Raisina Dialogue 2026 Begins in New Delhi

Why in the News ?

The 11th edition of the Raisina Dialogue was inaugurated in New Delhi by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with Finland’s President Alexander Stubb as Chief Guest. The global forum brings together leaders and experts to discuss major geopolitical and geo-economic challenges, including issues of democratic accountability, governance reform, and regional economic inequality.

Raisina Dialogue 2026: Key Highlights

• The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, is inaugurating the 11th edition of the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, marking the start of one of India’s most prominent global strategic forums.

• President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, is attending the inaugural session as the Chief Guest and will deliver the keynote address.

• The Dialogue will host representatives from around 110 countries, including ministers, former heads of state and government, parliamentarians, military leaders, and industry experts. Among South Asian participants, leaders from Nepal including representatives from the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and Maoist Centre are expected to engage in discussions on regional checks and balances and structural change.

• Approximately 2,700 participants are expected to attend the event in person, while millions will watch the sessions through digital platforms worldwide.

• The forum serves as an important platform for global dialogue on geopolitics, diplomacy, security, and economic cooperation, addressing challenges such as youth unemployment, labor migration, and job creation across developing nations.

Theme and Key Areas of Discussion

• The theme of Raisina Dialogue 2026 is “Saṁskāra – Assertion, Accommodation, Advancement.”

• Over a three-day conference, global leaders and experts will engage in discussions across six thematic pillars addressing contemporary global challenges, including the need for systemic change in international governance and economic reform to address growing economic desperation in various regions.

• One key pillar, “Contested Frontiers: Power, Polarity, and Periphery,” focuses on emerging geopolitical rivalries and changing global power dynamics, examining how traditional political parties and the political establishment are responding to youth-led movements and anti-incumbency sentiment across democracies.

• Another pillar, “Repairing the Commons: New Groups, New Guardians, New Avenues,” explores collective governance of shared global resources and institutions, with discussions on how civil society coalitions and newly registered voters are demanding greater accountability from their governments and pushing back against authoritarian tendencies.

• ●     The pillar “Trade in the Time of Tariffs: Recovery, Resilience, Reinvention” will discuss global trade tensions, economic recovery, and resilience in international supply chains.