Hyderabad to Host National Conference on India's Foreign Policy Challenges in July 2026

One-Day National Conference on India's Foreign Policy to Be Held in Hyderabad on July 29

Government Degree College for Women, Hussaini Alam Organises Timely Academic Forum in Collaboration with Indian Council of World Affairs, New Delhi

Conference Overview

Hyderabad, July 1, 2026 - The Department of Political Science, Government Degree College for Women, Hussaini Alam, Hyderabad, is set to host a One-Day National Conference on the theme "India's Foreign Policy: Recent Trends and Challenges" on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. The event is being organised in collaboration with the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), New Delhi, and the Telangana Council of Higher Education, Hyderabad, and will be held at the Khursheed Jah Seminar Hall, GDC (W) Hussaini Alam, Hyderabad.

The conference arrives at a moment of exceptional geopolitical turbulence. From the ongoing realignment of global supply chains and the US-China strategic competition, to the Iran war and its cascading implications for Indian energy security and connectivity, India's foreign policy is being tested on multiple fronts simultaneously. This conference seeks to provide a rigorous academic space to examine those pressures with clarity and depth.

Background and Rationale

The first quarter of the twenty-first century has fundamentally altered the architecture of international relations. The unipolar moment - dominated by American influence that defined the post-Cold War era - is visibly fading. Multipolarity is no longer a theoretical aspiration; it is the emerging operational reality. The institutional consensus built over more than a century to govern global trade, conflict resolution, and diplomatic conduct is under severe stress.

India stands at the centre of this shift. As the world's most populous democracy and the fifth-largest economy, India occupies a pivotal geo-strategic position at the intersection of South Asia, the Indo-Pacific, and West Asia. Its foreign policy - shaped by the principles of strategic autonomy, economic diplomacy, civilisational heritage, and the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The World is One Family) - is increasingly consequential to global outcomes. The conference is designed to interrogate these realities through structured academic dialogue, bringing together scholars, policymakers, research scholars, and students to generate policy-relevant insights.

Conference Structure and Thematic Sessions

The conference will be organised into five sessions: an inaugural session, three technical sessions in the form of panel discussions, and a valedictory session.

Session I - India and West Asia in 2026
India–West Asia Relations: The Iran War, the Energy Crisis, and India's Strategic Dilemma.
The US-Israel Military Strikes on Iran (February 28, 2026): Legality, Geopolitical Fallout, and India's Response.
PM Modi's Visit to Israel (February 25–26, 2026) and the India–Israel Special Strategic Partnership.
India's Chabahar Port, Closure of the Hormuz Strait, US Sanctions on Iran, and the Future of India's Connectivity Strategy.
India's Strategic Autonomy under Stress: The Iran War, BRICS Presidency, and the Limits of Multi-Alignment.

Session II - India–China Relations and the Indo-Pacific Architecture
Post-Galwan Dynamics, China's Belt and Road Initiative and Its Impact on India.
LAC Disengagement and the Indo-Pacific Security Architecture.
India's Neighbourhood First Policy: South Asia, Pakistan, and Regional Challenges.

Session III - India and Global Governance
India and BRICS, the G20 Legacy, SCO, and the Voice of the Global South.
India's Economic and Climate Diplomacy: IMEC Suspension, Oil Price Surge, and Energy Transition.

Significance and Expected Outcomes

The conference holds considerable academic and policy significance. By convening scholars and analysts from across the country, it aims to critically examine contemporary shifts in India's diplomatic strategy, identify gaps in existing foreign policy frameworks, and propose actionable recommendations. It will also explore India's evolving identity as Vishwa Bandhu - a responsible global partner - particularly in the context of its G20 presidency legacy and its current BRICS chairmanship.

Select papers presented at the conference will be published in a peer-reviewed journal following evaluation. Authors are requested to submit papers of 3,000–4,000 words on any of the above thematic areas, accompanied by a plagiarism certificate, to gdchussainialamdepartmentofpol@gmail.com.

About the Organising Institution

Government Degree College for Women, Hussaini Alam, Hyderabad - established in 1984 and affiliated to Osmania University - is a premier women's institution of higher learning in Telangana. Accredited with a B Grade by NAAC, the college offers undergraduate programmes across arts, commerce, and sciences. The Department of Political Science has a strong track record of national-level academic events, including the National Workshop on Tribals and Minorities (2025) and the National Symposium on Subaltern Politics and Activism in India (2025).

Organising Committee

Chairperson: Prof. Ch. Appiya Chinnamma, Principal, GDC (W) Hussaini Alam
Convenor: Dr. Mohammad Ghouse, Associate Professor & Head, Dept. of Political Science
Organising Secretary: Dr. Farhana Sultana, Lecturer in Political Science

Registration Details

Academicians / NGOs / Bureaucrats: Rs. 300/-
Research Scholars: Rs. 200/-

Registration includes a conference kit, hospitality, participation certificate, and other contingencies.
Last Date for Registration: July 25, 2026
Intimation of Acceptance: July 26, 2026
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/z4aFnq1LHRcCt2hw6

Lunch and refreshments will be provided by the organisers on the day of the conference. Travel support will be extended to invited resource persons and subject experts. Registered delegates are encouraged to explore institutional funding for travel.

Contact Information

For paper submissions and general queries:
Email: gdchussainialamdepartmentofpol@gmail.com

Logistics and on-ground support:
Ms. R. Shreshta: 93922 86194
Ms. Asra Fatima: 90002 28011

This press note has been issued by the Organising Committee of the National Conference on India's Foreign Policy: Recent Trends and Challenges, Department of Political Science, Government Degree College for Women, Hussaini Alam, Hyderabad.