Upcoming Events
What We Do
Dive into our comprehensive policy and studies division, exploring foreign & public policy, economics, security & strategy, religion & society, and constitutional & legal studies.
Foreign & Public Policy
Global policy insights for informed decisions and impactful strategies.
Economics
Economic analysis for informed decisions and sustainable growth.
Security & Strategy
Strategic solutions for safeguarding interests and ensuring long-term security.
Religion & Society
Exploring the intersection of faith, culture, and societal dynamics.
Constitutional & Legal Studies
Analyzing laws, governance, and constitutional principles for a just society.
Research Fellow at India Foundation, Dr Pavan Chaurasia was a Panelist on the discussion at News Channel NDTV Profit on the economic shocks related to due to the War in West Asia.
India Foundation hosted a book discussion on ‘Future For a BRICS+’ authored by Prof. Brian Wong, Assistant Professor, Hong Kong University on 5th March, 2026.
Research Fellow at India Foundation, Dr Pavan Chaurasia, appeared as a Panelist on Astitva News for a discussion about the War in the Middle East.
https://www.youtube.com/live/k8r507PjZqM?si=f0dGyZkDOXwYXSzM
We are pleased to announce the upcoming International Conference on “Modern Indian Political Thought,” hosted in collaboration between the India Foundation and The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda.
🗓️March 11–12, 2026
📍Vadodara, Gujarat
Research Fellow at India Foundation, Dr Pavan Chaurasia, writes for Hindi Newspaper Dainik Jagran about India’s Foreign Policy.
Dr. Ram Madhav, President, India Foundation in conversation with Shri Salman Khurshid for RT India.
Link to the full interview-
https://youtu.be/_Rm0IFGxBgM?si=EOcD3Bt_CzVExMjr
Registrations for the 9th Indian Ocean Conference - IOC 2026 are open !!
https://forms.gle/rdbiEwcgRd6WEDLWA
#9thIOC #indianocean #india #mauritius
‘A storm is brewing in the Indian Ocean Region’, writes Dr. Ram Madhav, President, India Foundation in Indian Express as a part of his column titled ‘Ram Rajya’.
https://www.rammadhav.in/articles/a-storm-is-brewing-in-the-indian-ocean-region/
Joining Pax Silica is not all positives for India. We must guard strategic autonomy’ writes Rami Desai , author and a distinguished fellow at India Foundation.
https://theprint.in/opinion/joining-pax-silica-is-not-all-positives-for-india-we-must-guard-strategic-autonomy/2863388/
Amb Sudhakar Dalela, India’s BRICS Sherpa and Secretary (ER), MEA India, visited India Foundation Office today and interacted with India Foundation Members on the priorities of India’s BRICS Chairship in 2026
https://chintan.indiafoundation.in/uncategorized/india-france-a-special-global-strategic-partnership/
Ms. Dnyanashri Kulkarni, Research Fellow at India Foundation and PhD scholar focusing on European Studies, writes on President Emmanuel Macron’s recent visit to India for Chintan, official blog of India Foundation.
On 18 February 2026, India Foundation, in collaboration with India Habitat Centre, organised a panel discussion on ‘New Regimes in Bangladesh and Myanmar: India’s Eastern Front at the Crossroads?’ at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
The panelists for the discussion were Dr Shantanu Mukharji, IPS, Former National Security Advisor, Government of Mauritius; Dr Sreeradha Datta, Professor, Jindal School of International Affairs, O.P. Jindal Global University; and Amb. Gautam Mukhopadhaya, Former Ambassador of India to Syria, Afghanistan & Myanmar. The session was moderated by Ms Rami Niranjan Desai, Distinguished Fellow at India Foundation.
At @mumbai_climateweek , on 18 February 2026, India Foundation and Rocky Mountain Institute brought together stakeholders from government, industry and philanthropy for a discussion on `How Circular Supply Chains Can Power India’s Energy Transition`.
The discussants agreed that circular supply chains are no longer a future aspiration. They are becoming central to India’s energy security, industrial competitiveness and climate strategy. The challenge at hand is not ambition; it is alignment and execution as India’s energy transition won’t be defined only by gigawatts and gigafactories, but by how intelligently we manage materials, value and risk across technology lifecycles.
India Foundation cordially invites you to the 11th Katha Session featuring Polish–Norwegian scholar and journalist - Ms. Ewa Sapieżyńska.
Event Details
Title: Pirate Gods of the Caribbean – On Santería and New Saints
Thursday, 26 February 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (5.30- 6.00 PM High Tea)
Speaker: Ewa Sapieżyńska
Register here: https://forms.gle/RkethaFBLKW2fyYX7
Ms. Chitra Shekhawat, Research Fellow, India Foundation co-authored an article with Bill Drexel, Fellow, Hudson Institute on India’s AI Copyright Plan.
https://lnkd.in/g_KhqSSW
Ms. Rami Desai, Distinguished Fellow, India Foundation, participated as a panelist in the discussion on “Deciphering the Implications of Bangladesh and Myanmar’s Elections” held by Indian Council of World Affairs on 17 February 2026 at Sapru House, New Delhi. The session was chaired by Preet Malik, Former Ambassador of India to Myanmar. Fellow panelists included Sreeradha Datta of Jindal School of International Affairs, Jayanta Roy Chowdhury of United News of India, and Sabyasachi Dutta of Asian Confluence, reflecting on the regional and strategic implications of recent electoral developments in South Asia.
On 16th February 2026, India Foundation organized a special lecture as part of the RSS centenary series. Dr. David Frawley (Pandit Vamdeva Shastri), Vedacharya and Author of over forty books on Yoga, Ayurveda and Vedanta, was the speaker. He shared his reflections and personal experiences with the RSS.
RSS @100 | Dr. Walter Andersen in conversation with Ms. Shubhrastha
https://youtu.be/NG4cvYeaDZY?si=zOPK1yc3ffD_GjD2
On 12 February 2026, India Foundation and @IBCA_official entered into an MoU to enhance the understanding and implementation of sustainable development practices in the context of big cat conservation and the surrounding population.
https://dailypioneer.com/news/post-2026-the-ideological-battle-against-naxalism
Research Fellow at India Foundation, Ms Aradhita Singh has published an article titled ‘Post - 2026: The Ideological Battle against Naxalism’ in The Pioneer.
Ms. Trishala Sancheti. Research Fellow, India Foundation, delivered a keynote on policy, regulation and financing of critical mineral projects at the Industry-Institute Interaction at ISM, Dhanbad.
Ms. Rami N Desai, Distinguished Fellow at India Foundation spoke on “challenges to Northeast India”.
Hon’ble Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, Lieutenant General K. T. Parnaik PVSM, UYSM, YSM and Commandant of the Defence Services Staff College, Lieutenant General Manish Erry, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM were also present during the session.
Dr Shristi Pukhrem, Director, Act East Centre & Visiting Fellow, India Foundation spoke on “Saving the Global Artery: Addressing Geopolitical Rivalry and Maritime Threats for Economic Stability in Southwest Pacific (Philippines)” at the International Conference on ‘ASEAN 3.0: Charting Economic Pathways in an Era of Adversarial Trade and Tariffs’ organised by Chennai Centre for China Studies and Centre for East Asian Studies, Christ University in collaboration with Indian Council of World Affairs on 04 Feb in Bengaluru.
REGISTRATIONS OPEN
India Foundation is pleased to announce the 9th Indian Ocean Conference – 2026, to be held in Mauritius from April 10 to 12, 2026, in association with the Government of Mauritius.
Centered on the theme, “Collective Stewardship for Indian Ocean Governance,” IOC 2026 will bring together leaders, policymakers, and experts from across the Indian Ocean Region to deliberate on shared responsibilities, cooperative frameworks, and the future of regional governance.
Please register your interest in attending the 9th IOC – 2026.
https://forms.gle/rdbiEwcgRd6WEDLWA
On 29 January 2026, India Foundation hosted the first lecture in its special series “RSS @100: Centenary Reflections,” marking the centenary year of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Dr. Walter Andersen, Scholar and Author, and Ex-Diplomat delivered the opening lecture at the India Foundation Office.
Dr Shristi Pukhrem, Director, Act East Centre & Visiting Fellow, India Foundation spoke on “India’s Eastern Neighbourhood: Relations with
Myanmar and Southeast Asia” at the National Seminar on “Southern Asia in Transition: India’s Strategic Choices amidst Geopolitical Rivalries” organised by Manipal Institute of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts in collaboration with Indian Council of World Affairs in Manipal.
India Foundation is pleased to announce the 9th Indian Ocean Conference – 2026, to be held in Mauritius from April 10 to 12, 2026, in association with the Government of Mauritius.
Centered on the theme, “Collective Stewardship for Indian Ocean Governance,” IOC 2026 will bring together leaders, policymakers, and experts from across the Indian Ocean Region to deliberate on shared responsibilities, cooperative frameworks, and the future of regional governance.
Article by Dr Pavan Chaurasia, Research Fellow at India Foundation on the recent conflicts between the Syrian Army and Kurdish SDF and its impact on Syria has been published by NDTV India.
https://ndtv.in/blogs/will-a-ceasefire-with-kurd-syrian-democratic-forces-bring-peace-to-syria-10887456
A few glimpses of Mr. Koraku doing magic with his art of storytelling at the 9th Katha Session of India Foundation.
Missed it last time?
Don’t worry! Join us on 29th January 2026 to learn about Thai folklore.
“Davos is a western, not world, forum” writes Dr. Ram Madhav, President, India Foundation in Indian Express on 24 January 2026.
https://www.rammadhav.in/articles/davos-is-a-western-not-world-forum/
Katha Session 10 | Ghosts of Thailand
India Foundation invites you to the 10th Katha Session, featuring Mr. Putt Punyagupta, a Thai-American Fulbright-Nehru Research Scholar based in Delhi.
📅 29 January 2026
⏰ 5:45 PM – 7:00 PM
📍 India Foundation Office Kindly fill the registration form https://forms.gle/uKZtr5M7jvp9yG9T6
Regards,
Team Katha
India Foundation
The expert opinion of Dr Pavan Chaurasia, Research Fellow at India on Trump’s Board of Peace and the challenges it poses for India has been incorporated by Hindi Newspaper Navbharat Times (NBT) Digital.
On 21 January 2026, India Foundation, in collaboration with the India Habitat Centre, organised a book discussion on the book ‘After Me, Chaos: Astrology in the Mughal Empire’ by Shri M. J. Akbar, Author and Former Union Minister, Government of India at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
Dr. Sudhanshu Trivedi, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha; Ms. Shazia Ilmi, National Spokesperson, BJP; and Mr. Come Carpentier, Distinguished Fellow, India Foundation, discussed the book with the author. The session was moderated by Capt. Alok Bansal, Executive Vice President, India Foundation.
Comments by Dr Pavan Chaurasia, Research Fellow at India Foundation on US President Donald Trump’s new initiative and its impact on India has been published by NDTV India.
https://ndtv.in/world-news/will-donald-trump-board-of-peace-solve-problem-or-become-a-problem-itself-what-will-india-stand-10799764
Ms. Rami N Desai, Distinguished Fellow at India Foundation writes for the Print.
https://theprint.in/opinion/gambia-taking-myanmar-to-icj-on-rohingya-issue-why-india-must-be-cautious/2830415/
On 16 January 2026, Mr. Les Govender, MP, Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, South Africa, addressed the 104th India Foundation Dialogue on “Contribution of Indian Diaspora to Development of South Africa.”
Weekly Overview of Chintan Articles
12th January 2026- 17th January 2026
‘Reflections on Army Day: Valour, Modernisation, and India’s New Tactical Strike Capability’ writes Major General Dhruv C Katoch, Director, India Foundation and Editor, India Foundation Journal.
https://chintan.indiafoundation.in/articles/reflections-on-army-day-valour-modernisation-and-indias-new-tactical-strike-capability/
‘Securing Critical Minerals: India’s Imperative for Strategic Autonomy and National Security’ writes Mr. K.C. Monnappa, a soldier and a PhD at the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU).
https://chintan.indiafoundation.in/articles/securing-critical-minerals-indias-imperative-for-strategic-autonomy-and-national-security/
‘U.S. Political Upheavals: Why India Must Read the New Signals’ writes Ms. Avantika Kansal, Journalist, Political Commentator, and Content Creator.
https://chintan.indiafoundation.in/articles/u-s-political-upheavals-why-india-must-read-the-new-signals/
‘Between Anxiety and Strategy: The Fragile Logic of an Islamic Defence Pact’ writes Mr. Sumeer Bhasin, a geopolitical analyst.
https://chintan.indiafoundation.in/articles/between-anxiety-and-strategy-the-fragile-logic-of-an-islamic-defence-pact/
‘Restoration of Statehood is a Contentious Issue’ writes Mr. K N Pandita, former Director of the Centre of Central Asian Studies, Kashmir University.
https://chintan.indiafoundation.in/articles/restoration-of-statehood-is-a-contentious-issue/
On 13 January 2026, Rami Niranjan Desai, Distinguished Fellow, India Foundation spoke on ‘External dynamics as a catalyst for internal turmoil’, in a seminar titled ‘Resurgent Manipur: Framework for Stability and Sustained Growth’, organised by the Assam Rifles and Manipur University.
Article on the protests in Iran and why this issue matters for India by Research Fellow at India Foundation, Dr Pavan Chaurasia has been published by MP based Newspaper Dainik Swadesh.
In December 2025, India Foundation’s 9th Katha Session brought the ancient Japanese art of Rakugo to the stage.
In this clip, the brilliant Koraku san breaks down exactly what makes this “sit-down comedy” so unique. It’s not just storytelling; it’s a masterclass in imagination.
Have you ever seen Rakugo performed live? Let us know in the comments! 👇
#rakugo #japanculture #indiafoundation #kathasession #storytelling #culturalexchange #koraku
On the issue of recent protests in Iran, NDTV India has published the comments and analysis by Dr Pavan Chaurasia, Research Fellow at India Foundation about the prospects of regime change in their report.
https://ndtv.in/world-news/america-iran-war-warning-protests-israel-china-role-analysis-ayatollah-ali-khamenei-donald-trump-10724141
Dr Shristi Pukhrem, Director, Act East Centre & Visiting Fellow, India Foundation spoke at the Inaugural Session of the 8th India Think Tank Forum 2026 organised by ORF in partnership with Nalanda University on the theme “The State of the World: Mapping Power, Disorder, and Direction”.
Read the latest edition of the ASEAN magazine which covers The 5th ASEAN-India Youth Summit held in Goa, India organised by India Foundation in collaboration with the ASEAN Foundation and supported by the Ministry of External Affairs, GoI and ASEAN Secretariat. https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/ASEAN-Tourism_-A-Destination-for-Every-Dream.pdf
Chintan Articles Weekly Roundup
Tiberio Graziani, President of Vision & Global Trends, explores the historical continuities of U.S. hegemony in Latin America and its implications for the Venezuelan crisis.
https://chintan.indiafoundation.in/articles/u-s-hegemony-and-latin-america-historical-continuities-and-the-venezuelan-crisis/
K. N. Pandita argues that Australia’s current anti-terrorism framework requires significant modernization to address evolving threats.
https://chintan.indiafoundation.in/articles/australias-anti-terrorist-measures-need-an-upgrade/
Sammridh Varma, MLA, Bihar, outlines their vision to transform Bihar into a global workplace by advancing inclusion from migration to meaningful participation.
https://chintan.indiafoundation.in/articles/politics/from-migration-to-participation-my-vision-for-the-global-workplace-bihar/
Air Marshal P. K. Roy (Retd.), examines how the upgraded Car Nicobar runway enhances India’s air power and Indo-Pacific posture.
https://chintan.indiafoundation.in/articles/car-nicobar-runway-upgrade-a-strategic-leap-in-indias-eastern-air-power-and-indo-pacific-posture/
Arpan A. Chakravarty, Research Fellow at India Foundation and doctoral scholar in law and security, analyses how developments in Caracas and China reflect stresses in the current global order
https://chintan.indiafoundation.in/articles/the-collapse-of-ritual-caracas-china-and-the-disintegrating-global-order/
An article by Ms. Trishala Sancheti, Research Fellow, India Foundation on India-Australia partnership with select mineral rich African countries for diversifying critical mineral supply chain published by East Asia Forum.
Link- https://eastasiaforum.org/2026/01/07/australia-and-india-can-unearth-critical-mineral-opportunities-across-africa/
The New World: 21st Century Global Order and India, a book by the President of India Foundation, Dr Ram Madhav has been placed under the ‘Top Ten Picks’ for Books on Foreign Policy for 2025 by India’s World.
The book can be bought from the following address:
https://amzn.in/d/22JGAwD
On 6th January 2026, Distinguished Fellow at India Foundation, Ms Rami Niranjan Desai spoke at the SWAN-SIWA Dialogue at IIC, New Delhi. The delegation from Malaysia was led by YB Dato Sri Hajah Fatimah Abdullah, Minister for Women, Early Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development, Government of Sarawak, Malaysia & Penghulu Paliani Samba Bilaidom@ Lucy Lingam, President, Sarawak Indian Women Association (SIWA), Kuching. Ambassador Veena Sikri, Founding Trustee & Convener, South Asia Women’s Network (SWAN) led the Indian delegation.
On 6 January 2026, India Foundation, in collaboration with India Habitat Centre, organised a panel discussion on “India’s Success in Curbing Left-Wing Extremism” at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
The panelists for the discussion were Shri Rajiv Gauba, Former Cabinet Secretary, Government of India and Member, NITI Aayog; Shri Pankaj Kumar Singh, IPS, Former Deputy NSA; and Shri Shekhar Gupta, Editor-in-Chief, The Print. The session was moderated by Capt Alok Bansal, Executive Vice President, India Foundation.
On 7 January 2025, Shashvat Singh, Senior Research Fellow, India Foundation, met with Dr. Amit Mallick, Director – International Cooperation, IBCA, and Dr. Kausik Banerjee, Lead Specialist, IBCA. The discussion covered India’s evolving role in global conservation efforts, the importance of international cooperation for wildlife and biodiversity protection, and emerging perspectives on integrating conservation with broader sustainability and development discourse.
The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to exchange views on outreach, knowledge-sharing and the role of dialogue platforms in strengthening global conservation narratives.
India Foundation looks forward to continued engagement with stakeholders working at the intersection of ecology, policy and international cooperation.
‘K-4 missile test in Bay of Bengal signals strategic shift from western to eastern front’ writes Ms. Rami N Desai, Distinguished Fellow, India Foundation for the Print.
https://theprint.in/opinion/k4-missile-test-bay-of-bengal-strategic-shift-western-eastern-front/2819049/
