Underlining that the current multilateral governance architecture is "outdated", India at a G20 ministerial meeting here on Thursday called for comprehensive UN reforms, including the UN Security Council.

Moving beyond the idealistic echoes of its past, India has adopted an approach of gritty realism as it positions itself on the world stage. Its a high-stakes game, one centred around the singular pursuit of national interest.

As India pulled off a big diplomatic win after eight jailed Navy veterans were released by Qatar earlier this week, here's a look at how India's standing in the world was shaped by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's bold diplomatic moves in recent years.