The trajectory of India-Africa relations has been historically underpinned by a reservoir of goodwill, which continues to inform contemporary engagements irrespective of political transitions in India. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, these ties have been further consolidated through the operationalization of the Kampala Principles and an unprecedented series of high-level state visits to many African countries. India’s diplomatic outreach has expanded significantly, with the establishment of 18 new missions (2019–2021) in regions previously marked by limited historical engagement. Reflecting a paradigm shift from traditional aid-based interactions to strategic partnerships, India now emphasizes collaboration premised on mutual benefit and shared aspirations. This transformation is evident in India’s robust support for Africa’s inclusion in major multilateral platforms, notably AU’s membership of G-20 in 2023 and the expanded BRICS Plus framework to include Egypt & Ethiopia in 2024 as well as emerging cooperation on critical global issues such as the Indo-Pacific and the reform of international governance institutions. Collectively, these developments illustrate the evolution of India-Africa relations into a dynamic, multidimensional partnership geared towards a rebalanced global order but, several critical challenges persist. These include the highly concentrated and uneven trade patterns, delays in the timely implementation of initiatives under the India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS), the absence of independent third-party evaluations of Indian development projects, the social exclusion and discrimination faced by Africans in India, and the increasing competition from other global powers on the African continent.