Amitabh Kant steps down as India’s G20 Sherpa

Former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant on Monday stepped down as India’s G20 Sherpa. Kant announced the news in a post titled ‘My New Journey’ on the professional networking platform LinkedIn.

“After 45 years of dedicated service to the Government, I have decided to embrace new opportunities and begin a new chapter. I am deeply grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for accepting my resignation as India’s G20 Sherpa and for the trust he placed in me to drive developmental initiatives that shaped India’s growth trajectory. His vision, discipline & commitment to building a stronger, more inclusive India have been a constant source of inspiration,” Kant wrote.

On his future plans, Kant wrote that he looks forward to India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat by supporting free enterprise, startups, think tanks, and academic institutions.

Kant recalled that leading India’s G20 Presidency in 2023 was a significant milestone in his career.

“Despite complex global challenges, we achieved unanimous consensus on the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration, and re-focussed attention on key developmental issues. India’s G20 presidency was people-centric and inclusive, with meetings held across all states and Union Territories. This strengthened cooperative federalism, celebrated local culture, and upgraded infrastructure nationwide. We also successfully ensured the inclusion of the African Union in the G20, fulfilling India’s commitment to global equity and the voice of the Global South,” he said in his post.

As CEO of NITI Aayog, Kant said he had the privilege to lead path-breaking programmes such as the Aspirational Districts Programme, which transformed the lives of common citizens in 115 of India’s most underdeveloped districts. “We helped lay the foundations for India’s digital public infrastructure and pushed policy reforms across sectors—ranging from manufacturing through PLI schemes to innovation through the Atal Innovation Mission and sustainability through the Green Hydrogen Mission and Advanced Chemistry Cells. These efforts positioned India as a leader in innovation and climate action,” he said.

Kant said that during his tenure as Secretary of the Department for Industrial Policy and Promotion, he focussed on reform and liberalisation, driving key initiatives like Ease of Doing Business, Make in India, and Startup India. These transformed India’s business landscape and helped the country climb 79 places in the World Bank rankings, he said in the post.

“My journey began in Kerala, where I learned the value of grassroots development. From the 'God’s Own Country' campaign to rejuvenating Calicut city by reviving Mananchaira Maidan, removing vast encroachments, expanding Calicut Airport, and working closely with the fishing community—these experiences shaped my career. Later, in the Ministry of Tourism, we initiated the 'Incredible India' campaign—born from the belief that travel & tourism has the best multiplier impact on jobs and growth,” said Kant.

The former NITI Aayog CEO said that he is grateful to finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar, and principal secretary to PM P.K. Mishra. “I am grateful for your guidance and support. To all my colleagues, mentors & friends—thank you for your inspiration. I now look forward to India’s transformational journey towards Viksit Bharat by supporting free enterprise, startups, think tanks, and academic institutions,” he said.

“India has always been, and will always be, Incredible. Humbled to have played a small role. Thank you for being part of this journey,” said Kant, while signing off.