New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be addressing the General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) later this month, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar set to represent India instead. The development was confirmed after the UN released a revised provisional list of speakers for the high-level session on Friday.
The 80th session of the UNGA will open on September 9, with the annual high-level General Debate scheduled from September 23 to 29. As per tradition, Brazil will deliver the first address, followed by the United States, with President Donald Trump making his first UNGA speech since beginning his second term in office. Modi had earlier been listed to speak on September 26, but the revised schedule now places Jaishankar at the podium on September 27. The Indian minister will represent the country at a session expected to feature speeches by leaders of Israel, China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh on the same day Modi was earlier slated to speak.
The updated speaking list reflects the flexible nature of UNGA scheduling, which is always subject to change until the last moment. The high-level session is regarded as the busiest diplomatic season of the year, bringing together heads of state, government leaders, and foreign ministers for a dense calendar of debates and thematic summits. Modi’s absence this year follows his February visit to Washington, where he met with President Trump amid tensions over U.S. tariffs on Indian goods, including duties imposed on Russian oil imports routed through Delhi.
The session’s theme, “Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights,” commemorates the UN’s eight decades of existence. The week will begin with a commemorative event on September 22 marking the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, followed by a range of meetings addressing pressing global challenges. Among these is a September 24 Climate Summit convened by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, designed to encourage nations to present fresh climate action plans and accelerate the transition to clean energy.
Other major meetings include the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, which will review progress since the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and emphasize commitments toward gender equality and women’s empowerment. Additional discussions will focus on building a sustainable and inclusive global economy, combating noncommunicable diseases, addressing youth issues, advancing AI governance, promoting nuclear disarmament, and highlighting the plight of the Rohingya and other minorities in Myanmar.
Against the backdrop of ongoing global crises such as the Israel-Hamas war and the conflict in Ukraine, the 80th UNGA session carries added weight as a platform for dialogue. While Modi’s absence marks a notable shift in India’s top-level participation, Jaishankar’s address is expected to reaffirm New Delhi’s stance on peace, multilateralism, and equitable global development at a time when international divisions are deepening.