PM Modi skips UNGA for the 2nd straight time

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is skipping the United Nations General Assembly for the second consecutive year, delegating India's address to the general assembly to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. This strategic absence highlights a calculated shift in New Delhi’s foreign policy approach. Increasingly, India views the UNGA general debate as a venue for rhetoric rather than action, frustrated by stalled progress on urgent issues like UN Security Council reforms. Instead, Modi's administration prioritizes high-impact bilateral engagements and agile plurilateral forums like the Quad or BRICS. Furthermore, Jaishankar’s robust diplomatic track record makes him perfectly equipped to articulate India’s priorities—including its 2028-29 UNSC seat campaign and Global South leadership—allowing the Prime Minister to focus on domestic agendas and broader global maneuvers.