Over 70 pc of young Indians see greater global south leadership ahead: Report

NEW DELHI: Seventy-two per cent of young Indians expect countries of the Global South, including India, South Africa, and Brazil, to gain greater influence in shaping global decisions over the next decade, according to a new report. ‘Our Future India’, launched by the Next Generation India Fellows.

The report, co-facilitated by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and the United Nations Foundation, presents a youth-driven roadmap for India’s centenary of independence and its vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. It draws on a survey of more than 2,000 Indians and consultations held across seven Indian cities and four global regions.

Seven in ten young Indians believe the Global South — countries like India, Brazil, and South Africa — will have greater influence in shaping the world over the next decade.

Today, the Next Generation India Fellows, supported by the @unfoundation and @CEEWIndia, launched ‘Our… pic.twitter.com/ynrjDjkqNU

— CEEW (@CEEWIndia) October 28, 2025

Delivering the keynote address, Amitabh Kant, former G20 Sherpa and Next Generation India Adviser, said India’s aim to become a $30 trillion economy by 2047 will demand relentless reforms, sustainable growth, and the energy of its young population. “Our biggest advantage is our demographic dividend, a young, dynamic population whose imagination will power a resilient and inclusive Viksit Bharat”, he said.

Ambassador Elizabeth Cousens, president and CEO of the UN Foundation, called the report “an impressive snapshot of insights and imagination,” saying it shows how institutions can turn “demographic energy into shared progress.”

Arunabha Ghosh, CEO of CEEW and COP30 Special Envoy for South Asia, noted that India’s next growth phase “will be defined not by what we promise but by what we prove — through data, transparency and innovation that empowers citizens”.

Our Future India proposes a national gig work commission to protect informal workers, a care fund to embed gender equity into the economy, smart village hubs to support rural livelihoods, and a panel on AI and Emerging Tech with youth representation. It also suggests long-term “moonshots” such as establishing a Ministry of Future Affairs to embed foresight into governance and creating an India Supergrid for a green energy democracy.

The Next Generation India Fellows initiative, part of the UN Foundation’s Our Future Agenda programme in partnership with CEEW, aims to empower young leaders to shape local and global policy. (ANI)