Following the resignation of Amitabh Kant as India’s G20 Sherpa, a strong pitch has emerged from the startup ecosystem for his continued contribution to nation-building. Mohandas Pai, Chairman of Aarin Capital, on Monday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to appoint Kant as the head of a national startup initiative backed by substantial funding.
“Very grateful to Amitabh Kant for his great work. A great INDIA BULL. PM Narendra Modi, Pl have him head India Start-Up Mission with a 50000 cr FOF (fund of funds) to transform Indian startups into a Deep Tech Global Power. PMO, We need him,” Pai posted on X.
Kant officially stepped down after what he called 45 years of government service. In a LinkedIn post titled ‘My New Journey’, he shared, “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 opportunity to drive a range of developmental initiatives and contribute to the growth, development, and progress of India.”
A 1980-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, Kant was appointed as G20 Sherpa in July 2022 and played a central role in steering India’s G20 presidency. His leadership helped secure a consensus on the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration, a feat he noted was achieved “despite significant geopolitical challenges.” He emphasized the inclusion of the African Union in the G20 framework and India’s focus on digital infrastructure, climate finance, and women-led development.
Prior to his G20 assignment, Kant served as the CEO of NITI Aayog from 2016 to 2022. Reflecting on his time at the policy think tank, he remarked, “NITI played a key role in pushing digital public infrastructure through policy, and helped lay the foundational groundwork for India’s digital revolution.” He also highlighted initiatives such as the Aspirational Districts Programme, the Atal Innovation Mission, and the Green Hydrogen Mission, underlining India’s growing prominence in innovation and sustainability.
He further acknowledged the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), where he once served as Secretary, for launching hallmark initiatives like ‘Make in India’ and ‘Startup India’. Recalling his early days in Kerala, Kant cited his involvement in tourism campaigns and grassroots development projects: “India has, and will always be, Incredible. In a small way, I have contributed to helping the world recognise that.”
Looking ahead, Kant expressed enthusiasm about his next phase, stating, “I now look forward to contributing to India’s transformational journey towards Viksit Bharat by facilitating and supporting free enterprise, startups, think tanks, and academic institutions.”
His departure has sparked a larger conversation around how seasoned policymakers can continue to shape India’s innovation landscape beyond formal government roles.
