Hyderabad, November 2026 : Around 1,000 delegates from 70 countries, including policymakers, intellectuals and prominent leaders of progressive political movements, are expected to participate in the second edition of the Bharat Summit in Hyderabad on November 13 and 14.
Organised by the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC), the two-day international event aims to bring together political leaders, think tanks, activists, academics and changemakers to discuss emerging global challenges, geopolitical developments and strategies for building a more inclusive and equitable future.
The summit coincides with the 137th birth anniversary of India's first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, and the country's 80th year of Independence. Congress leaders said the event would reflect the vision of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on India's future role in a changing global order.
Rahul Gandhi, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka are scheduled to address the valedictory session.
12 International Sessions and Telangana-Focused Discussions
Congress leader and Chairman of the party's Foreign Affairs Department, Salman Khurshid, outlined the objectives of the summit at a press conference in Delhi on Tuesday.
He said the event was intended to reflect Rahul Gandhi's vision for India and the world of tomorrow, particularly in the context of the emergence of a new global order.
The programme will feature 12 international sessions and eight dedicated sessions on Telangana, covering issues such as geopolitics, urban development, social justice, economic growth and governance. The discussions will also reflect the Congress party's approach to foreign policy and international cooperation.
Khurshid said organising the summit had involved considerable preparation, particularly amid rapidly changing global circumstances. He highlighted the significance of holding the event around Nehru's birth anniversary, noting that the former Prime Minister continued to influence the Congress party's thinking on foreign policy and India's engagement with the world.
He also underlined the summit's potential to attract international investors to Telangana ahead of the state's investment summit scheduled for next month.
Telangana Aims to Strengthen Its Global Profile
Telangana Industries and Information Technology Minister D. Sridhar Babu said the state was proud to host the second edition of the international event.
He said the central idea behind the initiative was to create a platform for progressive thinkers and people involved in policymaking, economic affairs, national development and the development of individual states.
According to Sridhar Babu, the summit will discuss a wide range of subjects, including geopolitical developments, the emerging world order, societal challenges, climate change, the role of the media, international journalism and information integrity.
The programme will include 12 international sessions and nine panels organised across four thematic tracks, apart from eight sessions under the theme 'Telangana Rising'.
These state-focused discussions will cover Future City and urbanisation, economic justice, social justice, welfare policies, cooperative federalism, culture and society, youth and sports, and electoral integrity in Telangana and across India.
The minister said the participation of hundreds of international delegates would provide an opportunity to showcase Telangana's development priorities and exchange ideas that could strengthen governance and benefit the state's people.
Welcoming participants from across the world, Sridhar Babu said Hyderabad was ready to host discussions aimed at shaping a more inclusive, equitable and progressive global society.
Congress Plans Global Network of Progressive Think Tanks
Congress Working Committee member Gurdeep Singh Sappal said the idea of establishing an international platform for progressive political parties and think tanks had emerged during Rahul Gandhi's visit to Berlin.
He said discussions there had focused on creating a think tank involving representatives of progressive parties from different parts of the world. The objective was to develop responses to changing political trends and challenges.
According to Sappal, the Bharat Summit in Hyderabad would mark the beginning of this initiative, with around 70 think tanks expected to participate.
He argued that the growing influence of major technology companies and corporate interests in global politics made it important for political parties to strengthen their intellectual and policy research capabilities.
Sappal said political organisations needed platforms where experts familiar with society, governance and political developments could deliberate and develop practical solutions to contemporary challenges.
He also expressed concern over what he described as the spread of hateful and divisive politics in India and other parts of the world over the past 15 years.
He said progressive and liberal political parties had recognised the damage caused by such trends and that the Congress was attempting to bring them together to promote an alternative political approach.
Hyderabad Hosts Second Edition
TPCC president B. Mahesh Kumar Goud said Telangana was proud to host the prestigious international summit for the second consecutive year.
With delegates from 70 countries and representatives of think tanks expected to attend, the Bharat Summit is being positioned as a platform for international dialogue on politics, economics, social justice, climate change and democratic institutions.
The Congress leadership expects the discussions to strengthen Telangana's international visibility while encouraging cooperation among progressive political organisations and policy institutions.
