The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday, August 14, clarified that a final call has not yet been taken on PM Narendra Modi’s participation in the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York.
Addressing the weekly press briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said discussions were still underway regarding the Prime Minister’s schedule. “There is no final decision yet,” Jaiswal told reporters when asked whether PM Modi would attend the annual gathering of world leaders.
The UNGA session, set to open next month, will bring together heads of state and government from across the globe to deliberate on pressing international issues, from climate change and sustainable development to global security and conflict resolution. Traditionally, the UNGA platform has been used by India to assert its position on key geopolitical matters, including reforms in the UN Security Council and counterterrorism efforts.
Modi’s attendance has been closely watched both domestically and internationally, given his last physical presence at the UNGA was in 2021. Since then, India has faced multiple foreign policy challenges, including complex relations with China, shifting trade dynamics, and evolving global security concerns.
The MEA is expected to make an official announcement in the coming weeks. The decision will also influence the level of India’s representation at the session — whether led by the PM or by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar — a choice that often signals the weight India attaches to particular global discussions.
