Davos 2026: India Inc and top ministers prepare for a power-packed week

Davos Swarm

More than 100 Indian CEOs are heading to Davos, turning the snowy Swiss town into a temporary extension of India Inc. From boardroom heavyweights to startup disruptors, this unprecedented turnout signals how aggressively India wants to shape global conversations on capital, technology, and growth in 2026.

Power Blend

Five chief ministers and senior Union ministers won’t just attend—they’ll negotiate, pitch, and lobby. Leaders like Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, Telangana CM A Revanth Reddy, Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu, and Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Shivraj Singh Chouhan bring executive authority into boardroom-style diplomacy.

Ambani Moment

Mukesh Ambani’s presence looms large. When the Reliance chairman shows up at Davos, markets listen. His conversations—often behind closed doors—have historically hinted at capital flows, energy transitions, and India’s long-term industrial direction.

Tech Titans

From Nandan Nilekani to Nikhil Kamath, India’s tech thinkers are arriving with algorithms, not slogans. Expect debates on digital public infrastructure, fintech scale, and AI governance—areas where India now claims lived experience, not theory.

State Pitch

Indian states are no longer spectators. Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, and Madhya Pradesh arrive with investment decks, land banks, and policy incentives, competing with countries—not just each other—for global capital.

PSU Presence

India’s public sector will have a quiet but consequential voice at Davos. Leaders such as Indian Oil chairman Arvinder Singh Sahney, GAIL chief Sandeep Kumar Gupta, NTPC’s Gurdeep Singh, SBI’s Challa Sreenivasulu Setty, and REC’s Jitendra Srivastava are expected to advance India’s priorities on energy security, infrastructure financing, and long-term capital deployment—underscoring the continued global relevance of state-run enterprises.

Diplomatic Optics

With 60 heads of state and top global financiers attending, every Indian handshake is geopolitical. Davos 2026 becomes less about panels and more about optics—who meets whom, who sits where, and which alliances quietly take shape.

Gender Signal

Smriti Irani’s participation via a global gender equity platform highlights a softer—but deliberate—power play. India is positioning itself not just as a growth story, but as a stakeholder in social and institutional reform.

Dialogue Test

With the theme “A Spirit of Dialogue,” India walks into Davos at a moment of global fragmentation. The delegation’s challenge: sell cooperation, investment, and innovation—while navigating protectionism, climate anxiety, and slowing world growth.