Question

Which among the following statements on the G7 is/are correct? i. G7 is an intergovernmental political and economic forum of advanced democracies. ii The USA, Canada, Russia, Germany, Italy, Japan and the UK are the G7 countries. iii. India has been an invited member of the G7 for the last few years. iv. Italy presided over the 2025 G7 Summit held at Kananaskis.

• A. Only i & ii
• B. Only i & iii
• C. Only ii & iii
• D. Only ii & iv

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Only i & iii

Understanding the G7 Forum

• The G7 (Group of Seven) is an intergovernmental political and economic forum comprising seven of the world's most advanced economies and democracies.
• It serves as a platform for heads of state and government to discuss global issues such as economic policy, international security, and energy.

G7 Membership and Evolution

• The current G7 member countries are: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.
• The European Union (EU) also participates in the G7 meetings as a 'non-enumerated member'.
• Originally formed in 1975 as the G6 (including France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States), Canada joined in 1976, making it the G7.
• Russia joined the group in 1997, leading to its designation as the G8. However, Russia was suspended from the group in 2014 following its annexation of Crimea, reverting the forum back to the G7. This is a crucial point for competitive exams.

India's Involvement with G7

• India is not a permanent member of the G7. However, it has been regularly invited as a guest country to G7 summits in recent years, particularly under the 'Outreach' format.
• These invitations highlight India's growing economic and geopolitical influence on the global stage, allowing it to participate in discussions on pressing international issues.

G7 Summit Presidency and Locations

• The G7 presidency rotates annually among the member countries. The country holding the presidency hosts the annual summit.
• The 2024 G7 Summit was hosted by Italy in Apulia.
• The 2025 G7 Summit is expected to be hosted by Canada.
• Kananaskis, located in Alberta, Canada, notably hosted the G8 Summit in 2002, which was presided over by Canada at that time. Therefore, the statement about Italy presiding over the 2025 summit at Kananaskis is incorrect.