Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to deliver the plenary address at the India Today Group's "Smart Kisan, Viksit Bharat" Agriculture Conference 2026 tonight. This two-day event, held at Bharat Mandapam, will bring together over 2,000 farmers, policymakers, industry leaders, and global experts to discuss the future of agriculture in India. The conference, which began on Wednesday, is presented by Mahindra Tractors and co-presented by Mahadhan Agritech. The Prime Minister's address, scheduled for 8 pm, will be broadcast across three major channels, various YouTube channels, leading news websites, and social media platforms of the India Today Group. Only pre-registered invitees are allowed entry, and they must reach the venue by 4 pm with their Aadhaar card for identification.
The Prime Minister's address is expected to foster direct conversations between farmers across the country and national leadership and experts in the field of agriculture. The conference aims to explore the next phase of growth in Indian agriculture, focusing on topics like emerging technologies, sustainability, climate resilience, and opportunities for farmers. Discussions will cover precision farming, AI-driven resource management, and climate-resilient crop varieties.
Key speakers at the first day of the conference included Union Minister Chirag Paswan, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. On the second day, Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari and other policymakers and experts are scheduled to participate.
According to Aroon Purie, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of the India Today Group, agriculture is crucial for India's future, and the conference aims to bring farmers' ingenuity into direct dialogue with global science, policy, and industry. Kalli Purie, Vice Chairperson and Executive Editor-in-Chief of the India Today Group, emphasized that this platform gives grassroots voices national and global resonance, reinforcing the belief that a smart farmer is the heart of a developed India. The conference seeks to place farmers and their aspirations at the center of discussions on India's agricultural transformation.