Mani Shankar Aiyar Keynote Speaker

Indian diplomat and politician
Member of the Indian National Congress Party
Indian Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas (2004-06)

Mani Shankar Aiyar's Biography

Mani Shankar Aiyar is an Indian diplomat, politician and writer. He was a member of the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of External Affairs from 2010 to 2016 and is a member of the Parliamentary Forum on Disaster Management.

Mani was an Indian National Congress party MP from 1991 to 1996, from 1998 to 1999 and from 2004 to 2009, representing the Mayiladuthurai constituency. He also served in Dr. Manmohan Singh’s government as Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas from 2004 to 2006 and as Minister for Youth and Sports from 2006 to 2009. He was also the first Minister for the Development of the North East Region and served as Minister of Panchayati Raj, overseeing decentralisation and local governance in India.

Prior to his involvement in Indian politics, Mani was a professional diplomat. He served for 26 years in the Indian Foreign Service, the last five of which were on deputation to the Prime Minister’s Office under Rajiv Gandhi (1985–89).

Mani is a special invitee to the Congress Working Committee and a chairman of both the party’s political training department and the department of policy planning and coordination. He is also a well-known political columnist and has written several books, including “Pakistan Papers” (1994), a thorough analysis of India-Pakistan relations.

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He brings rare insight from senior roles as both an Indian diplomat and cabinet minister, spanning foreign policy, energy, decentralisation and governance.
He offers first-hand perspective on India’s political system, federalism and local empowerment, shaped by leading Panchayati Raj and North East development.
He offers first-hand perspective on India’s political system, federalism and local empowerment, shaped by leading Panchayati Raj and North East development.
His talks combine intellectual rigour with political realism, helping audiences understand how policy, power and institutions shape India’s future.