Start
September 25, 2026 - 9:00 am
End
September 26, 2026 - 6:00 pm
25-26 September 2026
Concept Note
Three and a half decades into economic reforms the Indian economy has witnessed overall growth rates invariably higher than those observed during the previous decades. Discernible in the process has been a rapid shift towards services and digital infrastructure accompanied by a sluggish (if not stagnant) manufacturing and the ongoing unimpressive farm growth. The challenge of attaining a “Goldilocks” structural transformation—where labour moves seamlessly from low-productivity agriculture to high-productivity manufacturing and modern services—remains central to the national policy discourse. Has financialisation emerged as the dominant practice at the cost of attending to the real sectors? There has been evidence of deepening economic globalisation over the period with rising participation of domestic firms in the global market (though often only as mere subcontractors to global buyers). There has also been concerns over a decline in foreign direct investment and low levels of technology capacity building in several subsectors.
Evidence on the farm sector both in terms of falling incomes and investment in infrastructure (in irrigation, storage, processing and transport) has necessitated an examination of policy inadequacies. Similarly, preparedness to respond to losses due to climate change and ecological negligence needs to be assessed especially with reference to their impact on income and employment potential in the diverse primary sector beyond agriculture – fisheries, forestry, horticulture, animal husbandry, dairy and poultry.
Economic reforms have encouraged massive investment of private capital in the domains of healthcare and education – the key to building up human capital. How have these initiatives affected access and quality of services? Have these encouraged the state to gradually distance itself from consistent efforts at broad-basing social sector benefits particularly to those who cannot afford or are discriminated against on the basis of certain pregiven social and gender identities. The share of expenditure on health and education in the national income has hardly risen above a meagre five per cent. What are reasons for this dismal performance and what potential exists to transform these vital sectors/services to ensure equity across spaces and sexes.
An enquiry into the “changes and changelessness” at the subnational level with special reference to urbanisation, migration, farm-non-farm economic linkages and infrastructure has the potential to unfold whether and how structural transformation has contributed to sustainable and inclusive development. Have there been signs of growing and persisting inequality with imminent implications for the wellbeing of certain communities and regions which would necessitate “ground truthing” local dynamics and innovative policy rethink? It will also point to the inadequacies of local economic development initiatives as systematic neglect of the rural, tribal and remote regions has not quite ended.
This conference aims to bring together academicians, researchers, development practitioners and policymakers to deliberate on empirical evidence and strategic policy frameworks that can accelerate India’s journey toward a developed economy where jobs, incomes and opportunities will not compromise environmental benefits, citizenship rights and equity in access.
The potential contributors to this policy-centric national conference are expected to take note of the following:
Theme 1: Macro Experience
○ Growth and Structural Transformation
Theme 2: Sectoral Development
○ Industry and Trade
○ Agriculture and Environment
○ Social Sectors and Gender
○ Regional Development
Important Dates:
● Extended abstract (~1000 words) submission: April 30, 2026
● Abstract acceptance: May 15, 2026
● Final Paper Submission: August 15, 2026
Contact Details:
E-mail: alumcon2026@gmail.com
Contacts:
Keshab Das: 94275 27884 | D. Tripati Rao: 99366 78975 | M. Parameswaran: 94465 06388