Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, the 50th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslim community and Chair of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), began his seven-day visit to India on Wednesday, September 9.
The Prince Rahim Aga Khan India visit comes after an invitation from Vice President C P Radhakrishnan. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Prince Rahim will remain in India until September 15 and is expected to hold meetings with several senior Indian leaders.
Prince Rahim Aga Khan to Meet PM Modi, President Murmu
During his visit to New Delhi, Prince Rahim Aga Khan V is scheduled to meet President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He is also expected to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
The meetings are expected to focus on issues linked to India and the Aga Khan Development Network’s long-standing work in areas such as community development, education, health and social welfare.
Aga Khan to Visit Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Hyderabad
As part of his India tour, Prince Rahim Aga Khan will travel beyond the national capital to Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Hyderabad.
The three cities are significant to the Aga Khan Development Network, which has been involved in a range of development and community initiatives in India.
His visit is expected to provide an opportunity to review and strengthen the network’s engagement with communities and development programmes across the country.
First India Visit Since Becoming 50th Imam
The September 2026 visit is significant because it is Prince Rahim Aga Khan’s first visit to India since becoming the 50th hereditary Imam of the Nizari Ismaili Muslims.
He assumed the position in February 2025 following the death of his father, Prince Karim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV.
Prince Rahim became the community’s spiritual leader in accordance with the traditional hereditary succession practices followed by the Nizari Ismaili community.
Who Is Prince Rahim Aga Khan V?
Prince Rahim Aga Khan V is the spiritual leader of the Nizari Ismaili Muslim community and is also closely associated with the Aga Khan Development Network.
Alongside his responsibilities as Imam, he serves on the boards of several institutions linked to the development network.
He is also involved in the governance of social institutions serving the Ismaili community and is associated with the Institute of Ismaili Studies.
Ismaili Community’s Global Presence
The Ismaili community has a history spanning more than 1,400 years and follows a tradition of allegiance to a living hereditary spiritual leader.
Ismaili Muslims live across more than 35 countries, with communities spread across different regions of the world.
Prince Rahim Aga Khan’s visit to India therefore carries significance not only for the Ismaili community but also for the Aga Khan Development Network’s continuing engagement with India.
Why Prince Rahim Aga Khan’s India Visit Matters
The visit comes at an important time for the relationship between India and institutions associated with the Aga Khan network.
His meetings with India’s top constitutional and government leaders, along with visits to Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Hyderabad, are expected to highlight the network’s continuing development and community initiatives in the country.
The seven-day visit will conclude on September 15.
