TNI Bureau: A high-level policy dialogue on India’s evolving role in a multipolar world and its roadmap towards becoming a developed nation by 2047 was held at Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) Deemed to be University in Bhubaneswar.

Organised by the Kalinga Kusum Foundation (KKF) with support from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) India, the event brought together policymakers, academicians, political leaders and industry experts to deliberate on India’s geopolitical priorities, economic growth and emerging global opportunities.

The discussions were centred on findings from a nationwide survey, “Navigating India’s Role: Perspectives on Security, Geopolitics and Trade,” conducted by KKF in partnership with Rajneethi across 25 major Indian cities. The survey highlighted growing confidence among Indian elites in the country’s rising global influence, while indicating strong support for a reassessment of India’s traditional non-aligned foreign policy approach in response to changing global realities.

The event featured two panel discussions. The first examined India’s strategic position in an increasingly multipolar world, regional security challenges and its role as a leading voice of the Global South. The second focused on economic growth, job creation, demographic opportunities and the policy measures needed to achieve the goal of a developed India by 2047.

Addressing the gathering, Rajya Sabha MP Sujeet Kumar described the survey as timely and significant, stating that it offers valuable insights into how India’s decision-makers view the country’s global responsibilities and security priorities. Lok Sabha MP Rabindra Narayan Behera, who delivered the keynote address, emphasised the need to align industrial policy with global trade opportunities to drive employment and sustain economic growth.

Senior government officials, policy experts, business leaders and academicians, including Odisha Director of Textiles Somesh Kumar Upadhyay, FNF India Project Director Stefan Schott, Aditya Birla Group executive Suparna Nanda and public policy expert Manoj Kumar Tripathy, also participated in the discussions.

The Bhubaneswar programme was part of a nationwide dialogue series being held across major cities, including New Delhi, Kochi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Raipur and Ahmedabad, to contribute to policy discussions on India’s foreign policy, trade strategy and long-term development goals.