New Delhi, Nov. 23 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday outlined India's vision for six new G20-led initiatives, including a global effort to dismantle the drug-terror nexus, a healthcare rapid response team, a traditional knowledge repository, an open satellite data partnership, and a critical minerals circularity initiative while calling for a fundamental rethinking of global development parameters at what was the first G20 Summit on African soil. Speaking at the opening session focused on inclusive and sustainable growth, Modi framed his proposals within a vision of "Integral Humanism" - viewing the individual, society and nature as an integrated whole - and emphasised that Africa, as "one of the greatest sufferers" of conventional growth models, deserved a new development approach. "Over the past several decades, the G20 has provided direction to global finance and global economic growth. However, the parameters of growth on which the world has worked so far have left a large section of the population deprived of resources. They have also contributed to the over-exploitation of nature," Modi said at the Johannesburg summit. "Today, as Africa hosts the G20 Summit for the first time, it is imperative for us to reconsider the parameters of development," he added. The G20 Leaders' Declaration secured several key Indian priorities from its 2023 G20 presidency: more ambitious language on climate finance than previous summits, recognition of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, the transformative potential of digital public infrastructure, and the concept of Lifestyles for Sustainable Development. The declaration also acknowledged the role of traditional and complementary medicine in global health, echoing India's holistic approach. The South African presidency identified four key priority areas for the summit: debt sustainability for low-income countries, mobilising finance for just energy transition, strengthening disaster resilience and response, and harnessing critical minerals for inclusive growth and sustainable development. Modi began by congratulating South African president Cyril Ramaphosa for hosting the summit, acknowledging commendable progress under the South African presidency on skilled migration, tourism, food security, AI, digital economy, innovation and women's empowerment. "The historic initiatives undertaken at the New Delhi G20 Summit have been carried forward here," he said. The PM's first major proposal called for urgent coordinated action against the drug-terror nexus. "To overcome the challenge of drug trafficking, especially the spread of extremely dangerous substances like fentanyl, India proposes a G20 Initiative on Countering the Drug-Terror Nexus. Let us weaken the wretched drug-terror economy". The initiative seeks to integrate financial, governance and security tools, addressing drug trafficking as a threat to public health, stability and security, while recognising it as "a significant channel for financing terrorism". Modi's second proposal centred on creating a G20 Global Healthcare Response Team comprising trained medical experts from member nations ready for rapid deployment. "Addressing health emergencies and natural disasters is also our collective responsibility," he said, adding that the team would be prepared for rapid deployment during any global health crisis or natural disaster. In a push for Africa's development, Modi proposed launching a G20 Africa-Skills Multiplier Initiative to empower the continent's workforce transformation. "Advancing Africa's development and empowering its young talent is in the interest of the entire world," he said. "This initiative can operate under a 'train-the-trainers' model across various sectors. All G20 partners can finance and support this effort. Our collective goal will be to prepare one million certified trainers in Africa over the next decade. These trainers will, in turn, help equip millions of young people with skills," Modi explained, emphasising the initiative's "powerful multiplier effect". "India has always stood in solidarity with Africa. I am proud of the fact that it was during India's G20 Presidency that the African Union became a permanent G20 member," he added. Modi's fourth proposal focused on establishing a Global Traditional Knowledge Repository under the G20 framework. Linking this to his broader philosophical vision, he noted that communities worldwide have preserved "traditional and eco-balanced ways of life" that embody sustainability, cultural wisdom, social cohesion and reverence for nature. "India proposes the creation of a Global Traditional Knowledge Repository under the G20 framework. India's own Indian Knowledge Systems initiative can serve as its foundation. This global platform will help transmit the collective wisdom of humanity to future generations," he said. Expanding on the theme of technology for development, Modi announced a G20 Open Satellite Data Partnership....