Amitabh Kant resigns as G20 Sherpa, begins ‘new journey’ after 45 years in public service

New Delhi: Amitabh Kant, India’s G20 Sherpa and a former top bureaucrat, has stepped down from his role, marking the end of a 45-year-long career in public service. In a statement shared on social media platform X, Kant expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the country and said he was now looking forward to contributing to India’s development in new ways.

“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 wrote, describing the move as the beginning of his “new journey.”

A retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the 1980 Kerala cadre, Kant was appointed as India’s G20 Sherpa in July 2022. He played a leading role in India’s G20 presidency and hosted the 2023 G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi. Reflecting on the experience, Kant called it 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 said, highlighting India’s people-centric approach during its presidency. He also credited the summit with strengthening cooperative federalism and giving prominence to India’s local cultures through nationwide participation.

Notably, he underscored India’s success in facilitating the African Union’s inclusion in the G20, a move he said affirmed the country’s commitment to global equity and amplifying the voice of the Global South.

Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for accepting his resignation and for entrusting him with various responsibilities, Kant noted, “I am incredibly thankful to the Prime Minister of India... for having given me the opportunity to drive a range of developmental initiatives and contribute to the growth, development, and progress of India.”

Throughout his distinguished career, Kant has held several influential roles, including CEO of NITI Aayog and Secretary of the Department for Industrial Policy and Promotion (now DPIIT).

Line of work

At NITI Aayog, he led major initiatives such as the Aspirational Districts Programme, which aimed to transform the lives of citizens in 115 underdeveloped districts.

He also contributed to building India’s digital public infrastructure and championed reforms across sectors including manufacturing, innovation, and sustainability -- through initiatives like the PLI scheme, Atal Innovation Mission, Green Hydrogen Mission, and the development of advanced chemistry cells.

As Secretary of DIPP, Kant focused on reform and liberalisation, spearheading landmark initiatives like ‘Ease of Doing Business,’ ‘Make in India,’ and ‘Startup India,’ which helped India improve its global rankings and attract foreign investment.

Kant also extended his appreciation to senior government officials including Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, P.K. Mishra, for their support and guidance during his tenure.