Pragya Pandey

One Day Conference on the theme 'Mahasagar Dialogue: Shaping a #Future of Shared Growth and Prosperity' was jointly organised by the ICWA and the Indian High Commission, Mauritius on 17 March 2026, in Port Louis. The discussion at the Conference focused on exploring and analysing the challenges and opportunities facing the Global South, future domains of cooperation between #India and #Mauritius and the emerging economic frontiers in the world. Shri Ngulkham Jathom Gangte, Acting Deputy Director General, Indian Council of World Affairs participated virtually in the Conference and delivered remarks in the Inaugural Session. Shri Anurag Srivastava, High Commissioner of India to Mauritius @HCI_PortLouis, delivered the welcome remarks. Keynote address of the Conference, was deliverd by, Hon. Dhananjay Ramful @RitishRamful, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Mauritius. The ICWA delegation was led by Amb.Shyam Saran, Former Foreign Secretary of India & Former High Commissioner of India to Mauritius, who delivered a Special Address on ‘Vision MAHASAGAR’ in the Inaugural Session and also participated as a panellist in the Session on ‘From #Asia to #Africa: Expanding Economic Frontiers’. Dr. Pragya Pandey @PragyaP07, Research Fellow, ICWA participated as a panellist in the session on “MAHASAGAR Vision: Building Resilient Partnerships Across Oceans”, and presented her views on ten years of SAGAR and its elevation to MAHASAGAR. She highlighted that through MAHASAGAR vision India reiterates its commitment to mutual growth, collective security and sustainable future for the larger Global South.

During his recent visit to #Mauritius in March 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the #MAHASAGAR Vision (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth across Regions) for the Global South. It is an elevation of India’s Security and Growth for all in the Region (#SAGAR) vision, as the PM said in his speech, “our vision for the Global South will be, beyond SAGAR (it will be) MAHASAGAR”. Another important concurrent development was the launch of the first-ever large-scale multilateral maritime engagement exercise between #India and #African countries, on 13 April 2025, titled as ‘Africa India Key Maritime Engagement’, also known as ‘#AIKEYME’. Also significant is the simultaneous deployment of Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) ‘Sagar’ to friendly countries in the western Indian Ocean. With these begins the operationalisation of the MAHASAGAR vision. These are important developments that once again reflect India’s willingness to engage closely particularly with regional countries in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and also with countries across regions. Read more in #ICWAViewpoint on "India Reiterates Its Role in the Indian Ocean Region: Deepening Partnerships and Elevating Regional Cooperation" by Dr. Pragya Pandey @PragyaP07, Research Fellow, ICWA. Click 👉 bit.ly/3SoPQth

#ICWA Research Faculty held an interaction with its MoU partners ANZF (Asia New Zealand Foundation)-NZIRI (New Zealand India Research Institute) delegation from New Zealand today at #SapruHouse. The New Zealand delegation was led by Prof. David Capie @davidcapie, Director of NZIRI and Centre for Strategic Studies at Victoria University of Wellington @VicUniWgtn, while the Indian side was led by Dr. Nivedita Ray @nivedita_ray, Director Research, ICWA. Prof. Capie delivered his remarks on New Zealand's Outlook on Foreign policy, followed by key intervension from ICWA research faculty members on India's relations with its neighbouring countries & the Indo-Pacific. The talk was followed by a Q/A Session.

In collaboration with the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), a one-day National Conference on ‘India And IORA: Pathways Ahead’ was organised in hybrid mode by the International Centre for Indo-Pacific Studies (ICIPS), Kurukshetra University on 27 February 2025. Dr. Pragya Pandey @PragyaP07, Research Fellow, ICWA, represented the Council. She spoke on the theme of the Conference, focusing on the important role IORA plays for institutionalising engagements, strengthening regional cooperation and sustainable development in a holistic, integrated manner in the #IOR. She also highlighted that India has played an active role in #IORA, since its inception and later this year, India will be taking over the Chairmanship of IORA once again. Ms. Paramita Tripathi, Joint Secretary (Indo-Pacific), Ministry of External Affairs, addressed the Conference virtually as the Chief Guest. H.E. Professor Anil Sooklal @anil_sooklal, High Commissioner, Republic of South Africa to India, also addressed the Conference virtually.

The 7th Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) - Asia New Zealand Foundation (ANZF) @asianewzealand and New Zealand India Research Institute (NZIRI) Track II Dialogue was held on 30 January 2025 in Christchurch, New Zealand. The ICWA delegation consisting of Prof. Chintamani Mahapatra @chintamani36, Former Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Captain (Dr.) Gurpreet S Khurana, Indian Navy (Retd.) @gurpreetbulbul, and Dr. Pragya Pandey @PragyaP07, Research Fellow, ICWA participated in the Dialogue. Prof. Chintamani Mahapatra was the leader of the delegation. During the Dialogue discussions were held on three major themes- changing global geo-politics; perspectives on developments in our regions; and India-New Zealand Bilateral Relations. The Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand @IndiainNZ HE Neeta Bhushan and New Zealand High Commissioner to India , HE Patrick Rata addressed the Dialogue in the inaugural session.

Ambassador Vijay Thakur Singh, DG, ICWA led an ICWA delegation to Seoul, Republic of Korea for a bilateral dialogue with Korea National Diplomatic Academy @mofa_knda on 19 March 2024. The #KNDA delegation was led by Dr. Park Cheol Hee, Chancellor, KNDA. Discussions were held on regional strategic architecture in the #IndoPacific and ways to further improve strategic trust between Korea and #India. KNDA is ICWA's MoU Partner.

The Second Republic of Korea-India 2+2 Policy Dialogue was held in Seoul, South Korea on 20 March 2024 with the participation of #ICWA and #RIS on the Indian side and #KNDA and #KIEP on the South Korean side. The theme of the Policy Dialogue was "#ROK and #India: Partners of Strategic Trust in the #IndoPacific". ICWA delegation was led by Ambassador Vijay Thakur Singh, DG, ICWA. and RIS delegation was led by Dr. @seshadrichari, Member, Governing body and Governing Council, @RIS_NewDelhi. @mofa_knda delegation was led by Dr Park Cheol Hee, Chancellor, KNDA and KIEP delegation was led by Dr Lee Siwok, President, KIEP. Ambassador of India to ROK Amit Kumar @KumarAmitMEA also participated in the Dialogue. Discussions were held on ROK-India perspectives on a changing strategic landscape in the Indo-Pacific, ways to strengthen ROK-India’s strategic and security trust in the Indo-Pacific and the rise of the #GlobalSouth and ROK-India development partnership.

In collaboration with ICWA, Department of Political Science, Ravenshaw University @Ravenshaw150, Cuttack, Odisha organized a two-day National Conference on “#Security #Environment, and Development in the #IndoPacific: Challenges and Opportunities for #India” on 23-24 February 2024. Dr. Pragya Pandey @PragyaP07, RF, ICWA represented the Council.

@SuzJessep @asianewzealand Congratulations!

Incredibly honoured and excited to have been appointed CEO of the wonderful @asianewzealand. Grateful for the opportunity to lead a talented team and contribute to the success of the Foundation as it works to equip NZers to thrive in Asia. Am energised and ready to go!

@rahulmishr_ Many Congratulations!

Professional update: After spending six years in Malaysia, I have moved back to India, and have joined Centre for Indo-Pacific Studies at School of international studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, as an Associate Professor. Absolutely thrilled to be back to my Alma Mater.

ICWA participated as the knowledge partner of @MEAIndia in the "Track 1.5 9th #IndianOcean Dialogue on Innovation in Blue Economy & its Role in #GDP Contribution" held on 22nd –23rd May'23 in Zanzibar #Tanzania. At the Dialogue, Dr. Pragya Pandey @PragyaP07, RF, ICWA participated as a Panelist in Session 2 on '#Ocean Governance and Blue Economy'. 14 Member states and Dialogue partners of #IORA participated. #IOD

In collaboration with ICWA, a 2-day International Conference on "Connecting the #IndoPacific: Exploring the opportunities for #India" was organized by Department of International Relations, Jadavpur Association of International Relations (#JAIR), Kolkata on 28-29April'23. Dr @PragyaP07, RF, ICWA delivered the Opening Remarks & also presented a paper on the theme of the conference.

Dr @PragyaP07, RF, ICWA delivered a Special Lecture on ‘#IndoPacific as the New Strategic Narrative’ at the Department of International Relations, Central University of #Jharkhand (CUJ) @CENTRALUNIVERS7, Ranchi under ICWA's University Outreach Programme.

PM #Kishida's speech, at the event hosted by ICWA in collaboration with @MEAIndia, had a special emphasis on the significance of #Japan’s partnership with #India, referring to 🇮🇳 as “an indispensable partner, for 🇯🇵’s #FOIP strategy. Read more in the latest #ICWAViewPoint by Dr @PragyaP07, RF, ICWA. Click👉bit.ly/3lWtrHo to read.

ICWA hosted RoundTable Discussion with @GundaReire, Parliamentary Secy,@Latvian_MFA today.Amb Vijay Thakur Singh,DG,ICWA chaired the discussion. @SalmaBava,@BDeepak110, Ajay D Behera& @PragyaP07 were spkrs. Discussions were held on bilateral,regional &🌐issues of mutual interest

This #SapruHouse Paper by Dr @PragyaP07 provides a comprehensive analysis of increasing clout of #China in SouthPacific sub-region of #IndoPacific & Beijing’s conscious effort to increase its #diplomatic, #economic& strategic footprints in the region Read👉bit.ly/3YEKlIu

#Diplomatic freeze between the 2 countries,has been melting a bit, as evident with the #Australian Foreign Minister’s visit to #China recently on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties Read more in #ICWAIssueBrief by Dr @PragyaP07 Click👉 bit.ly/3HmlGkF

On21Nov'22,#China’s imp development aid agency, 🇨🇳Intl Development Co-op Agency(#CIDCA),hosted ‘#IndianOcean Region Forum’ for the 1st time in #Kunming Read #ICWAViewPoint on'🇨🇳’s 1st Indian Ocean Region Forum &its Growing Assertiveness' by Dr @PragyaP07 👉bit.ly/3hGSqfM

With its newly launched #IndoPacific Strategy, #Canada promises to invest more resources in the region for deeper engagement with partners in the light of ‘disruptive’ #China. Know more, Read #ICWAIssueBrief by Dr @PragyaP07 Click👉bit.ly/3hp86ns

ICWA organised #SapruHouse Paper Discussion:"🇨🇳& #SouthPacific:Unfolding #Geopolitical Shifts in Region" by Dr @PragyaP07 chaired by Prof S Chaturvedi,@SouthAsianUni. Dr @nivedita_ray delivered introductory rmrks. @Harpoonleader,@nmfindia& @DrIanHall,@GAIGriffith were discussants