The summit agenda is wide-ranging, centring on three major pillars: building new international partnerships and strengthening global solidarity in response to emerging challenges; promoting sustainable, balanced, and inclusive economic growth across regions; and developing a global framework for the safe, ethical, and efficient deployment of artificial intelligence. These discussions are expected to shape policy coordination on some of the most pressing issues confronting the international community.
On the sidelines of the summit, Prime Minister Modi is also expected to hold multiple bilateral meetings with world leaders. Political circles have indicated the possibility of a separate bilateral engagement with United States President Donald Trump, which, if confirmed, could further define the trajectory of India–United States strategic relations.
India’s participation in the summit follows a formal invitation extended by French President Emmanuel Macron during his official visit to India between February 17 and 19, 2026. During the visit, President Macron held detailed discussions with Prime Minister Modi and personally invited India to contribute not only to the main summit deliberations but also to preparatory technical discussions. France has emphasised India’s essential role in addressing global economic imbalances and shaping a renewed framework for international cooperation.
Prime Minister Modi has reiterated India’s commitment to constructive engagement on issues including global economic stability, development financing, international economic security, resilient supply chains, climate action, and international security. India’s growing participation reflects its evolving position as a key stakeholder in global decision-making processes.
India’s inclusion in the G7 dialogue is increasingly viewed as strategically significant in the context of shifting global power dynamics. India is currently one of the fastest-growing major economies and is projected to soon become the world’s fourth-largest economy, according to economic assessments and NITI Aayog projections. Its central role in global supply chains, expanding technological capabilities, and large domestic market have further strengthened its relevance in international economic discussions.
India also serves as a critical link between advanced economies and the Global South, often representing the concerns of developing nations on global platforms. Its democratic framework, economic scale, and growing manufacturing and technology sectors make it an important participant in discussions on global stability and security. Observers also note that India’s inclusion helps balance geopolitical equations amid rising global competition.
The Group of Seven, or G7, is an informal grouping of seven advanced economies: the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Canada, with the European Union also participating in its meetings. Together, the member nations account for approximately 40 percent of global gross domestic product and around 10 percent of the world’s population, with a combined economic output exceeding 55 trillion US dollars.
The G7 was established in 1975 as the World Economic Summit through the initiative of former French President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing and then West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt. Initially formed as a six-nation grouping, Canada joined in 1976, creating the G7. Russia was later included between 1997 and 2013, when the group was referred to as the G8, before its suspension following developments in Crimea in 2014, after which the format reverted to the G7.
India is not a permanent member of the G7 but participates as a special invitee. Over the years, several countries, including the United States, have supported the idea of India’s permanent inclusion. Including the 2026 summit in France, India has participated in the G7 or G8 meetings 13 times and has been invited consistently since 2019, reflecting its growing strategic importance in global affairs.
As global challenges become increasingly interconnected, India’s continued presence at the G7 table underscores its expanding diplomatic footprint and its role in shaping the future architecture of international cooperation.
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