Daily Mains Question – GS 2 – 4th July 2025
- TPP
- Jul 4
- 4 min read
Welcome to your daily Mains Model Answer — crafted to explore India’s evolving foreign policy and its interplay with global diplomacy, a theme central to GS Paper 2 (International Relations and Bilateral Engagements). Today’s answer examines how India’s invitation to the G7 conference in Canada marks a significant diplomatic reset in Indo-Canadian relations.
This topic aligns with GS Paper 2 (India and its neighbourhood; bilateral, regional, and global groupings and agreements involving India). It highlights how multilateral platforms like the G7 are increasingly becoming sites for recalibrating bilateral ties, fostering strategic convergence, and restoring institutional mechanisms. In light of recent diplomatic tensions, India’s renewed engagement with Canada via the G7 signals a pragmatic shift—anchored in mutual interests such as energy security, technological innovation, and global governance.
Understanding this shift not only enriches your perspective on current affairs but also deepens your grasp of how India strategically leverages multilateral forums to reassert its national priorities, promote global South leadership, and enhance bilateral cooperation.
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QUESTION
Examine how India’s invitation to the G7 conference in Canada marks a diplomatic reset in India-Canada relations.
Answer: The invitation extended to India to attend the G7 Summit in Canada marks a significant shift in the trajectory of India-Canada bilateral relations, especially in the backdrop of recent diplomatic tensions. The engagement highlights a pragmatic recalibration of ties and acknowledges India's rising profile in global governance platforms. This renewed interaction signifies a "diplomatic reset", with efforts to rebuild institutional trust, strategic cooperation, and economic engagement.
Background of Bilateral Relations:
India and Canada have traditionally shared democratic values, membership in the Commonwealth, a strong people-to-people connect, and growing economic partnerships.
However, recent years saw strained ties due to concerns related to national security, separatist activities, and diplomatic disengagement, including the withdrawal of high commissioners and stalling of dialogues.
The G7 invitation in 2025, in this context, emerges as a pivotal development with the potential to recalibrate relations on a constructive and forward-looking agenda.
G7 Invitation as a Foundational Step:
Recognition of India’s Global Role:The Canadian leadership acknowledged India’s “natural and consistent role” at the G7 table, indicating an alignment with India’s position as a key voice on issues like climate change, energy security, and technological governance.
Acknowledgement of Economic Potential:With India being the 5th largest economy globally and a key stakeholder in global supply chains, Canada underscored the importance of India’s economic dynamism, technological capability, and role in multilateral forums like the G20 and Global South platforms.
Strategic Energy Collaboration:India’s participation in global initiatives like the International Solar Alliance (ISA), Coalition for Disaster-Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and the Global Biofuels Alliance was noted as aligning with Canada’s emphasis on the clean energy transition. This intersection strengthens the scope for sustainable development partnerships.
Resetting the Strategic and Security Agenda:
Counter-Terrorism Cooperation:India reiterated its stance on the need for a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, advocating for global consensus and sanctions against actors who promote or shelter terrorist activities. Such emphasis re-establishes India’s core security priorities in bilateral and multilateral engagements.
Technology and Innovation Dialogues:Discussions also included collaboration on artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and their linkage with energy systems—an area where both countries have overlapping research interests and regulatory challenges.
Restoration of Institutional Mechanisms:
Return of High Commissioners: One of the most concrete outcomes was the decision to reinstate the role of High Commissioners in both countries. This move is vital for:
Resuming formal diplomatic dialogues
Facilitating trade negotiations
Supporting consular services and the large Indian diaspora in Canada
Reviving track 1.5 and 2-level diplomacy including think-tank and academic exchanges
Resumption of Bilateral Mechanisms: Senior-level and working-level meetings are expected to be revived, including:
India-Canada Strategic Dialogue
Trade and Investment Working Groups
Potential renewal of talks around the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)
Challenges and the Road Ahead:
Addressing Core Concerns:India has consistently raised concerns over anti-India separatist elements operating from Canadian soil. A sustainable relationship will depend on Canada taking concrete actions against such entities, ensuring mutual respect for sovereignty.
Leveraging Convergences:Areas like clean energy, education, climate resilience, emerging technologies, and Arctic cooperation present avenues for deepening strategic collaboration.
People-to-People Ties:With over 1.4 million people of Indian origin in Canada, enhancing mobility, educational exchange, and addressing visa-related concerns will further anchor bilateral goodwill.
India’s participation in the G7 Summit in Canada serves as more than symbolic diplomacy—it is a strategic turning point. It reflects an evolving mutual understanding that transcends past grievances and aligns with global realities. The willingness to re-engage through diplomatic restoration, shared multilateral commitments, and recognition of each other's roles in global governance indicates that India and Canada are poised to rebuild a pragmatic and future-oriented partnership. However, for this diplomatic reset to be enduring, it must be institutionalized, respectful of mutual red lines, and responsive to shared global responsibilities.
Key Concepts & Treaties Mentioned
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