Puri speaks at PAFI 13th Annual Forum in New Delhi
Synopsis
Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri attended PAFI's 13th Annual Forum in New Delhi on September 24, 2026, themed 'India 3.0: Engaging for Growth in a Disrupted World,' joining public affairs professionals to discuss India's economic strategy amid global disruption.
Key Takeaways
Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri attended the PAFI 13th Annual Forum in New Delhi on September 24, 2026 .
The forum's theme was 'India 3.0: Engaging for Growth in a Disrupted World' , centring on India's economic strategy in a volatile global environment.
PAFI — the Public Affairs Forum of India — is India's leading platform connecting public policy professionals, business, and government.
Puri, a senior BJP leader and former career diplomat, oversees India's petroleum and natural gas sector.
The forum represents a key venue for aligning the public affairs community around India's growth and policy narrative.
As global economic headwinds reshuffled trade alliances and disrupted supply chains, Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri stepped into a room full of India's most influential public affairs professionals on Thursday, September 24, 2026 — and the theme waiting for him was anything but routine: 'India 3.0: Engaging for Growth in a Disrupted World.'
What the 'India 3.0' framing signals
The Public Affairs Forum of India (PAFI) convened its 13th Annual Forum in New Delhi, bringing together practitioners from the intersection of business, policy, and government affairs. The forum's chosen motif — 'India 3.0' — positions the country not merely as a passive responder to global disruption, but as an active architect of a new growth compact. That framing lands squarely in Puri's lane: as the minister overseeing India's petroleum and natural gas sector, he sits at the crossroads of energy security, foreign diplomacy, and economic strategy.
Puri's presence at the forum underscores a familiar pattern for the senior BJP leader and former career diplomat — using structured platforms to project India's economic confidence even as global markets remain unsettled. A diplomat-turned-minister, he has consistently leveraged such forums to articulate India's macro-positioning on energy and geopolitics.
PAFI and its role in shaping public policy dialogue
PAFI is India's primary platform for public affairs professionals — a constituency that bridges corporate boardrooms and government corridors. Its annual forum draws participants who shape how private enterprise and policy interact at the highest levels. The 13th edition carries added weight in a year when India's G20 legacy, evolving energy transition commitments, and strategic autonomy on global trade all demand sharp, coordinated articulation from the government side.
For a minister responsible for the country's hydrocarbon policy — an industry navigating the dual pressures of energy affordability and green transition — the forum presents an opportunity to align the public affairs community around a coherent national narrative.
Point of View
Positioning India as a proactive shaper of the post-disruption order. For a diplomat-turned-energy-minister, such forums are as much soft-power exercises as policy conversations. How the government translates this forum's engagement into concrete public affairs strategy will be worth watching.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PAFI Annual Forum?
The PAFI Annual Forum is the flagship event of the Public Affairs Forum of India, a platform for professionals engaged in public policy and government affairs. The 13th edition was held in New Delhi in September 2026.
What was the theme of PAFI's 13th Annual Forum in 2026?
The theme was 'India 3.0: Engaging for Growth in a Disrupted World,' focusing on India's economic strategy and engagement amid global disruptions.
Who is Hardeep Singh Puri?
Hardeep Singh Puri is India's Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, a senior BJP leader, and a former career diplomat who has represented India at several international forums.
Why did Hardeep Singh Puri attend the PAFI forum?
As Union Petroleum Minister, Puri attended to engage with public affairs professionals on India's growth strategy and policy positioning in a globally disrupted economic environment.
What does PAFI stand for?
PAFI stands for Public Affairs Forum of India, a body that brings together professionals working at the intersection of business, government, and public policy.
