New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will inaugurate the 4th Kautilya Economic Conclave (KEC 2025)
with the theme ‘Seeking Prosperity in Turbulent Times’ on October 3.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will close the proceedings with reflections on India’s foreign and economic policy on October 5,
the Finance Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
The three-day KEC 2025 promises to be a dynamic forum, combining India’s domestic priorities with global perspectives
and charting pathways to prosperity in a time of turbulence. Building on its rich experience, KEC has significantly
improved its quality and international presence with 75 participants from abroad, representing over 30 countries,
focusing on contemporary challenges.
Special Sessions and Plenary
Special luncheon sessions will feature Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia leading discussions
on ‘Communications: Emerging Technologies’ with experts on AI and digital infrastructure.
The conclave will culminate in a high-level plenary on global macroeconomic prudence, chaired by
PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, bringing together senior policymakers and economists
to evaluate the health of the world economy and the reforms needed in financial governance.
“This year’s theme, ‘Seeking Prosperity in Turbulent Times’, is relevant both in the context of India’s growth aspirations
and its success in navigating exceptional uncertainty, turbulence and changing geopolitics,” the ministry added.
Agenda and Focus
The agenda blends immediate policy priorities with longer-term shifts. Sessions will address Asia’s emergence as a global growth hub,
the evolving BRICS architecture, financial stability, and new directions in industrial policy.
Global and Domestic Voices
Among the highlights, Jean-Claude Trichet, Honorary Governor of the Banque de France, will be in conversation
with RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra on the challenges of central banking in turbulent times.
Other international leaders include Mari Elka Pangestu (former Indonesian Minister of Trade),
Taro Kono (Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party), Bai Chong-En (Tsinghua University),
Lord Karan Bilimoria (UK House of Lords), Andres Velasco (London School of Economics),
Lord Nick Stern (LSE), and Jean-Pierre Landau (former Deputy Governor, Banque de France).
Legal voices such as Larry Kramer (President and Vice Chancellor, LSE) and
Harish Salve (Senior Advocate, former Solicitor General of India)
will discuss legal reforms to underpin growth in a session chaired by
Shaktikanta Das, Principal Secretary-II to the Prime Minister.
Other panels will explore universal healthcare, youth employment, urbanisation, trade and regional integration,
and the risks and rewards of emerging technologies.
Past Editions
Over the past three years, each edition of KEC has been themed around pressing global challenges:
- 2022 – ‘Redefining the Future’, with participants from 21 countries, covering technology, climate, and fiscal policy.
- 2023 – ‘Navigating a World on Fire’, focusing on MDB reform, climate finance, and geopolitical turbulence.
- 2024 – ‘The Indian Era’, deepening debates on green transitions, Asia’s rise, and multilateralism.
The Kautilya Economic Conclave was initiated in 2022 by the Institute of Economic Growth (IEG),
under the Presidentship of NK Singh, in close partnership with the Ministry of Finance.
It remains a “by invitation only” event.
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