Indo-German Young Leaders Forum

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Indo-German Young Leaders Forum

The Indo-German Young Leaders Forum was founded in early 2016 as an independent, nonpartisan and nonprofit platform to foster bi-lateral exchange.

nitiative was founded in early 2016 as an independent, nonpartisan and nonprofit platform in order to:
1. Promote the dialogue between Indian and German young leaders from business, politics, science, the media and culture to foster discussion on major issues in an informal setting
2. Establish a lasting network of future decision-makers who are engaged and committed to fostering the Indo-German partnership
3. Keep the exchange alive for future generations. The Indo-German Young Leaders Forum is organizing an annual conference - alternately in Germany and India - to exchange ideas on current bilateral issues. The first Indo-German Young Leaders Forum is foreseen for May 2017 in Berlin and will be attended by 25 selected, highly motivated, and talented participants between the age of 25 and 35 from both countries.

16/03/2026

German Delegation Visits NITI Aayog to Study India’s Aspirational District and Blocks Development Model.

A German delegation visited NITI Aayog on March 10, 2026, to gain insights into India’s flagship development initiatives, particularly the Aspirational District Programme (ADP) and the Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP), which aim to accelerate socio-economic progress in some of the country’s most underdeveloped regions.

The visiting group from Global Bridges, Germany, held discussions with senior officials at the government think tank to understand how India has implemented targeted interventions and monitoring mechanisms to improve governance and public service delivery at the district and block levels.

04/03/2026

Manmohan Singh was a special person with ‘natural authority’: Former German chancellor Merkel.

Angela Merkel, former chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, delivering Dr Manmohan Singh Memorial Lecture in New Delhi on Thursday.

25/02/2026

Navigating Uncertainty Together — India & Germany at the the Munich Security Conference 2026

At the 62nd Munich Security Conference, held under the striking theme “Under Destruction”, External Affairs Minister ( ) Dr. S. Jaishankar joined German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul for a high-profile panel: Navigating Uncertainty: India and Germany in a World in Disarray.

🔐 On Global Security & Derisking
The panel explored how India-Germany and India-EU ties are actively contributing to global stability — not just through diplomacy, but through concrete action. Minister Jaishankar underscored India’s role as a first responder in regional crises, its commitment to safeguarding sea lines of communication, strengthening port security, and building resilient submarine cable infrastructure — the invisible backbone of the global digital economy.

🤝 On the India-Europe Relationship
Jaishankar offered a candid and forward-looking perspective: “Relationships don’t happen by just visits and agreements.” He called for deeper trust-building and a stronger “comfort level” between India and Europe — moving beyond formal frameworks toward genuine strategic partnership.

🌐 Multipolarity & Multilateralism
Both ministers reflected on a world moving rapidly toward a multipolar order — one with more centres of decision-making and greater complexity. Germany’s FM Wadephul notably acknowledged Europe’s recalibration toward emerging powers, recognising shared values and interests with countries like India and Brazil.

24/02/2026

The India-Germany partnership is gaining serious momentum, and the latest developments from Munich make that clear.
On the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met with German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil for high-level bilateral talks that touched on some of the most consequential areas of the partnership.

Here’s what stood out:
Free Trade Agreement

A Historic Milestone The India-EU Free Trade Agreement, finalised in January 2026, was front and centre. Minister Klingbeil called it a major step forward for trade and investment.

• Infrastructure & Development Cooperation
Germany reaffirmed its focus on bilateral development cooperation, with a particular spotlight on metro rail expansion in India — an area where German expertise and Indian scale make for a natural partnership.

• Digital India Goes Global
Minister Sitharaman highlighted the remarkable success of India’s digital payment ecosystem — from UPI to the broader digital public infrastructure stack. India expressed its readiness to share these best practices with Germany, opening the door for cross-border digital collaboration.

Defence, Trade & Technology
Both sides also reflected on the landmark visit of Chancellor Friedrich Merz to India in January 2026 — accompanied by 23 top German CEOs — which deepened ties across defence, trade, and technology.

23/02/2026

𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀.

To learn more about this market in India, we’re delighted to welcome 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬 as speakers in our 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 — 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 & 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 roundtable series.

🏛️ 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬 is one of India’s 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐬, advising 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 across generations.

🔍 What Waterfield is known for:
• 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬, including 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬
• 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦, 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐬 built on trust, independence, and discretion
• 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭-𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦, shaped by decades of on-the-ground relationships

We’re excited to bring this 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲-𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞-𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 into the room.
Join us in
📌 𝐇𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐠 — Feb 24, 5 pm
📌 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧 — Feb 25, 5 pm
📌 𝐌𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐡 — Feb 26, 5 pm
📌 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐚 — Feb 27, 4 pm

💬 We’re looking forward to seeing you — 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬- It’s n invite only event so, please register using the link.

22/02/2026

We are proud to announce the launch of the Indo-German Young Leaders Forum (IGYLF) New Delhi Chapter, unveiled alongside the India Al Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi — a timely convergence of youth leadership, policy dialogue, and global innovation.

As conversations around artificial intelligence, digital governance, and inclusive technologies take center stage, the New Delhi Chapter is envisioned as a regional hub connecting policymakers, entrepreneurs, academics, professionals, and next-generation leaders across North India.

The Chapter will:
• Strengthen Delhi-Berlin relations through sustained, structured dialogue
• Enable innovation ecosystems linking startups, research institutions, and industry
• Promote educational and professional exchanges to deepen people-to-people ties
• Advance future-oriented conversations on Al, governance, and urban solutions

Launching the chapter during the Al Summit underscores the importance of youth-led, cross-border collaboration at a time when global decisions on technology and governance are being shaped.

We look forward to building ideas, partnerships, and impact together.

Congratulations to Sameer Gahlot, who will serve as Chair, and Dr. Manmeet Kaur, who will serve as Co-Chair, on this milestone achievement.

20/02/2026

🎥FILM SCREENING 🎥
Showcase bangaloREsidency-Expanded 2025

What can lost objects reveal about a city?
What can they tell us about the people who move through its spaces?

Join Nitya Mishra—bangaloREsident-Expanded @ Lichtenberg Studios, Berlin— for the screening of her film, Berlin: Lost & Found: a personal documentary film which investigates Berlin through the lens of what has been misplaced or left behind.

Sunday, 22 February • 11 am, 12 pm and 4 pm
9 Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan Bangalore

The film celebrates the quiet presence of everyday objects, to see how the mundane becomes meaningful, and how loss can offer unexpected insight into belonging, memory, and identity.
Nitya Misra uses the medium of narrative film to examine incidental, and supposedly insignificant moments, as a way to uncover the extraordinary aspects of everyday life in urban spaces.

This film screening is part of the bangaloREsidency-Expanded
2025 Showcase.

-german

17/02/2026

Recap of IGYLF Annual conference 2024…

Want to join the 2026 annual conference?
Link in the bio & comment section
Deadline Extended: Now February 22, 2026!

Following strong interest in Indo-German relations after Merz’s January visit to India, we received hundreds of applications and have extended the deadline for the Indo-German Young Leaders Forum Conference in Berlin.

• Conference Dates: June 25-28, 2026
New Application Deadline: February 22, 2026

This conference is a unique opportunity to join the next generation of leaders driving Indo-German collaboration across climate tech, education, and innovation.

Network with changemakers, learn from experts, and help shape the future of one of the world’s most important bilateral partnerships.

• Don’t miss your chance to be part of this!

15/02/2026

India is powering global growth, projected to drive 17% of world GDP increase in 2026—second only to China at 26.6%.

10/02/2026

Deadline Extended: Now February 22, 2026!
Link in the bio & comment section

Following strong interest in Indo-German relations after Merz’s January visit to India, we received hundreds of applications and have extended the deadline for the Indo-German Young Leaders Forum Conference in Berlin.

• Conference Dates: June 25-28, 2026
New Application Deadline: February 22, 2026

This conference is a unique opportunity to join the next generation of leaders driving Indo-German collaboration across climate tech, education, and innovation.

Network with changemakers, learn from experts, and help shape the future of one of the world’s most important bilateral partnerships.

• Don’t miss your chance to be part of this!

09/02/2026

🚨 Deadline Extended: Now February 22, 2026! 🚨

Following strong interest in Indo-German relations after Merz’s January visit to India, we received hundreds of applications and have extended the deadline for the Indo-German Young Leaders Forum Conference in Berlin.

📍 Conference Dates: June 25–28, 2026
🗓️ New Application Deadline: February 22, 2026

🇮🇳🇩🇪 This conference is a unique opportunity to join the next generation of leaders driving Indo-German collaboration across climate tech, education, and innovation.

Network with changemakers, learn from experts, and help shape the future of one of the world’s most important bilateral partnerships. 🌍

👇🏾 Don’t miss your chance to be part of this!

05/02/2026

India’s passenger vehicle imports hit $744.58M in FY24-25! 🚗🇮🇳 Germany leads at $266.24M, followed by Belgium ($100.56M) & UK ($71.94M).

Key insights for Indo-German trade & circular economy enthusiasts. 💼🌍

Address

NITI Aayog, Sansad Marg
Delhi
110001

Website

http://igylf.org/

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Our Story

The relations between Germany and India are characterized by mutual respect, shared values and partnership. On this basis, significant progress has been achieved in the areas of economic cooperation, scientific and technological collaboration as well as cultural exchange in recent years. The Indo-German Young Leaders Forum's goal is to further foster this important geopolitical relationship. The initiative was founded in early 2016 as an independent, nonpartisan and nonprofit platform in order to: 1. Promote the dialogue between Indian and German young leaders from business, politics, science, the media and culture to foster discussion on major issues in an informal setting 2. Establish a lasting network of future decision-makers who are engaged and committed to fostering the Indo-German partnership 3. Keep the exchange alive for future generations. The Indo-German Young Leaders Forum is organizing an annual conference - alternately in Germany and India - to exchange ideas on current bilateral issues. The third Indo-German Young Leaders Forum is foreseen for June 5th-9th 2019 in Berlin and will be attended by 50 selected, highly motivated, and talented participants between the age of 25 and 35 from both countries.