September 29, 2026: The India Today Conclave, India’s premier thought-leadership forum and a globally recognised platform for dialogue and ideas, returns to Kochi with the seventh edition of India Today Conclave South. The event will take place on September 29 and 30 at Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty.
Convening some of the most commanding voices from geopolitics, business, technology, culture and society under the theme ‘Surging South’, the Conclave will focus on the region’s political influence, economic ambitions and cultural strength.
South India is at the forefront of India’s economic and strategic ambitions, driving advances in technology, manufacturing and enterprise, expanding its maritime trade and extending its cultural influence across languages and borders. Alongside this momentum, debates on federalism, political representation and opportunities for a new generation are shaping the region’s priorities. ‘Surging South’ reflects this dynamism and the region’s growing role in shaping India’s future.
The Conclave will examine the South’s role in India’s economic and strategic future through discussions on governance, defence, investment, education and employment, alongside conversations on cinema, culture and social change. Prominent speakers include Keralam Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh, Indian Coast Guard Director General S. Paramesh, Manappuram Finance Managing Director V.P. Nandakumar and filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan.
To register or watch live, visit www.indiatodayconclave.in.
Speakers
- V.D. Satheesan — Chief Minister, Keralam
- Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu — Deputy Chief Minister, Telangana
- Nara Lokesh — Minister for Human Resources Development, Andhra Pradesh
- Ramesh Chennithala — Minister of Home, Keralam
- T.G. Bharath — Minister of Industries and Commerce, Andhra Pradesh
- Santosh S. Lad — Minister of Labour and Employment, Karnataka
- Asaduddin Owaisi — President, AIMIM; Member of Lok Sabha
- K.T. Rama Rao — Working President, Bharat Rashtra Samithi
- Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar — Member of Lok Sabha, BJP
- Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu — Member of Lok Sabha & Parliamentary Party Leader, TDP; Vice-Chairman, Vignan University
- Jebi Mather — Member of Rajya Sabha, Congress
- Hibi Eden — Member of Lok Sabha, Congress
- K.R. Suresh Reddy — Former Member of Rajya Sabha, BRS
- Arvind Bellad — Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Karnataka Legislative Assembly
- Anil K. Antony — National Secretary & Spokesperson, BJP
- Dr K.S. Radhakrishnan — State Vice-President, BJP, Kerala
- M. Sathya Kumar — Spokesperson, TVK
- Om Prakash Rawat — Former Chief Election Commissioner
- Ashok Lavasa — Former Election Commissioner
- K.M. Chandrasekhar — Vice-Chairperson, Kerala State Planning Board; Former Union Cabinet Secretary
- DG S. Paramesh, AVSM, PTM, TM — Director General, Indian Coast Guard
- Dr B.K. Das — Director General, Electronics & Communication Systems, DRDO
- G. Satheesh Reddy — Member, NSAB; Advisor to the Government of Andhra Pradesh
- Commander Prasanna Edayilliam (Retd)
- C. Balagopal — Chairman, Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation; Former Chairman, Federal Bank
- V.P. Nandakumar — Managing Director, Manappuram Finance
- Sreekumar K. Nair — CEO, Vizhinjam International Seaport
- Luxman Radhakrishnan — Former Chairman, JNPT; Former MD & CEO, Malabar International Port & SEZ
- Raghu Chandran Nair — President, Trivandrum Chamber of Commerce
- Dr V.K. Anandan — CTO & Senior Vice-President, Astra Microwave Products Ltd; CEO, Astra Space Technologies Pvt. Ltd
- Sameer Joshi — CEO, NewSpace Research & Technologies
- Dinesh K. Nair — Director, Equirus Wealth Private Limited
- Dr V.K. Vijayakumar — Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Financial Services
- Dr K. Paul Thomas — MD & CEO, ESAF Small Finance Bank
- Rijin John — Co-founder & CEO, Silizium Circuits
- Rashid Karimbanakkal — Co-founder & Director, Genrobotic Innovations
- Sathyanarayanan AR — Founder and CEO, Embright Infotech
- Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri — President, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham; Vice-Chairman, Mata Amritanandamayi Math
- Aisshwarya D.K.S. Hegde — Edupreneur
- Kadhambari S. Viswanathan — Assistant Vice-President, Vellore Institute of Technology
- Aishe Ghosh — Member, SFI
- Shravan B. Raj — National Secretary, ABVP
- Dr Aloshious Xavier — State President, Kerala Students Union
- S. Mridhula — Tamil Nadu State President, SFI
- Ajay Kamath — Karnataka State Secretary, All India Democratic Students’ Organization
- Vijay Reddy Mallangi — National Media Lead and South India In-Charge, Cockroach Janta Party
- Adoor Gopalakrishnan — Film Director, Screenwriter and Producer
- Shruti Haasan — Actor
- Amala Paul — Actor
- Kapila Venu — Koodiyattam Artiste
- Francis Xavier — Violin Maestro & Composer
- Ajeissh Mukundan — Dancer
- Alex Rapheal — Dancer
- KL Bro Biju — YouTuber
- ARJN and KDS — Artists, Money Verse Records
- Nathana Mary J D — Crane Operator, Vizhinjam International Seaport
- Shiji U — Crane Operator, Vizhinjam International Seaport
About India Today Conclave
The India Today Conclave is India’s first and only intelligence exchange that engages every stakeholder to build an agenda for positive change. It dissects every relevant fact, amplifies every sensible voice. It’s a leadership conference where the sharpest global minds come together to analyse, debate, inspire, entertain, and, of course, prescribe solutions. For nearly two decades, the India Today Conclave has been a global diagnostic, measuring the pulse of the world, making sense of random developments and predicting the next big thing.
