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Amitabh Kant resigns as India’s G20 Sherpa, ending 45-year govt career

Kant, a retired 1980-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Kerala cadre, was appointed as India's G20 Sherpa in July 2022, months before India assumed the G20 Presidency.

Former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Photo credit: Amitabh Kant/Linkedin)

Amitabh Kant resignation: 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 service to the Government, I have decided to embrace new opportunities and begin a new chapter. I am deeply grateful to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for accepting my resignation as India’s G20 Sherpa and for the trust he placed in me to drive developmental initiatives that shaped India’s growth trajectory,” Kant posted on LinkedIn on Monday.

“To my Ministers—Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman & Dr S. Jaishankar & Prl Secy to PM Shri P.K. Mishra – I am grateful for your guidance and support. To all my colleagues, mentors & friends—thank you for your inspiration. I now look forward to India’s transformational journey towards Viksit Bharat by supporting free enterprise, Startups,think tanks and academic institutions,” the post said.

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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).

My New Journey:
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…

— Amitabh Kant (@amitabhk87) June 16, 2025

“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.

Highlighting his tenure as NITI Aayog CEO, Kant said, “We helped lay the foundations for India’s digital public infrastructure and pushed policy reforms across sectors—ranging from manufacturing through PLI schemes to innovation through the Atal Innovation Mission and sustainability through the Green Hydrogen Mission and Advanced Chemistry Cells. These efforts positioned India as a leader in innovation and climate action.”

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.

Aggam Walia

Aggam Walia is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, reporting on power, renewables, and mining. His work unpacks intricate ties between corporations, government, and policy, often relying on documents sourced via the RTI Act. Off the beat, he enjoys running through Delhi's parks and forests, walking to places, and cooking pasta. ... Read More

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