Raisina Hackathon

A Decade of Raisina Dialogue

As the Raisina Dialogue, co-hosted by the Observer Research Foundation and the Ministry of External Affairs, marks its tenth successful year, it has grown to become one of the world’s foremost Dialogues on global governance. Recognised as an internationally acclaimed ‘ideas factory,’ the Dialogue brought together over 4,000 participants from more than 100 countries during its most recent edition.

Rooted in an India-first perspective, the Raisina Dialogue amplifies global conversations on geopolitics and geo-economics, positioning India as a central actor in global governance. It shapes global agendas and innovates pathways for collective action, reflecting India’s growing leadership in shaping global priorities.

This landmark gathering unites leaders across policy, business, media, and civil society from around the globe to engage in discussions, debates, and solution-building for shaping a new and fair global order.

A New Decade, A New Voice

As the Raisina Dialogue enters a new decade, it aims to amplify the voice of India’s youth by centre-staging their ideas, aspirations, and vision through the Raisina Hackathon. Participants are invited to share their perspectives on - What global issues should India champion? Which agendas should India lead? What actions and pathways can guide the world towards progress, prosperity, and equality?

The Raisina Hackathon is a call to action for India’s youth to engage with pressing issues that will shape their future, steer national conversations, and influence global agendas as India assumes a central role in building a better world.

Below are the key session themes at the Hackathon.

Session Themes:

Foreign Policy and Security

The world is witnessing a shift towards a multipolar order, with the rise of India and China as major players reshaping the geopolitical landscape. The rise of transnational security challenges, ranging from cross-border terrorism and crimes to territorial disputes and geopolitical rivalries, compounds the challenges such a shift brings. However, the global order designed to address these challenges reflects power dynamics from a bygone era, as evidenced by the structure of the United Nations and key multilateral institutions, which marginalise the Global South. These institutions must undergo significant reform to represent the shifting power dynamics, as participation and contributions from these emerging players are crucial for global stability and progress. India has consistently championed the voice of the Global South in shaping the global agenda. The inclusion of the African Union in the G20 during India’s presidency in 2023 underscored New Delhi’s commitment to elevating the interests and representation of the Global South. India has also played a crucial role in bridging divides between the Global North and South. Its leadership in promoting reformed multilateralism, fostering global consensus on security cooperation, addressing economic recovery, and supporting peacebuilding initiatives highlights its growing role in the new order. As the world’s fastest-growing large economy, and on its way to becoming the largest, India’s stake in shaping important global conversations in this regard has never been greater.

Climate Change and Sustainability

The climate crisis poses one of the biggest challenges of our time. Extreme weather events, rising sea levels, biodiversity loss, and dwindling resources are stark reminders of this. For India, the stakes are very high. As a nation balancing rapid economic growth with a population of over 1.4 billion, the challenges of ensuring sustainable development while adapting to climate impacts are unparalleled. Tackling the climate crisis requires a shift towards sustainability in every sphere from energy and agriculture to urban planning and resource management. Sustainable practices, such as promoting renewable energy, preserving ecosystems, and ensuring equitable resource distribution, are central to India’s developmental approach. India’s contributions, such as its lead in setting up the International Solar Alliance or championing the cause of the developing nations at the CoPs, are well-recognised. However, the global fight against climate change is marked by stark inequities. Wealthier nations, historically the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, have not fulfilled their commitments under the Paris Accord, including pledges to provide financial and technological support to developing nations. This imbalance has placed an undue burden on countries like India, which must simultaneously navigate the challenge of pursuing development and addressing climate vulnerabilities. India has a critical role to play in leading global conversations on climate and sustainability and setting the tone for a fair global response.

Digital Futures

The rapid growth of digital technologies is transforming industries, redefining communication, and enabling global connectivity. However, this transformation is accompanied by several critical concerns. Security remains a paramount issue, with cyberattacks, data breaches, and vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure posing risks to nations and individuals alike. The rise of disinformation and misinformation is undermining trust, polarising societies, and influencing political outcomes. Similarly, digital governance and sovereignty have emerged as pressing priorities, with nations grappling to establish frameworks that balance the free and open flow of data with national security considerations. Adding to this are geopolitical rivalries which have led to competing interests in technology standards, data flows, and infrastructure development, such as 5G, fragmenting the global digital ecosystem. It is also transforming the job market, with automation and artificial intelligence expected to generate up to 100 million new jobs by 2030 while displacing many traditional roles. With the largest emerging workforce in the world and digitisation set to underpin every facet of economic activity, India’s leadership in defining the global digital agenda is the linchpin of its ambition of becoming the world’s largest economy by 2047.