What happened
On October 6, 2025, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressed the inaugural Aravalli Summit 2025 at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), commemorating the 70th anniversary of the School of International Studies (SIS). The two-day conference, themed ‘India and the World Order: Preparing for 2047’, focused on India’s evolving global role and its approach to strategic autonomy, regional dynamics, and foreign policy decision-making.
Why it matters to India
Jaishankar highlighted the importance of independent decision-making in international affairs, noting that India’s interests are best served by maximising opportunities while maintaining freedom of choice. He addressed the issue of hyphenation with neighbours, emphasizing that India strengthens its position by outstripping others in power and capability rather than seeking accommodation. His remarks reflect India’s growing diplomatic influence, the diminishing automatic equivalence with Pakistan in global discourse, and the country’s strategic approach to regional and global challenges.