Amitabh Kant Steps Down As G20 Sherpa
In a LinkedIn post, Kant expressed gratitude towards PM Modi 'for the trust he placed in me to drive developmental initiatives that shaped India’s growth trajectory'.
Amitabh Kant stepped down as India’s G20 Sherpa on Monday. Kant announced the decision on his LinkedIn profile.
"After 45 years of dedicated service to the government, I have decided to embrace new opportunities and begin a new chapter," he wrote.
"I am deeply grateful to Prime Minister Shri 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," he wrote in a LinkedIn post.
Kant shared 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 refocused attention on key developmental issues," he added.
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," said Kant.
Kant's Career
Kant's journey began in Kerala, where he learned the value of grassroots development. The 'God’s Own Country' campaign, reviving Mananchaira Maidan in Kozhikode, removing vast encroachments, expanding Calicut Airport and working closely with fishing community were experiences which shaped his career, he said.
He served as the chief executive officer of NITI Aayog from 2016-2022. As CEO of NITI Aayog, Kant led programs such as the Aspirational Districts Programme, which transformed lives of common citizens in 115 of India’s most underdeveloped districts.
Kant's team laid 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 wrote.
Kant's tenure as Secretary of the Department for Industrial Policy and Promotion focused on reform and liberalisation, driving 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 shared.
In the Ministry of Tourism, his team had initiated the 'Incredible India' campaign—born from the belief that travel and tourism has the best multiplier impact on jobs and growth, he said.
Kant expressed gratitude towards Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar and Principle Secretary to PM PK Mishra, along with his colleagues.
"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."
