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Leading from the front: On Voice of the Global South Summit and G20 presidency
India must amplify the views of the Global South as president of the G20 summit

The Government’s summit for developing nations, called the “Voice of the Global South Summit”, as
its first big leadership-level G20 event, is an extremely important signal. It is also a departure from
New Delhi’s looking towards the “high-table” of global leadership, involving its relationship with the
UNSC P5 and G-7 (the most developed economies), to focusing on a more just view of the world and
how the developing world is being affected by global inequities. In his opening remarks at the virtual
summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi explained the reasons for the shift: how “challenges of the
COVID pandemic, rising prices of fuel, fertilizer and foodgrains, and increasing geopolitical tensions
have impacted our development efforts”. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar too spoke of India’s
need to envision a common future with the Global South and acknowledge India’s “common past”
with the Global South, many of whom have suffered colonialism. Over 10 different sessions, India and
representatives of 125 countries, of the 134 that make up the G-77, agreed that the key issues
include the fragmentation of the international landscape, shortages in grain exports, oil and gas, and
fertilizer as a result of the Ukraine war, and terrorism. Of note was Mr. Modi’s push for “human
centred” globalisation countering the “first world’s” view of expediting climate change goals at the
cost of development, ensuring immigration and work mobility for skilled populations of the global
south, and resilient renewable energy access. The summit appears to mark a reset in India’s foreign
policy outlook in its year as G20 president: one which has made the Government reclaim the true
meaning of non-alignment, in the wake of the Ukraine war where it refused to take sides. Minister of
State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi’s visit to Cuba as it took over G77 chairpersonship (a
grouping India has shunned) and the invitation to the President of Egypt, a NAM co-founder, as
Republic Day chief guest were significant too.

Of note were some of the summit’s exclusions: Pakistan and Afghanistan. Of note too was the
inclusion of Myanmar, whose junta regime has not been recognised but with which India has chosen
to forge closer ties. It is hoped that the collective South-South understanding of global issues will lead
to a more inclusive meeting at the summit level, particularly with reference to South Asian and the
subcontinent’s regional problems. It is also of note that the grouping did not release a common or
joint statement, and much of the narrative on outcomes is built on what Mr. Modi and Mr. Jaishankar
said. For India to be heard as the ‘Voice of the Global South at the G20’, it must reflect on the
aspirations of the other nations and amplify them, as a true leader of the developing world at the G20
summit later this year. [Practice Exercise]

 Red/blue coloring of words in the sentence indicates subject verb relationship; where ‘red’
denotes ‘subject’ and ‘blue’ denotes ‘verb’.

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Vocabulary
1. Lead from the front (phrase) – take an 11. G–7 (noun) – an informal grouping of
active role in what one is urging and seven of the world's advanced economies,
directing others to do. including Canada, France, Germany, Italy,
Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United
2. Voice (noun) – Opinion, view, comment,
States, as well as the European Union
wish, desire, ,
12. Inequity (noun) – unfairness, injustice,
3. Summit (noun) – conference, meeting discrimination, inequality

13. Remark (noun) – Comment, statement,

4. G20 (noun) – an intergovernmental forum say, observe
comprising 19 countries and the European
Union (EU). It works to address major 14. Virtual summit (noun) – Online meeting
issues related to the global economy, such
15. Shift (noun) – change, alteration,
as international financial stability, climate
adjustment, adaptation, amendment
change mitigation, and sustainable
development.

5. Presidency (noun) – the position of being 16. Geopolitical (adjective) – Relating to

president; premiership politics, especially international relations,
as influenced by geographical factors. -
6. Amplify (verb) – Intensify, increase,
strengthen, magnify, augment, enlarge,
swell 17. Tension (noun) – strained relations, strain,
unease
7. Signal (noun) – Sign, indication, gesture,
indicator 18. Envision (verb) – Envisage, imagine,
visualize, see
8. Departure (noun) – an action which is
different from what is usual or expected 19. Acknowledge (verb) – recognize, admit,
accept, concede, confess

9. High-table (noun) – a table at a formal 20. Colonialism (noun) – the practice by which
meal where the most important guests sit. a powerful country controls another
10. UNSC P5 (noun) – China, France, Russia, country or countries, in order to become
the United Kingdom, and the United States richer For example;- British ruled over
India before 1947.

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21. Make up (phrasal verb) – Form, comprise, other Western nations in opposition to
constitute, make what was then the Soviet Union and its
allies
22. Key (adjective) – main, crucial, essential,
32. Expedite (verb) – accelerate, hasten, speed
prime, major, important, significant
up, facilitate, quicken
23. Fragmentation (noun) – Disintegration,
33. At the cost of (phrase) – To achieve
destruction, shattering, crumbling, division
something at the loss of something

24. Landscape (noun) – geography, view,

scene, countryside 34. Ensure (verb) – make sure, make certain,
see to it
25. As a result of (phrase) – Because of
35. Immigration (noun) – the process of
coming to live permanently in a country
26. Of note (phrase) – Important or significant; that is not your own; the number of people
deserving to be noticed , who do this

36. Resilient (adjective) – Strong, robust,

27. Push (noun) – Try, attempt, endeavour buoyant, durable

37. Mark (verb) – Indicate, Denote, Show,

28. Human centered (adjective) – marked by Demonstrate, Exhibit
humanistic values and devotion to human
38. Reset (noun) – change, alteration,
welfare
variation, adjustment
29. Globalisation (noun) – the spread of the
39. Outlook (noun) – perspective, prospect,
flow of financial products, goods,
technology, information, and jobs across attitude, view, viewpoint
national borders and cultures.
40. Reclaim (verb) – Regain, Retrieve, Recover
30. Counter (verb) – oppose, contradict,
retort, combat, respond
41. Non-alignment (noun) – Non-Alignment
was a term used for the policy adopted by
31. First world (noun) – “First world,” a term
countries which did not align with or
developed during the Cold War in the
against the two main power blocs of the
1950s, originally referred to a country that
Cold War, i.e., the USA and the USSR, and
was aligned with the United States and

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instead, chose to remain neutral or 50. Forge (verb) – build, create, construct,
independent.. - make, form

42. In the wake of (phrase) – after, following, 51. Ties (noun) – connection, relations, link,
as a result of, as a consequence of, bond, association

52. Lead (to) (verb) – cause, give rise to, result

43. Take sides (phrase) – give one's support to, in, bring about
stand up for, support
53. Subcontinent (noun) – a large area of land
44. Take over (phrasal verb) – Assume control that is part of a continent
of something ( )
54. Narrative (noun) – a story or a description
45. Chairpersonship (noun) – The office or of a series of events:
term of a chairperson.
55. Outcome (noun) – result, end result,
46. Shun (verb) – avoid, spurn, reject, eschew, consequence, conclusion
snub ,
56. Build on (phrasal verb) – Develop; use
something as a basis for further
47. Junta (noun) – a group, especially of
military officers, who rule a country by development
force ;
57. Reflect (verb) – Consider or think carefully
about ,

48. Regime (noun) – government, 58. Aspiration (noun) – ambition, expectation

administration

49. Recognise (verb) – Acknowledge, accept,

concede /

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Practice Exercise
Direction (Q1 – Q3): Select the best express synonym of the given words [Editorial page]
1. Forge
A. Traceable
B. Purported
C. Construct
D. Encroachment
2. Shun
A. Vital
B. Eschew
C. Enumeration
D. Disparity
3. Envision
A. Visualize
B. Alacrity
C. Stability
D. Disaster
4. Idioms & Phrase
I don't want to be part of this scheme any more. I wash my hands of it.
A. Demand that someone do something
B. To achieve something at the loss of something
C. To gain a good understanding of
D. Refuse to accept responsibility for
5. Direction: Two statements are given below, which are jumbled in any random order. These
statements will form a coherent and meaningful paragraph, when arranged in the correct
sequence. Arrange the sentences in the right order and answer the questions that follow.
(i) to examine the sensitive issue of extending Scheduled Caste (SC) status (D)/ discrimination
and untouchability, regardless of the religion they now profess.(E)/ The Centre has
appointed a three-member Commission (F)/ to all those who have historically suffered
(G)/
(ii) ideological objections while addressing the core question.(A)/ K. G. Balakrishnan, as it will
have to grapple with both social realities and (B)/ It is a task fraught with difficulty for the
panel headed by former Chief Justice of India,(C)/
A. ABC, EFDG
B. DGFE, BAC
C. BAC, FDEG
D. FDGE, CBA
E. None of the above
Direction (Q6 – Q9): Read the given sentences to find out whether there is any grammatical
error in them

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6. Indian entrepreneurs are making waves (A)/ throughout the world; their ideas (B)/ and
technical knowledge are yielded (C)/ unprecedented growth in income and employment. (D)/
no error(E)
7. Policy analysts are reacting to the inflation paranoia (A)/ with proposing that (B)/ central
bankers hit the brakes (C)/ on their expansionary policies. (D)/ no error(E)
8. The aim of the course (A)/ will be to cater to students with diverted needs (B)/ from basic
knowledge (C)/ to top end reason and publishing skills. (D)/ no error(E)
9. I went to his house but (A)/ could not see him (B)/ because he went out before I arrived.(C)/
no error(D)
10. Find out the misspelt word
A. Skirmish
B. Slackening
C. Meagar
D. Perceptible
Direction: Read the passage given below and answer the following questions.
(The Hindu Editorial: A mixed bag – Nov 6, 2022)
a host of domestic and foreign policy issues had dominated this month’s U.S. midterm elections,(1)/
From high inflation to America’s support for Ukraine against the Russian invasion,(2)/ When most of
the results were out, the Democrats avoided a humiliating defeat.(3)/ which were largely seen as a
referendum on the Biden administration.(4)/ There was no ‘red wave’ for the Republicans. The
Democrats have already retained their control of the Senate, while the fate of Georgia would be
decided in a run-off. The Republicans, however, are inching closer to a House majority. The net result
could complicate President Joe Biden’s governance agenda. The Republicans, with the House under
their control, can influence the January 6 riots probe, stall the administration’s legislative agenda and
put additional riders on America’s support for Ukraine. Still, for Mr. Biden, whose approval ratings
have been poor,(A)/ his party’s performance,(B)/ the best for a ruling party in midterms since
2002,(C)/ is a morale booster, strengthening his hand and coming in handy if he decides to run for re-
election in 2024.(D)/
There are many other takeaways. While pre-poll surveys suggested that inflation topped voters’
concerns, abortion rights came second. While the Republicans tried to cash in on voter
______(a)______ over high inflation, many of their candidates’ anti-abortion positions did not help
them in the polls. Second, the results showed that Donald Trump is not as powerful as he appeared to
be. During the Republican primaries, the former U.S. President’s endorsement mattered a lot. But it
does not carry the same weight in the general elections. Several of the candidates he endorsed(A)
were defeated, while at least two Republican winners were unwelcome to him — Georgia’s Governor
Brian Kemp and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. While Mr. Trump is expected to make his 2024 bid(B)
this week, many Republicans are already blaming(C)him for the party’s less-than-expected
performance(D). The results have also _____(b)______ the unstoppable rise of Mr. DeSantis. His
landslide win in what was called a swing State has strengthened calls by Republican donors for his
presidential bid. Many see Mr. DeSantis as a more ideologically disciplined right-winger than Mr.
Trump (who, in their view, could lead the party to victory). The midterm has set the stage

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_____(c)______ 2024. The Democrats have lost ground, but still stay strong. The Republicans are set
to take the House but are internally divided, and right-wing extremism is not winning the party votes.
How the parties _____(d)_____ these challenges will determine their fate in 2024.
Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate combinations of words
11. While the Republicans tried to cash in on voter ______(a)______ over high inflation, many of
their candidates’ anti-abortion positions did not help them in the polls.
Fill the most appropriate option in (a)
(i) Respite
(ii) Resentment
(iii) Truce
(iv) Battlefield
A. Only (i) B. Only (ii) C. Only (iii) D. Both (ii) and (iv) E. None of the above

12. The results have also _____(b)______ the unstoppable rise of Mr. DeSantis.
Fill the most appropriate option in (b)
(i) Replenish
(ii) Underscored
(iii) Recaptured
(iv) Survived
A. Only (i) B. Only (ii) C. Only (iv) D. Both (ii) and (iv) E. None of the above

13. The midterm has set the stage _____(c)______ 2024.

Fill the most appropriate option in (c)
(i) On
(ii) By
(iii) For
(iv) From
A. Only (i) B. Only (ii) C. Only (iii) D. Both (i) and (ii) E. None of the above

14. How the parties _____(d)_____ these challenges will determine their fate in 2024
Fill the most appropriate option in (d)
(i) Escalate
(ii) Address
(iii) Seek
(iv) Halt
A. Only (i) B. Only (iv) C. Only (iii) D. Both (iii) and (ii) E. None of the above

15. The following sentence may or may not contain an error in one of its parts. Identify the part
containing the error. If the sentence is correct, select ‘No error’ as your answers.

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Still, for Mr. Biden, whose approval ratings have been poor,(A)/ his party’s performance,(B)/
the best for a ruling party in midterms since 2002,(C)/ is a morale booster, strengthening his
hand and coming in handy if he decides to run for re-election in 2024.(D)/
A. (A)
B. (B)
C. (C)
D. (D)
E. No Error
16. Rearrange the sentence to form a meaningful sentence.
a host of domestic and foreign policy issues had dominated this month’s U.S. midterm
elections,(1)/ From high inflation to America’s support for Ukraine against the Russian
invasion,(2)/ When most of the results were out, the Democrats avoided a humiliating
defeat.(3)/ which were largely seen as a referendum on the Biden administration.(4)/
A. 2341
B. 1243
C. 2143
D. 1432
E. 4321
17. Given below is a word, followed by three sentence that consist of that word. Identify the
sentence (S) that best express (es) the meaning of the word. Choose option 5 ‘None of the
above’ if the word is not suitable in any of the sentence
STALL
(i) Japan's economic growth has stalled, with industrial production contracting in June for the
fourth straight month.
(ii) We want to stall the character of the town while improving the facilities.
(iii) The builders used metal rods to stall the walls of the building.
A. Only (i)
B. Only (ii)
C. Only (iii)
D. (i), (ii)
E. (ii), (iii)
18. In the following question, a sentence is given with four words marked as (A), (B), (C), and
(D). These words may or may not be placed in the correct order. Four options with different
arrangements of these have been provided. Mark the option with the correct arrangement
as the answer. If no rearrangement is required, mark option (5) as your answer.
Several of the candidates he endorsed(A) were defeated, while at least two Republican
winners were unwelcome to him — Georgia’s Governor Brian Kemp and Florida Governor Ron
DeSantis. While Mr. Trump is expected to make his 2024 bid(B) this week, many Republicans
are already blaming(C)him for the party’s less-than-expected performance(D).
A. A – D
B. B – A

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C. C – D
D. A – C
E. No arrangement
19. In the following question, two statements and five connectors are given. Only one of the
connectors from those given can be used to combine the given two statements into one
sentence without changing the meaning. Choose that connector as your answer.
(i) Water from the kitchen faucet can be as good as bottled water
(ii) the city water supply is bad
A. Unlike
B. Though
C. Unless
D. Yet
E. None of these
20. Fill the appropriate preposition in the given blanks
I condoled ____ my friend in the death of his father.
A. Of
B. In
C. With
D. To

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Answers
1. C 2.B 3.A 4. D 5. D 6.C 7. B 8.B 9.C 10.C 11. B
12. B 13.C 14. E 15. E 16.C 17.A 18.E 19.C 20.C [Practice Exercise]
Explanations
1. Forge (verb) – build, create, construct, make, form बनाना
 Traceable (adjective) – able to be found or discovered.
 Purported (adjective) – supposed, alleged, ostensible, so-called
 Encroachment (noun) – Infringement, intrusion, invasion, impingement
2. Shun (verb) – avoid, spurn, reject, eschew, snub त्यागना, छोड़ना
 Vital (adjective) – Absolutely necessary; essential, crucial, key
 Enumeration (noun) – List, listing, record, account, detail ,
 Disparity (noun) – discrepancy, inconsistency, imbalance, inequality, incongruity,
3. Envision (verb) – Envisage, imagine, visualize, see कल्ऩना करना
 Alacrity (noun) – willingness, readiness, promptitude, preparedness, forwardness
 Stability (noun) – Permanence, constancy, balance, solidity, firmness
 Disaster (noun) – Catastrophe, calamity, misfortune, tragedy, fiasco
4. Wash one’s hands of (phrase) – Refuse to accept responsibility for; abandon or renounce

5. FDGE, CBA
The Centre has appointed a three-member Commission to examine the sensitive issue of
extending Scheduled Caste (SC) status to all those who have historically suffered
discrimination and untouchability, regardless of the religion they now profess. It is a task
fraught with difficulty for the panel headed by former Chief Justice of India, K. G. Balakrishnan,
as it will have to grapple with both social realities and ideological objections while addressing
the core question.
6. (C) ‘yielded’ ‘yielding’ clause ‘their ideas and technical
knowledge’ active subject (doer), , passive subject (receiver), औ active voice ‘be +
V4’ v4 object ‘unprecedented growth’
 'yielding' will be substituted for 'yielded' because in this clause 'their ideas and technical
knowledge' is the active subject (doer), not the passive subject (receiver), and in the active
voice 'be + V4' is used.
7. (B) ‘with proposing’ के बदऱे ‘with a protest’ का प्रयोग होगा क्योंकक ‘policy analysts’ react
करते हैं और ‘protest’ (विरोध प्रदर्शित) करते हैं।

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 'with proposing' will be replaced by 'with a protest' as 'policy analysts' react and 'protest'
(display opposition).
8. (B) ‘diverted needs’ के बदऱे ‘diversified needs’ का प्रयोग होगा क्योंकक ‘diverted’ का अर्ि है
‘विचर्ऱत’ जबकक ‘diversified’ का अर्ि है ‘विविध’
 'diversified needs' will be substituted for 'diverted needs' as 'diverted' means 'distracted'
while 'diversified' means 'diversified'.
9. (C) ‘went’ के बदऱे ‘had gone’ का प्रयोग होगा क्योंकक past perfect + before + simple past का
प्रयोग होता है , अर्ाित ् past of the past के र्ऱए past perfect का प्रयोग होता है ; जैसे
(i) The patient had died before the doctor came.
(ii) He had gone out before I arrived.
 'had gone' will be used instead of 'went' as past perfect + before + simple past is used, i.e.
past of the past is used as past perfect; As in -
(i) The patient had died before the doctor came.
(ii) He had gone out before I arrived
10. Meagre (adjective) –Scanty, insufficient, inadequate, paltry, small मामूऱी
11. Resentment (noun) – Anger, bitterness, animosity, pique, indignation /
 Respite (noun) – a short period of rest from something that is difficult or unpleasant;
stoppage , ,
 Truce (noun) – an agreement to stop fighting for a period of time ( )
 Battlefield (noun) – Battleground, arena, frontline, field, theater of war
12. Underscore (verb) – emphasize, underline, stress, highlight, accentuate
 Replenish (verb) – refill, fill, restock, restore, top up
 Recapture (verb) – recover (something taken or lost).
 Survive (verb) – live, endure, continue, continue to exist
13. Set the stage for (phrase) – prepare the conditions for (the occurrence or beginning of
something).
14. Address (verb) – tackle, see to, deal with, confront, grapple with ,
 Escalate (verb) – Intensify, worsen, deteriorate, increase, accelerate
 Seek (verb) – Ask for, call on , solicit on
 Halt (verb) – stop, pause, terminate, come to an end
15. No Error
16. (C) 2143
From high inflation to America’s support for Ukraine against the Russian invasion, a host of
domestic and foreign policy issues had dominated this month’s U.S. midterm elections, which
were largely seen as a referendum on the Biden administration. When most of the results

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were out, the Democrats avoided a humiliating defeat. There was no ‘red wave’ for the
Republicans.
17. Stall (verb) – stop, obstruct, impede, interfere with, hinder
According to the given options only (i) is contextually correct.
Because the (ii) and (iii) sentences are not giving any meaning and correct sentences should be
like
We want to preserve the character of the town while improving the facilities.
The builders used metal rods to reinforce the walls of the building.
18. Several of the candidates he endorsed were defeated, while at least two Republican winners
were unwelcome to him — Georgia’s Governor Brian Kemp and Florida Governor Ron
DeSantis. While Mr. Trump is expected to make his 2024 bid this week, many Republicans are
already blaming him for the party’s less-than-expected performance.
19. Water from the kitchen faucet can be as good as bottled water unless the city water supply is
bad.

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