India's women MP delegation meets ex-Mongolian President Enkhbayar in Ulaanbaatar
Synopsis
A three-member Indian women parliamentary delegation led by MP Kumari Selja, attending the World Women Parliamentarians' Forum in Ulaanbaatar, held back-to-back engagements with former Mongolian President Nambaryn Enkhbayar and Foreign Minister B. Battsetseg — signalling active parliamentary diplomacy between India and Mongolia on the sidelines of a multilateral forum.
Key Takeaways
Former Mongolian President Nambaryn Enkhbayar met Indian MP Kumari Selja in Ulaanbaatar on 14 October 2026 .
The Indian delegation comprises MPs Kumari Selja , Anita Chouhan , and Maya Naroliya , accompanied by Ambassador Atul Malhari Gotsurve .
Mongolian lawmaker O.
Soronzonbold of the Mongolia-India Parliamentary Friendship Group hosted a dinner in the delegation's honour.
On 13 October , the delegation met Mongolian Foreign Minister B.
Battsetseg at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
MP Selja delivered India's statement at the Opening Session of the World Women Parliamentarians' Forum at the State Palace on 12 October .
Former Mongolian President Nambaryn Enkhbayar on 14 October 2026 met MP Kumari Selja, who is leading an Indian women parliamentary delegation attending the World Women Parliamentarians' Forum in Ulaanbaatar, with both sides discussing issues of mutual interest. Indian Ambassador to Mongolia Atul Malhari Gotsurve was also present at the meeting.
High-Level Engagement in Ulaanbaatar
The Indian Embassy in Ulaanbaatar confirmed the meeting via a post on X, noting that Enkhbayar — the third President of Mongolia — held discussions with Selja on a range of bilateral topics. The embassy's post described it as a meeting covering 'various issues of mutual interest,' without specifying individual agenda items.
Separately, Mongolian lawmaker O. Soronzonbold, a member of the Mongolia-India Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Parliament of Mongolia, hosted a dinner in honour of the visiting Indian delegation. The dinner was attended by Ambassador Gotsurve and senior officials of the Government of Mongolia. According to the Indian mission, both sides used the occasion to discuss 'various issues of mutual cooperation.'
Meeting with Mongolia's Foreign Minister
A day earlier, on 13 October 2026, the three-member delegation — comprising MPs Kumari Selja, Anita Chouhan, and Maya Naroliya — met Mongolian Foreign Minister B. Battsetseg at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia in Ulaanbaatar. The Indian MPs congratulated the Foreign Minister on the successful organisation of the forum, at which Battsetseg hosted a lunch. The Foreign Minister, in turn, thanked the delegation for their participation in the event.
India's Statement at the Forum
On Monday, 12 October 2026, MP Selja delivered India's statement at the Opening Session of the World Women Parliamentarians' Forum, which was organised by the Parliament of Mongolia at the State Palace in Ulaanbaatar. The forum ran from October 12 to 13.
The three-member delegation had arrived at Chinggis Khan Airport in Ulaanbaatar on Sunday, 11 October 2026, and was received by the Embassy's Second Secretary and Head of Chancery, Sukhbir.
Context and Significance
This comes amid steady efforts by India and Mongolia to deepen parliamentary and diplomatic ties. The Mongolia-India Parliamentary Friendship Group's active role in hosting the visiting delegation underscores the warmth in bilateral relations. Notably, India and Mongolia share a 'Strategic Partnership' established in 2015, and high-level exchanges — including parliamentary ones — have been a consistent feature of the relationship. The engagement of former President Enkhbayar, a significant political figure in Mongolia, adds diplomatic weight to what was a multilateral forum visit.
Point of View
But the density of meetings packed into this delegation's Ulaanbaatar visit — a former head of state, a sitting foreign minister, and a parliamentary friendship group dinner — suggests India is using the multilateral forum as a structured bilateral opportunity. The engagement of Enkhbayar, a former president with enduring political influence in Mongolia, is a deliberate signal rather than a courtesy call. With India's 'Act East' policy expanding its diplomatic footprint, Mongolia — a landlocked neighbour of China and Russia — carries quiet strategic value that these parliamentary exchanges quietly reinforce.
NationPress
14 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Nambaryn Enkhbayar and why did he meet the Indian delegation?
Nambaryn Enkhbayar is the third President of Mongolia. He met Indian MP Kumari Selja and the women parliamentary delegation on 14 October 2026 in Ulaanbaatar on the sidelines of the World Women Parliamentarians' Forum, discussing issues of mutual interest between India and Mongolia.
Which Indian MPs are part of the women parliamentary delegation to Mongolia?
The delegation comprises MPs Kumari Selja (leader), Anita Chouhan, and Maya Naroliya. They were accompanied by India's Ambassador to Mongolia, Atul Malhari Gotsurve.
What is the World Women Parliamentarians' Forum held in Ulaanbaatar?
The World Women Parliamentarians' Forum is a multilateral event organised by the Parliament of Mongolia, held from 12 to 13 October 2026 at the State Palace in Ulaanbaatar. It brings together women legislators from multiple countries to discuss issues of common concern.
Did the Indian delegation meet Mongolia's government officials beyond the forum?
Yes. On 13 October, the delegation met Mongolian Foreign Minister B. Battsetseg, who hosted a lunch at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mongolian lawmaker O. Soronzonbold of the Mongolia-India Parliamentary Friendship Group also hosted a dinner for the delegation on 14 October.
What role did India play at the Opening Session of the forum?
MP Kumari Selja delivered India's official statement at the Opening Session of the World Women Parliamentarians' Forum on 12 October 2026 at the State Palace in Ulaanbaatar.
