RGNULs Kshitij Bansal to be Indian Head of State at G20 Youth Summit 2012

Kshitij Bansal, a 4th year student at Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab (RGNUL) has been chosen to be the Indian Head of State at the G20 Youth Summit 2012 (Summit). The Summit shall be held at the George Washington University in Washington D.C. from June 3 to 9, 2012..The Summit is a youth conference which seeks to bring together young leaders from different nations to “facilitate discussions of international affairs, promote cross-cultural understanding, and build global friendships”. The theme of this year’s Summit, currently in its 6th edition, is “global transition towards a multilateral and sustainable world”..Speaking to Bar & Bench, Kshitij recounts that he first found out about the Summit at a conference organised by Delhi University. An avid student of international relations, Kshitij realised that the Summit would provide a perfect opportunity to study the manner in which policies are framed on an international scale..Getting selected, however, was no simple task. All applicants are required to prepare a detailed research paper as well as a vision statement for G20. After this, the shortlisted applicants are interviewed, facing detailed questions based on their research papers and vision statements. By middle of April, Kshitij had found out that he had been selected..Kshitij will be the Indian Head of State, leading a four-member team from India. Speaking about his decision to apply for the position of Head of State, Kshitij is quick to admit that his strength lies at the macro-level and analysing “broad-based areas” of international policy making. Hence this was the position which he would be most comfortable with..Explaining the manner in which the Summit works, Kshitij says that “This summit is held parallel to main G20 Summit to involve youth in global policy making; and enjoys the endorsement of French Presidency. The Summit concludes with the release of a final communiqué which is then sent to main G20 Summit as well as respective national governments for an effective action. “.Kshitij will be one of the few law students who have made it to the Summit; in previous editions the Indian delegation has primarily constituted of students from the IITs or the IIM’s. Last year, the Indian Head of State was an IIT student. Kshitij says that this situation is bound to change over the coming years, since law students are well equipped for such conferences..Looking ahead to the next few weeks, Kshitij says that there are some “interesting times ahead” with meetings scheduled with Dr. Alok Sheel (Joint Secretary, Ministry of Finance and India’s Sherpa to G20), the Mexican and US Ambassadors to India, and Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia. Kshitij and the other delegates are also working on developing an India-specific “agenda”. A week later, the hosting nation would announce thefinal agenda based on which each delegate shall prepare a detailed “position paper” which shall be circulated amongst all the delegates at the Summit..Kshitij is looking forward to the Summit and all the opportunities present therein. “Meeting and interacting with experienced scholars, will, no doubt, expand my horizons.”