Amitabh Kant on Monday announced his decision to step down as the G20 Sherpa. His resignation comes after 45 years of government service in various roles, including G20 Sherpa, CEO of NITI Aayog, and Secretary of the Department for Industrial Policy and Promotion, among others.
“After 45 years of dedicated government service, I have made the decision to embrace new opportunities and move forward in life,” Kant said in a post on X, titled ‘My New Journey’. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for accepting his resignation and for entrusting him with key policy responsibilities during his tenure.
Describing the G20 Summit in India as a “significant milestone” in his career, Kant wrote in a LinkedIn post: “India’s G20 presidency was people-centric and inclusive, with meetings held across all states and union territories. This strengthened cooperative federalism, celebrated local culture, and upgraded infrastructure nationwide.”
Kant also highlighted the successful inclusion of the African Union in the G20, which fulfilled India’s commitment to global equity and to amplifying the voice of the Global South.
During his time at NITI Aayog, Kant led flagship initiatives such as the Aspirational Districts Programme, aimed at improving governance and development indicators in 115 of India’s most underdeveloped districts. He also played a pivotal role in shaping India’s digital public infrastructure, and championed innovation through the Atal Innovation Mission, manufacturing reforms via the PLI scheme, and sustainability through missions such as Green Hydrogen and Advanced Chemistry Cells.
As Secretary of the DIPP, Kant played a significant role in rolling out major initiatives such as Ease of Doing Business, Make in India, and Startup India.
Tracing his career to its roots in Kerala, Kant said his early exposure to grassroots development informed his later efforts — including the globally recognised Incredible India tourism campaign, which he described as inspired by the sector’s potential for job creation and economic growth.
Kant’s next chapter, he said, would focus on contributing to India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat by empowering enterprise and innovation.
