Amitabh Kant has stepped down as India’s G20 Sherpa, ending a 45-year career in government service. The former NITI Aayog CEO, who represented India at the G20 since 2022 and played a key role during its 2023 presidency, announced on social media that he will now engage with startups, think tanks, and academic institutions in a personal capacity.
“After 45 years of dedicated government service, I have made the decision to embrace new opportunities and move forward in life. I am incredibly thankful to the Prime Minister of India for accepting my resignation as G20 Sherpa and for having given me the opportunity to drive a range of developmental initiatives and contribute to the growth, development, and progress of India,” Amitabh Kant said in a post on X.
I am grateful to all my colleagues, peers and friends for their patience, understanding, and support, he said.
“I now look forward to contributing to India’s transformational journey towards Viksit Bharat by facilitating and supporting free enterprise, startups, think tanks, and academic institutions,” he added.
Kant served as NITI Aayog’s longest-tenured CEO, holding the post for over six years from February 2016 to June 2022, before being appointed India’s G20 Sherpa in July 2022, succeeding Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.
His earlier roles include Secretary of the Department for Industrial Policy and Promotion (2014–16) and Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism (2001–07).
“Leading India’s G20 Presidency in 2023 was a significant milestone in my career. Despite complex global challenges, we achieved unanimous consensus on the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration, and refocused attention on key developmental issues,” Kant’s LinkedIn post said.
“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,” it added.
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Kant has also played a key role in driving flagship initiatives such as Ease of Doing Business, Make in India, Startup India, and Incredible India.
