Civil Society & Global Governance (From MY Speech in Moscow)

India Shows the Way in Global Governance

Dhiraj Singh highlighted how grassroot movements in India have successfully reshaped national governance frameworks—offering a potent blueprint for nations worldwide.

By Kumud Das 29 Sept 2026 12:33 PM IST

Mumbai: Amid growing geopolitical fractures, Prof. Dhiraj Singh, Head Centre for Media & Technology, Bennett University and Deputy Dean, Times School of Media, delivered a compelling address at the 2nd World Public Assembly (WPA) held at Moscow’s World Trade Centre. He championed the role of civil society in driving systemic transformation. Speaking on a high-level panel alongside Prof. Fidel-Antonio Smirnov, a prominent Cuban academic and grandson of legendary Cuban leader Fidel Castro, Prof. Singh highlighted how grassroot movements in India have successfully reshaped national governance frameworks—offering a potent blueprint for nations worldwide. 

The panel featured a diverse array of global perspectives, bringing together delegates from Russia, China, Poland, Cuba, Kazakhstan and Peru to debate the future of public diplomacy and citizen-led governance. 

During his remarks, Dhiraj Singh emphasized that a nation's true resilience does not lie solely in formal state channels, but in the strength of its civic institutions. He noted that civil society movements in India have been directly responsible for pushing through five landmark legislations that radically changed and revolutionized governance across the country. These were: Right to Information (RTI) Act (2005), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) (2005), Right to Education (RTE) Act (2009), National Food Security Act (2013) and the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act (2013). 

Drawing from his unique vantage point as the former Executive Director of Lok Sabha TV (now Sansad TV), Prof Singh shared profound insights into how a nation's progress is accelerated when public discourse aligns with parliamentary intent. 

"My tenure managing the broadcast of India’s parliamentary democracy gave me front-row insight into a highly effective institutional triad," stated Prof. Dhiraj Singh. "Civil society, media and legislation act as a reinforcing axis that delivers genuine progress, accountability and prosperity. This relationship is an extraordinary Indian asset and other countries have much to learn from it." 

The session concluded with an active dialogue, particularly drawing interest from international delegates and university students eager to understand the legal mechanics of India’s grassroots activism. Dhiraj Singh’s address served as a vital reminder that while formal state-to-state relations may face turbulence, transnational public diplomacy remains a resilient, indispensable bridge for sharing innovative models of human development. 

The 2nd World Public Assembly (WPA) was held in Moscow on September 18-19, 2026, and had over 5000 delegates from over 164 countries (including the USA, UK, France, Germany, and Australia). Other notable speakers at the Assembly included Russian Foreign Minister Minister Sergey Lavrov, Meenakashi Lekhi, India’s former Minister of State for External Affairs, Nurlan Yermekbayev, Secretary-General of SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) among others. The WPA is built on the immense power of public diplomacy and open dialogue and it serves as a vital reminder that despite severed diplomatic ties at the governmental level, a resilient people-to-people exchange continues to thrive.

Read the orginal article HERE