South-South Cooperation. India’s leadership in the Global South is not sporadic or a recent phenomenon; it has been resilient, ever-evolving, and sustainable, in crisis situations or fundamental institutional development needs.
Leadership could emerge when one is aware of the developmental needs, which comes from a shared sense of struggles and experiences. And thus, the developmental action becomes both inward as well as outward looking. An example of this is India’s focus on stopping open defecation at home as well as globally. As of 2025, India helped build toilets in Afghanistan, Bhutan, Ghana, and South Africa through its NGO Sulabh International.
Expanding on its digital public infrastructure (DPI) mission, India’s UPI (Unified Payments Interface), a digital payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), now has global adopters. From October 2025, UPI payment will now accepted in Qatar supermarkets. This is in addition to nine other countries in the Global South facilitating a UPI-based QR code payment system, spreading across South Asia, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
Thus, India is playing a crucial role in providing a global public infrastructure for financial inclusion and growth, and as put by Bill Gates, “Countries across the Global South are leveraging India’s experience to build their DPI systems. For India, science and technology cooperation have always been an instrument for equitable progress. With its DPI, it is revolutionizing the digital infrastructure in developing countries while ensuring an equitable global technological progression.
A sustainable model of South-South cooperation leverages trade and investment in each other, which exemplifies economic trust and economy-building. Economic cooperation of the Global South is also an important economic strategy for diversifying away from too much dependence on the Global South.
Given the recent rise in trade protectionism and skyrocketing tariff situation, the global south needs enhanced economic integration to remain resilient to the economic vagaries and shift in the political mood of the Developed economies. Understanding this, India is fast emerging at the economic frontiers, leading economic engagement through investments in the Global South. Indian corporates are making significant investments, mergers, acquisitions, and start-ups in traditional as well as newly emerging sectors like agriculture, mining, along with telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy across the Global South.
For instance, in Africa, Indian enterprises have invested over $50 billion . This is not just helping bring money home, but also creating jobs and infrastructure development in Africa. Similarly, in Latin America, India is investing in IT and renewable energy, contributing to the overall technological advancements and sustainable development.
The spirit of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” is well reflected in its eagerness to take initiatives in the Global South engagement, whether they are crisis-response, addressing developmental needs, or raising voice and support at the international platforms. India’s geopolitical dynamics, marked by factors like growing economic power, strategic interests, global well-being, and aspirations to be a key player on the global stage, are determining its proactive engagement with the Global South. India’s role is fast emerging as a nation that amplifies the voice and position of the developing economies globally, bridging Global North and the Global South .
India is at the forefront in pushing the limits of the Global South, enthusiastically sharing the fruits of its development journey with others, whether it is in the field of socio-economic development, digital infrastructure, trade, or investment. India’s participation is playing a pivotal role in the evolving dynamics of the Global South, with its staunch commitment towards a multipolar vision, with just distribution of power and economic resources, and democratizing global platforms to give all voices fair weightage.
