Raisina Dialogue 2026
Context:
The 11th edition of the Raisina Dialogue, India's flagship conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, is currently underway in New Delhi (March 5-7, 2026).
This year's dialogue was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi alongside the Chief Guest, Finland’s President Alexander Stubb.
A major highlight of the event is the launch of the inaugural Raisina Science Diplomacy Initiative (SDI)
About the Raisina Dialogue:
Held annually since 2016, it is India’s premier multilateral conference discussing critical international issues ranging from shifting geopolitical alliances to economic security and climate change.
It is jointly organised by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
This year’s theme is "Samskāra - Assertion, Accommodation, Advancement."
The concept of Samskāra represents the inheritance of identity that enables civilisations to assert themselves, accommodate differences, and advance through refinement.
The Raisina Science Diplomacy Initiative (SDI):
Introduced as part of the broader Raisina Dialogue, the SDI was jointly launched by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India and the ORF at Bharat Mandapam.
The first edition focuses heavily on the imperatives of "Strategic Autonomy and Disruptive Technologies."
It aims to shape the global discourse on how science diplomacy can navigate the complex governance challenges posed by rapid, disruptive technological advancements.
Chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser, the closed-door convening brought together global scientists and diplomats.
Key discussions centred on integrating private sector actors into science diplomacy frameworks and leveraging multilateral instruments to ensure the equitable global diffusion of technological advancements.