Remarks of Minister of State Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh at the 11th Raisina Dialogue 2026 (March 06, 2026)

Saṁskāra for Viksit Bharat-2047: Assertion, Accommodation, and Advancement in Indian Strategic Thought

Excellencies,
Colleagues, friends,

We gather at the Raisina Dialogue 2026 under a theme that serves as both a philosophical anchor and a strategic directive: Saṁskāra - Assertion, Accommodation, Advancement.

In our civilizational praxis, Saṁskāra is the process of refinement-the transformation of a being or a nation-state toward greater capability and purer purpose.

And over decades of Indian foreign policy practice, we have witnessed such a transformation. India has moved from an era of "adjusting" to a global order to an era of "refining" it.

Our G20 Presidency, guided by "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - One Earth, One Family, One Future," remains a civilizational response to a polarised world.

It encompasses a concrete agenda on development, debt, and digital public infrastructure, culminating in the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration.

Saṁskāra thus bridges India's civilizational ethos with the real business of statecraft.

Pillar of Assertion: Sovereignty of Interest

In our Saṁskāra, assertion is the disciplined defence of national interest and clear articulation of red lines.

Assertion is the realization that in a fragmented world order, the answer is not external balancing alone, but internal restructuring too-in deepening our manufacturing, improving our infrastructure, and securing our strategic autonomy.

And despite suggestions that India's strategic autonomy was a casualty of economic alignments, Prime Minister Modi has been unambiguous and consistent : India's decisions are guided by national interest, not by alignment with any single bloc.

This conviction is tested daily, from energy security to distant conflicts, where India consistently upholds autonomy while deepening partnerships.

i. Assertion begins with sovereignty. Along our borders, we have made it clear that peace and tranquillity are indispensable for normalcy in relations. The dignity of our citizens and the status of our frontiers are not variables to be traded.

ii. Assertion is equally visible at sea. India consistently upholds freedom of navigation and UNCLOS, opposing unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the Indo-Pacific.Our stand is anchored in the belief that stable maritime commons are essential for the Global South.

iii. Internal balancing is equally vital for assertion. Through the SHANTI Act 2025, we have introduced a modernized legal framework designed to attract private and foreign investment into the nuclear sector. This supports our clean energy ambition while achieving our 100 gigawatts goal by 2047.

Pillar of Accommodation: Reformed Multilateralism

In our Saṁskāra, Accommodation is not capitulation. It is the art of living with diversity and interdependence.

In Indian thought, Accommodation is about building a consensus that is "human-centric" rather than "power-centric".

Our G20 Presidency epitomised this by bringing in the African Union as a permanent member, effectively democratising the global order.

As we assume the BRICS Chairship in 2026, we focus on the four pillars: Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability.

Accommodation also means speaking truth to anachronistic institutions. A more representative United Nations would be better equipped to face the challenges and solve the conflicts in the emerging world order .

Whether in Ukraine or West Asia, India consistently emphasises dialogue and diplomacy while advancing initiatives such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor to promote connectivity and stability.

Accommodation also defines India's engagement with major powers :-

With the United States, we share a vision for a free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific.

With Europe, cooperation rests on shared democratic values and pragmatic negotiations on trade and emerging technologies.

Yet partnerships do not prevent India from articulating independent positions on trade, technology governance, or regional crises.

Pillar of Advancement: Frontier of Progress

The final stage of Saṁskāra is advancement-the leap into the future.

For India, Foreign policy must ultimately accelerate the transformation of Indian lives by guaranteeing peace and security for economic and technological development.

The landmark India-EU Free Trade Agreement, concluded this year, will create a unified market representing 25% of global GDP and providing preferential access for 99% of Indian exports.

Yet Advancement is not only about commerce; it is also about shaping the governance of emerging technologies.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 moved the global conversation from "AI Risk" to "AI Impact".

Guided by the Sutra of "Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya," -welfare for all-over 90 nations signed the New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact.

India is investing in indigenous digital capabilities that reflect our linguistic diversity and strengthen technological sovereignty.

The objective is clear: technology must serve people, planet, and progress-not only profit.

Our Roadmap Toward Viksit Bharat 2047

As we move toward Viksit Bharat 2047, our strategy rests on three principles:

i. Assert with clarity: Bharat will articulate our red lines on borders, terrorism, and technology sovereignty in every bilateral and multilateral forum.

ii. Accommodate with confidence: Bharat will use institutionalised dialogues-like 2+2 formats and Trade and Technology Councils-to manage differences while delivering sustained cooperation.

iii. Advance with purpose: Bharat will leverage initiatives like the India-EU FTA and the TRUST framework to secure the finance, markets, and standards that reinforce national priorities.

However, we also believe a stable international order cannot emerge on the Saṁskāra of only one civilisation or power centre.

Our message is that a rebalanced world is one where assertion, accommodation and advancement is respected, practised and shared across the globe.

That is India's journey- on the path toward Viksit Bharat 2047.

Thank you.

New Delhi
March 06, 2026