The Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jammu is organising a Two-Day National Conference (in-person/offline) titled "Geopolitics, Borderlands, and Soft Power: India's Foreign Policy and Regional Dynamics in a Changing World" Scheduled for October 09 & 10, 2026, at the IIT Jammu Main Campus, this conference seeks to examine the critical intersection of high-level strategic statecraft, borderland realities, and international relations. As the global political landscape fractures into new multilateral alignments, India's strategic responses—ranging from neighbourhood diplomacy to the projection of soft power—require rigorous, interdisciplinary assessment. This conference serves as an essential nexus for academic researchers, strategic analysts, social scientists, and policymakers to dissect these transformations. By centering the discussion within the unique geopolitical environment of Jammu and Kashmir, the event bridges the gap between macro-level foreign policy formulations and micro-level regional implementations. Over two days, the conference will feature plenary sessions, expert panel discussions, and parallel paper presentations across four specialized themes, culminating in a data-driven policy brief aimed at national and regional governing bodies. 

 Theme 1: Geopolitics, Strategic Boundaries & Borderlands

• Re-imagining Borderlands: Security, Governance, and Local Communities

• Geopolitical Dynamics in South Asia and India’s Neighborhood Policy

• Cross-Border Connectivity, Trade Corridors, and Sub-Regional Integration

• Paradiplomacy: The Role of Border States and UTs in Foreign Relations

Theme 2: Soft Power, Cultural Diplomacy & Transnational Networks

• India’s Soft Power Architecture: Cinema, Culture, and Traditional Knowledge

• Digital Diplomacy, Technological Innovation, and Global Engagement

• The Role of Track II Diplomacy and Think Tanks in Shaping Foreign Policy

• Educational Exchange Programs and Knowledge Transfer as Diplomatic Tools

• Diaspora Associations and Their Influence on Host-Home Country Relations

Theme 3: International Relations, Security & Global Governance

• India’s Role in Multilateral Forums (BRICS, G20, SCO, Quad)

• Maritime Diplomacy, Security Dynamics, and the Indian Ocean Region

• Traditional vs. Non-Traditional Security Threats (Cyber, Food, and Energy Security)

• Global Compact for Migration, Refugee Crisis, and Border Management

• Climate Change, Environmental Security, and Transboundary Resource Management

Theme 4: Foreign Policy, Identity & Economic Trajectories

• The Behavioral Dimensions of Diplomacy: National Identity and Public Perception

• Economic Diplomacy, Trade Policies, and India’s Quest for Global Supply Chain Resilience

• Realizing @2047 "Viksit Bharat": Foreign Policy as a Catalyst for National Growth

• Gender, Inclusion, and Human Rights Perspectives in International Relations

• Research Methodologies and Emerging Analytical Tools in Strategic and Social Science Research