OPINION | RSS annual ABPS meeting to review plans during centenary year

There are two key decision-making bodies of the RSS—Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha and the Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal 

The top decision-making body of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) will hold its annual meeting at Samalkha in Haryana from 13 to 15 March 2026. Though the annual meeting of the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS) is held every year in March, this year it holds special significance as it is being conducted in the middle of the centenary year. A year-long calendar of events began unfolding on the ground from Vijayadashami 2025, when the organisation completed 100 years.

Unique Decision-Making Process

The deliberations at the ABPS are a classic case study for any organisation or leader who wants to master the art of structured review of organisational priorities, leadership processes and grassroots expansion plans. It also helps in understanding the unique consultative process developed by the RSS that has enabled it to expand and consolidate simultaneously.

There are two key decision-making bodies of the RSS—ABPS and the Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal (ABKM). The ABKM generally meets during September or October every year. Both bodies pass resolutions and discuss organisational aspects as well as the way forward, but the ABPS holds special significance because it is also entrusted with the task of electing the RSS general secretary, known as the ‘Sarkaryavah’.

For all practical purposes, it is the RSS general secretary who drives the organisation, along with around half a dozen joint general secretaries (Sah Sarkaryavahs). The Sarsanghchalak functions more like a chief mentor. According to the RSS constitution and the century-long tradition, while the general secretary is elected, the Sarsanghchalak is a nominated position.

Every outgoing Sarsanghchalak nominates his successor. This is generally done after informal consultations with the senior functionaries of the organisation. The first two Sarsanghchalaks—Dr Keshav Baliran Hedgewar and Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar—were succeeded only after their demise. However, the third Sarsanghchalak, Madhukar Dattatreya Deoras, started the tradition of handing over the mantle to his successor during his lifetime. This tradition was followed by his successors, Professor Rajendra Singh and KS Sudarshan.

Beyond Headlines and Politics

While news headlines often focus on the presence of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s top leadership during the ABPS meetings, the deliberations are often misinterpreted as political. The fact of the matter is that BJP representatives are present there as part of the larger organisational framework. There are 32 RSS-inspired organisations that will participate in the ABPS this year, and the BJP is one of them.

A significant part of the ABPS meeting is always devoted to presentations made by these organisations. Each organisation’s representative is allotted a time slot to share key insights, new initiatives, or innovative practices implemented during the previous year. The idea is to share learnings and replicate best practices on a wider scale.

The BJP is no exception to this. It does not receive any preferential treatment, as all organisations are allotted the same amount of time for presentations. It is often disheartening for political journalists, who tend to overemphasise the RSS–BJP relationship in the context of the ABPS meeting. There are no discussions on politics or electoral matters.

Organisational Planning

One of the key tasks of the ABPS is to review the organisation’s planning, make course corrections if required, and plan for the future. The RSS is known to work on a timescale of decades rather than years, and hence meticulous planning is required. This is where the ABPS comes into the picture, as it has representatives from all verticals of the organisation as well as its ideological affiliates.

This year, around 1,500 representatives will attend the meeting, which is always presided over by the Sarsanghchalak in the presence of the Sarkaryavah, the Sah Sarkaryavahs and other senior functionaries.

As this year marks the centenary of the Sangh, the meeting will include detailed discussions on major programmes and campaigns organised as part of the centenary celebrations, such as the Vijayadashami Utsav, Grihasampark (mass contact programme), Hindu Sammelans (conferences), youth conferences, gatherings of prominent citizens, and social harmony meetings.

The ABPS also reviews RSS activities during the past year and discusses significant initiatives carried out across various provinces. It also deliberates on important issues related to the nation and society and passes resolutions on them. This is done to provide direction to its volunteers while ensuring that there is no ambiguity about its stand on crucial issues.

This year, the ABPS will deliberate on the current national scenario and pass resolutions on important matters. Discussions are expected on the Panch Parivartan (Five Transformations) initiatives and the social transformation efforts being undertaken through RSS shakhas (daily gatherings). Deliberations will also be held on plans for Sangh Shiksha Vargs (training camps), Karyakarta Vikas Vargs (worker development courses), and other training programmes. The action plan for the forthcoming year will also be finalised.

Earlier RSSFACTS columns can be read here. 

(Arun Anand has authored two books on the RSS. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive.)

Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.