ISB’s Governance Summit 2025 Charts India's Future Amidst Megatrends and Policy Shifts

The country’s leading minds in governance, policy, and industry converged at the third edition of the Governance Summit 2025, organised by the Bharti Institute of Public Policy (BIPP) at the Indian School of Business (ISB). The theme for this year’s Summit was "Megatrends and Policy Shifts: Charting India's Future."

Setting the context for the Summit, Professor Ashwini Chhatre, Associate Professor and Executive Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, ISB, said, “The true megatrends of our time emerge not from technology alone, but from the dynamic interplay of technology, policy, markets, and culture. The biggest lesson to learn from the history of technology is that it always leaves the core behind, and it always increases inequality. It is imperative that we focus on safety nets on social security as the most important policy. Charting India's future is no longer metaphorical — with geospatial and computational tools, providing us with both the opportunity, as well as the caution necessary when dealing with vast amounts of information.”

Addressing the gathering, Sujeet Kumar, Hon'ble Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), said, “The Governance Summit has firmly established itself as the go-to platform for bold policy ideas and rigorous policy action reviews. This year’s theme resonates deeply with the transformative agenda of building a Viksit Bharat by 2047, a vision being relentlessly pursued under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji. As India navigates the four defining megatrends, i) the AI tsunami and digital revolution, ii) sustainable and inclusive development, iii) geopolitical reordering, and iv) the future of work shaped by our demographic dividend, our governance frameworks must evolve to be agile, inclusive, and anticipatory.”

Sanjeev Singh, IRS, Chief Commissioner of Income Tax and Asok Kumar G, IAS (Retd.), former Special Secretary, Government of India and a visiting faculty at IIT Kanpur and IIM (A) delved into the complexities of AI governance and cybersecurity, the transformative potential of digital public infrastructure, and the imperative of regulatory preparedness in the digital age during a panel discussion on Digital Governance.

The highlight of the summit was the launch of the book “Lakhpati Kisan: Transforming Agriculture-Based Livelihoods for Smallholder Farmers in India”- the third volume in the book series, “Innovations, Practice, and the Future of Public Policy in India.”

Introducing the book - Lakhpati Kisan and highlighting its importance, Professor Anjal Prakash, Clinical Associate Professor and Research Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, ISB, said, “The book documents the initiative led by the Collectives for Integrated Livelihood Initiatives (CInI) in the tribal belts of central Indian states, which helped smallholder farmers earn over one lakh annually, hence the name Lakhpati.  The programme engaged with households in 12 districts across four states – Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Gujarat – to bring about change through economic empowerment and improve the quality of life of tribal communities.”

A fireside chat with senior journalist and political commentator Neerja Chowdhury, and a discussion on her book, “How Prime Ministers Decide”, turned out to be a masterclass in understanding the evolution of India’s political scenario over the past three decades.

During the panel discussion on ‘Sustainability and Climate Action’, panellists— Bharati Chaturvedi, Founder and Director, Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group, Kanika Pal, visiting fellow, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, and an AMPPP alumnus, and Thakur Pherwani, Chief Sustainability Officer, TVS Motor Company, emphasised India’s green transition, innovative policy tools for climate adaptation, and the role of a circular economy in fostering environmental resilience.

The panel discussion on Institutional Reforms and Governance Transformation centred around regulatory reforms, leveraging technology for enhanced service delivery, and building public trust through inclusive governance models.

In her concluding remarks, Dr Aarushi Jain, Policy Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, ISB, said, “The future we once spoke of is already here—and it demands adaptive, people-centric governance. To move forward, I offer four R’s: Reimagine institutions with people at the centre, Restructure systems for convergence, Reach the last mile with voice and inclusion, and Reinforce trust through humility and ethics. Let us leave with a mandate—not just to reflect, but to act and shape India’s future.”

Over 250 delegates attended the ISB’s Governance Summit 2025.