The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jammu, in collaboration with the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), is organising a Two-Day National Conference on “Geopolitics, Borderlands, and Soft Power: India’s Foreign Policy and Regional Dynamics in a Changing World.” The conference will be held on 9–10 October 2026 at the IIT Jammu campus in Jagti, Jammu.
The conference will examine the changing geopolitical environment and its implications for India’s foreign policy, borderland regions, international relations and regional security. IIT Jammu has also listed the conference among its current institutional updates.
Four Major Themes
The conference will bring together researchers, academics, policy experts and professionals to discuss four broad areas:
1. Geopolitics, Strategic Boundaries & Borderlands
Discussions will cover security and governance, South Asian geopolitics, trade corridors, cross-border connectivity, sub-regional integration and paradiplomacy.
2. Soft Power, Cultural Diplomacy & Transnational Networks
The theme will explore cultural and digital diplomacy, Track II diplomacy, educational exchanges, knowledge transfer and diaspora relations.
3. International Relations, Security & Global Governance
Key areas include multilateral forums, maritime diplomacy and security, cyber, food and energy security, migration, refugee crises, climate change and transboundary resource management.
4. Foreign Policy, Identity & Economic Trajectories
Sessions will examine India’s development vision towards Viksit Bharat @2047, trade and supply-chain resilience, gender and human rights perspectives, and emerging research methodologies in strategic and social science research.
Conference Speakers
The programme features academics and researchers from institutions including IIT Delhi, South Asian University, University of Kashmir and Central University of Jammu. The listed speakers include Dr. Jayan Jose Thomas, Dr. Shweta Singh, Dr. Khalid Wasim Hassan, Dr. Mallika Shakya, Dr. Aijaz Ashraf Wani and Dr. Ekta Manhas, among others.
Revised Important Dates
According to the revised schedule provided by the organisers:
- Abstract Submission Deadline: 5 September 2026
- Acceptance Notification: 8 September 2026
- Early Registration Deadline: 15 September 2026
- Conference: 9–10 October 2026
The conference is being conducted in in-person/offline mode. Registration is mandatory for participants, including authors and co-authors attending the conference in person.
Registration and Participation
The registration fee for UG/PG/MPhil/PhD students is ₹1,000 up to 15 September 2026 and ₹1,500 thereafter. For faculty, academicians, professionals, postdoctoral scholars and independent researchers, the fee is ₹1,500 up to 15 September and ₹2,000 after the deadline. The stated fees include 18% GST and are non-refundable.
The registration fee includes the conference kit, lunch and tea during the conference. No TA/DA will be provided, while certificates will be issued to participants attending the two-day conference.
Limited campus accommodation is available for outstation participants on a self-payment basis, subject to availability, with priority indicated for students.
Venue and Organisers
The conference will take place at Indian Institute of Technology Jammu, Jagti, NH-44, PO Nagrota, Jammu–181221, Jammu & Kashmir. The initiative is being organised by the Department of Humanities & Social Sciences, IIT Jammu, in collaboration with ICWA.
The conference is expected to provide an interdisciplinary platform for examining India’s foreign policy, border regions, strategic interests and regional dynamics, with particular relevance to the changing geopolitical landscape of South Asia.
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