Reforms need to empower agriculture and MSMEs, promote a balance between profits and wages and move from digitalisation to deregulation for sustainable growth, said Mr V Anantha Nageswaran, Chief Economic Advisor, Government of India at AIMA’s 52^nd National Management Convention.

I want to share my thoughts on the next generation of reforms that India needs to sustain growth and strengthen resilience. Reforms are often seen as the responsibility of government alone, but in a country as large and complex as ours, both the state and the private sector must play their part. Only then can we unlock the full potential of the economy.

We are living through a period of extraordinary global uncertainty. Geopolitical realignments, fragile fiscal positions in advanced economies, and volatility in trade and energy markets all create a difficult environment. Yet India has consistently managed to surprise on the upside. Real GDP grew by 7.8% and nominal GDP by 8.8% in the first quarter of this year, reflecting genuine economic momentum. Over the last four years, India has been one of the fastest-growing economies in the G20. I believe this strength comes from the cumulative effect of reforms undertaken over the past decade.

These reforms have laid a foundation of resilience. Physical and digital infrastructure have expanded rapidly. Small and medium enterprises are moving from fragmentation to formalisation. The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, the Goods and Services Tax, the Real Estate Regulation Act, and the consolidation of public sector banks have all reshaped the economy. Our COVID response was targeted and calibrated, helping protect both lives and livelihoods. More recently, simplification of tax processes, direct tax reductions, and improvements in GST procedures have enhanced business confidence.

Fiscal stability has been central to this effort. From a pandemic deficit of 9.2%, we have reduced the fiscal deficit to 4.4% this year. That discipline contributed to India receiving its first sovereign credit rating upgrade in three decades, lowering the cost of borrowing across the economy. Stable energy prices, maintained despite global shocks, have also provided critical support. These factors together suggest that India is now more resilient to global turbulence than is often recognised.

Looking ahead, I believe competitiveness and innovation must drive the next generation of reforms. For government, the priority is deregulation and reducing the cost of compliance. What I call the “cost of being honest” must come down, so that enterprises find it easier to operate transparently. For the private sector, the challenge is to move away from protectionism and toward productivity. Protection may preserve market share, but it does not expand the overall pie. Productivity, competitiveness, and innovation do. Where protection is sought, it must be time-bound and tied to measurable performance, as the East Asian experience has shown.

The other challenge is to balance technology and employment. AI and automation will raise productivity, but in a country with a young and growing workforce, technology must complement rather than displace labour. Social stability is as vital as fiscal or policy stability. Businesses should view this not as charity, but as enlightened self-interest.

In my view, structural reforms are a shared responsibility. Government and industry both have roles to play. If we stay focused on competitiveness, innovation, and inclusion, India can sustain growth, build resilience, and emerge as one of the world’s most dynamic economies in the decades to come.

Watch the full session- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIG6y2b12kE

India is set to lead the digital era with homegrown innovation, robust connectivity, and progressive policies driving its rise as a global technology powerhouse, Hon’ble Minister, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister of Communications; Development of North Eastern Region, Government of India at AIMA’s 10^th National Leadership Conclave.

For decades, we’ve asked a question that echoed with hope: When will India rise? Today, in a world gripped by volatility, realignment of supply chains, and geopolitical flux, I believe the answer is clear—India’s rise is here, now, and unstoppable.

I often describe this moment in India’s journey through the analogy of the blockbuster film RRR. Like that cinematic triumph, India’s rise is Real, Rapid, and Resolute. Once listed among the “fragile five,” we’ve now surged from being the world’s 11th largest economy to the 5th, on track to overtake Germany and Japan by 2028. With a GDP approaching $4 trillion, we’re projected to grow to $6 trillion by 2030.

This transformation isn’t about short-term spikes—it’s the power of compounding. The U.S. didn’t become an economic giant through breakneck growth, but through consistent 3–4% growth over a century. India is on a similar trajectory, averaging nearly 8% decadal growth, which has pulled 250 million people out of poverty, birthing a confident and capable middle class.

What’s powering this rise? A decisive shift from revenue-based spending to capital investment. We’ve leapt from ₹1.5 lakh crore to ₹11 lakh crore in capital expenditure in just a decade. For every ₹1 invested, we’re generating up to ₹4.8 in long-term returns. That’s not just economics—it’s vision in action.

India today is not just confident, connected, and courageous—we’re also innovating across sectors. From embracing millets in agriculture to promoting spiritual wellness through International Yoga Day, our soft power is creating global impact. We’re not just exporting products—we’re exporting paradigms: organic farming, hospitality rooted in Atithi Devo Bhava, and a value-led approach to business.

Connectivity is another game-changer. The Northeast, once underdeveloped, is becoming a strategic hub with 17 airports and improved rail and highway links. This region will soon be a vital connector to Southeast Asia. Under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, we’re building not just roads, but bridges to opportunity.

The telecom revolution tells a similar story. In just 22 months, we’ve achieved the fastest 5G rollout in the world, covering 99% of districts and reaching 82% of the population. With affordable data, digital highways like UPI and India Stack are reshaping financial ecosystems—46% of the world’s digital transactions happen right here.

And in this narrative, India Post is being reimagined as a rural fintech engine, turning a 164,000-strong network of post offices into touchpoints of economic inclusion.

So yes, this isn’t just India’s decade—it’s India’s century. A nation that once relied on the world (Vishwa par nirbhar) is now becoming a nation the world relies on (Vishwa Bharat pe nirbhar). From the digital frontier to the spiritual heartland, we are a country reclaiming our place in the global order—not just through potential, but through performance.

Together, let’s march forward—boldly, united, and audaciously.

Watch the full session- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8cwfyWDTp0&t=427s

Prof Veezhinathan Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras at AIMA’s LeaderSpeak session

Investing in digital infrastructure, research, and a technology-driven education system is crucial to realising the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ and shaping India’s future as a developed nation, said Prof Veezhinathan Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras at AIMA’s LeaderSpeak session.

As we envision India as a knowledge and technology superpower, it’s essential to build a society rich in culture, inclusivity and prosperity, a ‘Viksit Bharat’. We need to develop a self-reliant India, that reflects our diverse identity, rooted in our heritage while embracing innovation. To realise this, it’s crucial for us to create an environment where every individual has the freedom to thrive in their unique capabilities, with the right education and opportunities.

Continue reading →

Pradeep Khosla at AIMA’s 9th National Leadership Conclave

Collaboration among industry, academia and government is key to ensuring responsible AI innovation and ethical standards, said Mr Pradeep Khosla, Chancellor, University of California, San Diego at AIMA’s 9th National Leadership Conclave.

I’d like to start by saying that AI is like the whole evolution of humankind and society is all about understanding nature, capturing nature, and using nature to improve productivity. Because we as human beings are very limited people in terms of our physical capacity to do work.

If you look at steam power, electricity, mechanical amplification, everything we did was to create like amplification of our capacity to produce more effectively, agricultural revolution was the same thing. So, I think if you think about AI, it’s about expanding our capacity, our mental capacity, expanding our ability to think in ways that we have not done before. Before we were the brawn part of it, now we are the brain part of it. So that’s what I think about AI.

Continue reading →

Mr Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa of India, Government of India

Mr Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa of India, Government of India highlighted India’s past successes and emphasised the need for agriculture to transition to manufacturing and sustainable urbanization, while advancing green goals and simplifying regulations at AIMA’s 51st National Management Convention.

 Last year, India grew at about 8.2%. We were the fastest growing large economy in the world and in the next three years we will overtake Japan and Germany to be the third largest economy in the world. In a world which is starved for growth, India is an outlier and India has emerged as a very resilient powerhouse driving growth.

Continue reading →

Arunabha Ghosh, Founder- CEO, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) at AIMA’s LeaderSpeak.

Net zero can be achieved through sustainable economic activities and collaborative policies involving governments, businesses, and society, said Mr Arunabha Ghosh, Founder- CEO, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) at AIMA’s LeaderSpeak.

Climate change is an area which impacts every one of us. We know the volatility in precipitation and other factors that are the consequence of climate change. We have, the data is quite clear, as I believe, from the International Energy Agency, that approximately 50% of end energy consumption is in the form of heating and cooling. This may be in the form of both industrial heating and cooling, but also residential and institutional heating and cooling.

Continue reading →