Prime Minister meets His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, discusses Strengthening Partnership with Aga Khan Development Network

The meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V on September 10, 2026, in New Delhi marks a significant milestone in India's engagement with one of the world's most respected faith-based development networks. Prince Rahim Aga Khan V assumed the role of the 50th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslim community in February 2025, succeeding his father, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, who passed away at the age of 88 after a 67-year imamat. The late Aga Khan IV was globally renowned not only as a spiritual leader but as a visionary philanthropist who transformed the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) into a multi-billion-dollar international development enterprise operating in over 30 countries. His contributions to healthcare, education, rural development, and cultural preservation — particularly in Asia and Africa — earned him numerous honors, including India's Padma Vibhushan in 2015. The AKDN's agencies, such as the Aga Khan Health Services, Aga Khan Foundation, Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, and Aga Khan University, have had a profound impact in India, especially in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, where they have implemented community-driven models in maternal health, sanitation, agricultural productivity, and women's self-help groups. Prime Minister Modi's acknowledgment of the late Imam's "enduring contributions" reflects India's recognition of civil society partnerships in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work), and SDG 17 (Partnerships). The five focus areas discussed — healthcare, agriculture, rural development, youth empowerment, and women empowerment — align closely with flagship Indian schemes like Ayushman Bharat, National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), PM-KISAN, Skill India Mission, and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. Constitutionally, such collaborations resonate with Article 38 (State to secure a social order for the promotion of welfare of the people), Article 39 (Directive Principles on equitable distribution of resources), and Article 43 (living wage and decent standard of life). The engagement also reflects India's broader foreign policy of 'Development Partnership' under the Ministry of External Affairs, emphasizing South-South cooperation and people-centric diplomacy. Looking ahead, the transition to the new Imam presents an opportunity to modernize AKDN's India portfolio — potentially integrating digital health platforms, climate-resilient agriculture, and youth skilling in emerging sectors like green energy and AI. Given the Ismaili community's historic presence in Gujarat and Maharashtra, and the AKDN's deep grassroots networks, this partnership could serve as a model for public-private-people partnerships (PPPP) in India's Amrit Kaal vision. The Prime Minister's public outreach via X (formerly Twitter), tagging @akdn, underscores the strategic communication dimension of development diplomacy in the digital age.