Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not address the General Debate at the upcoming high-level session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) later this month. External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar is set to represent India at the 80th session of the UNGA in New York and will deliver India's national statement on September 27.

The high-level session of the UNGA is scheduled to open on September 9 and the General Debate will take place from September 23 to 29. Traditionally, Brazil opens the session, followed by the United States. The agenda includes discussions on critical global issues such as climate action, gender equality, and global health, set against a backdrop of ongoing international conflicts and commemorations. The theme for the general debate is “Leaving No One Behind: Acting Together for the Advancement of Peace, Sustainable Development and human dignity for Present and future generations".

While a slot had been reserved for PM Modi to address the UNGA on September 26, his participation remained uncertain. The Ministry of External Affairs has not yet issued a formal confirmation of Modi's absence. A revised provisional list of speakers, dated September 5, places Jaishankar on the agenda to deliver India's national statement during the afternoon session on September 27.

Sources suggest that a meeting between PM Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump is unlikely, potentially influencing the decision. Ongoing trade talks and recent diplomatic tensions may have contributed to this situation. It has been suggested that PM Modi would ideally want to have a bilateral meeting with Trump if he were to travel to New York. However, the government may believe it is best to avoid a high-stakes meeting between the leaders in the current circumstances.

In the past, the head of government has been listed on the schedule, only to be substituted later by the External Affairs Minister. According to sources, the UNGA is not currently part of PM Modi's travel schedule, and this is expected to remain the case unless there is a last-minute breakthrough in India-U.S. trade negotiations leading to a formal meeting proposal from President Trump.

EAM Jaishankar is expected to meet with many of his counterparts on the margins of the UNGA, including Ukraine's foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha.