New Delhi, 3rd August 2026: The IFIP’s World Inclusion Conference (WIC) India 2026, organised by AFAIRS, Asia’s leading education show organiser and IFIP’s exclusive Strategic Partner in South Asia, alongside GSBA and in association with SRV Media and other partners, opened on 31st July 2026 at Yashobhoomi (India International Convention & Expo Centre), New Delhi, with sessions concluding on 1st August 2026, bringing together 2000+ policymakers, educators, university leaders, corporate decision-makers, EdTech innovators, and inclusion practitioners from across 50+ countries for what is India’s first and South Asia’s largest conference on building inclusion across society.
The inaugural ceremony, themed “Reimagining Inclusion: From National Vision to Global Action,” set the tone for the two-day conference. The proceedings opened with a ceremonial lamp lighting and the National Anthem, followed by a Welcome Address by Vivek Shukla, Director & CEO, AFAIRS Education Group and CEO, WIC India 2026. The Chair’s Address, titled “Inclusion as a Nation-Building Imperative: Advancing the Vision of Viksit Bharat 2047,” was delivered by Prof. (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor, OP Jindal Global University and Chair, WIC India 2026.
Distinguished Guests of Honour addressed the gathering on the first day, including Dr. Joseph Emmanuel, Chief Executive and Secretary, Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE); Sribharat Mathukumilli, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) and President, GITAM Deemed to be University; Maharani Sahiba Nivritti Kumari Mewar of Udaipur; and Shri Pramath Raj Sinha, Founder & Trustee, Ashoka University, who delivered the keynote on reimagining higher education. The Inaugural Address, titled “The Constitution and the Promise of Inclusion: Building an Equitable India for All,” was delivered by the Chief Guest, Hon’ble Dr. Justice Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud, Former Chief Justice of India.
The afternoon featured a plenary session on “Leading Inclusive Education: Policy, Innovation and Global Perspectives,” with Daniel Sobel, Founder & CEO, IFIP and President, WIC; Thomas Keaney, Founder & CEO, TCES Group (Ireland); Dr. Kala Parasuram, Global Leader in Inclusive Education, International Baccalaureate; and Shri Asim Arun, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Social Welfare, Government of Uttar Pradesh.
The afternoon expanded into five concurrent breakout tracks spanning school leadership and governance, neurodiversity, EdTech and digital inclusion, higher education internationalisation, and early childhood. A dedicated Vice-Chancellors Roundtable, chaired by Prof. (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar and co-chaired by Mahesh Peri, Founder & CEO, Careers360, brought together university heads to examine what building a future-ready inclusive institution actually requires. A Global Policy Roundtable on equity and systemic change, co-chaired by Dr. Ashwin Fernandes, Chair, QS India, and Dr. Dhruv Galgotia – CEO at Galgotias University drew senior government officials, institutional leaders, and international practitioners into the same conversation.
The evening carried its own weight. The Gala Dinner, themed “Celebrating Inclusion,” marked the showcase of India’s first 30 IFIP Foundation Inclusive Schools and the presentation of the National Inclusion Awards India 2026, recognising individuals and institutions driving meaningful change in inclusive education across the country. Among the honours conferred were the Global Visionary Award for Inclusive Education, presented to Shri Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS and Former Member of Parliament; the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to Dr. Uma Tuli, Founder, Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust and Dr. Mithu Alur, Founder and Chairperson, ADAPT; presented by Daniel Sobel and Dr. Sasmit Patra distinguished member of parliament and the Grand Jury Award, presented to Alina Alam, CEO & Founder, Mitti Cafe, among several other awards recognising excellence in inclusion across schools, universities, and the corporate sector.
Day 2, held under the theme “From Vision to Action: Advancing Inclusive Leadership for a Viksit Bharat and a Better World,” brought fresh momentum to the conference. The morning opened with addresses by Dr. Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Member of Parliament and Former Foreign Secretary of India; Prof. Obijiofor Aginam, Director, UNESCO MGIEP. A Diplomatic Dialogue on Global Learning, Equity and Internationalism, curated by Diplomatist Magazine, and a dedicated Youth Delegation session gave the day its own distinct character. The conference closed with the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration on Inclusion, the launch of the IFIP Youth Inclusion Network, and the official handover of WIC to its next host, WIC Australia.
Over two days, WIC India 2026 delivered what it set out to: a space where inclusion moved from aspiration to agenda, and where the conversations held in New Delhi are expected to shape classrooms, campuses, and policy well beyond the conference floor.
