NEW DELHI — GTNS, SEPTEMBER 10, 2026 — Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, the 50th hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslim community and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), held a series of high-level meetings with India’s top leadership on Thursday, putting development cooperation and the longstanding India-AKDN partnership at the centre of his first official visit to the country in his present role.
Prince Rahim met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, where the two sides discussed avenues for expanding cooperation with the Aga Khan Development Network in sectors including healthcare, agriculture, rural development, youth empowerment and women’s empowerment. Prime Minister Modi also recalled the development contributions of the late Aga Khan IV, Prince Rahim’s father.
The engagement carries significance beyond a ceremonial diplomatic meeting, as AKDN has a longstanding presence in India and its development priorities overlap with several areas of India’s broader development agenda.
DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION AT THE CORE
According to the AKDN, Prince Rahim expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for India’s support for the network’s activities and underlined their alignment with India’s development priorities and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
The discussions put the emphasis on practical areas that directly affect communities, including healthcare delivery, agricultural development, rural transformation, skills and opportunities for young people, and greater participation of women in economic and social development.
The AKDN has also been associated with initiatives involving sustainable urban development, water conservation, rural sanitation, cultural heritage restoration and youth skills development in India.
MEETINGS WITH PRESIDENT MURMU AND VICE-PRESIDENT
Prince Rahim also called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. He subsequently met Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan, who hosted a lunch in his honour attended by senior government officials as well as representatives of the Jamat and AKDN.
The day’s engagements also included meetings with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, according to the AKDN. The discussions explored areas where India and the Ismaili Imamat can continue cooperation to create opportunities and promote economic empowerment.
FIRST OFFICIAL INDIA VISIT AS 50TH IMAM
The visit has added importance because it is Prince Rahim Aga Khan V’s first official visit to India since becoming the 50th hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims and taking over as Chairman of the AKDN in February 2025 following the death of his father, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV.
His India engagements therefore combine religious leadership, development diplomacy and institutional cooperation, with the AKDN’s work providing an important bridge between community development and India’s wider social and economic priorities.
For New Delhi, the meetings underline India’s continued engagement with international development institutions and networks working in areas directly connected to inclusive growth.
For the Aga Khan Development Network, the visit provides an opportunity to deepen cooperation with India at a time when healthcare, rural development, skills, women’s empowerment and sustainable development remain central to the country’s long-term development agenda.
The message emerging from the meetings is one of partnership focused on development—linking India’s national priorities with the AKDN’s international experience in improving livelihoods and creating opportunities.