India Assumes G20, UN Security Council Presidency Today

India assumes the presidency of the G20 and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) starting today, Thursday.

India's presidency of the G20 begins on December 1 and will last till November 30, 2023, with nearly 200 meetings of the group at different levels expected to take place over the next year. 

The main event during the Indian presidency, the G20 summit, is scheduled to take place in the country's capital, New Delhi, from September 9-10, 2023.

Earlier in the year, Indian officials mentioned that the country's priorities for its upcoming presidency of the group would be global economic growth, issues with public debt, and food and energy security.

At the same time, India also assumes the presidency of the UN Security Council today, lasting until the end of the month. 

New Delhi becomes the UNSC president for the second time since August 2021.

During India's tenure, a number of meetings on the fight against terrorism and reforms of the multilateral approach to global challenges are expected to take place, with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar presiding over the events.

The UN Security Council consists of five permanent members, including Russia, China, France, the UK and the US, who have veto power, and ten non-permanent members who are elected for two-year terms. For years, India has been seeking a permanent seat on the Security Council along with Brazil, Germany, and Japan.

The G20 is an intergovernmental forum of 19 countries and the European Union.

The Forum accounts for 85% of global GDP, 75% of international trade, and two-thirds of the world's population.

The G20 says it aims to address key issues related to the global economy, including international financial stability, climate change mitigation, and sustainable development.