Vishwabandhu: India as a Provider for Global Public Goods

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) describes Global Public Goods as “... those whose benefits affect all citizens of the world. They encompass many aspects of our lives: from our natural environment, our histories and cultures, and technological progress down to everyday devices such as the metric system.” In the last decade, India has not only reframed its position as a net donor of aid but has introduced the vishwabandhu (friend of the world) nomenclature to describe its efforts to provide global public goods. One of India's major efforts in providing global assistance was rolled out during the Covid-19 pandemic. It sent vaccines to 101 countries in what has been described variously as 'vaccine diplomacy' and vaccine maitri (friendship). This positioning is derived from India's broader external relations affirmation of vasudhaiva kutumbakam which is derived from the country's ancient wisdom.

This project seeks to collate and analyse India's emerging role as a provider of Global Public Goods in a range of fields and sectors, including but not limited to:

• healthcare, and medical resources, 

• infrastructure (including digital public infrastructure)

•  food, clothing, and related resources, 

• educational resources

• security, and related resources. 

It shall expand and deepen our understanding of the interlinkages between India's growth trajectory, and its developmental diplomacy ambitions.

• Monograph/ Edited Book
• Opinion Editorials
• Roundtable Discussions