The fifth Kautilya Economic Conclave (KEC 2026) opens in New Delhi today (October 3) and runs through October 5 under the theme "Resilience in an Age of Flux", bringing together more than 180 policymakers, economists, academics, financial experts and international thought leaders, including over 80 international participants from around 30 countries. The Finance Ministry announced the programme on Thursday.
A heavyweight inaugural day
Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan will deliver the inaugural address. The inaugural session will examine how economic policy can build resilience without sacrificing growth, openness or institutional credibility in an environment marked by recurrent global shocks and uncertainty, the ministry said.
A special plenary on "Resilience in an Age of Flux: India's Economic Priorities" will focus on how India can sustain growth, preserve macroeconomic stability and expand investment amid global fragmentation, technological disruption and recurrent shocks. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will deliver the special address, with Amelie de Montchalin — President of France's Cour des Comptes and former Minister of Public Action and Accounts — as discussant.
Risk, central banks and the digital economy
The opening plenary, "A World Priced for Risk", will examine how energy shocks, supply-chain disruptions and the weaponisation of trade and economic access are creating renewed challenges for macroeconomic management, investment and resilience. It will be chaired by Lord Nicholas Stern, with the Prime Minister's Principal Secretary P. K. Mishra delivering the keynote and Professor Michael Greenstone of the University of Chicago as discussant.
The role of central banks in a more volatile global environment will be a key focus: in the plenary "Central Banking in an Age of Flux", RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra will deliver the special address.
Technology and the digital economy form another major strand. Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia will deliver the keynote at the plenary "From Connectivity to AI: The New Architecture of the Digital Economy", examining how digital infrastructure, AI and new communications networks can raise productivity while preserving competition and trust.
The concluding arc
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will deliver a keynote on "Culture as Capital: From Heritage to Horizons" on the penultimate day.
The concluding session, "India and the World: Adaptive by Design", will be moderated by N. K. Singh, President of the Institute of Economic Growth's Board of Trustees. External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar will deliver the special concluding address, with former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo as discussant, examining how India can remain adaptive, preserve strategic autonomy and widen partnerships in a more contested global order.
The agenda also spans fiscal federalism, industrial policy, capital-market development, regulatory oversight and development finance.
Sources: 5th Kautilya Economic Conclave to be held in Delhi from Oct 3 to 5 — IANS, 5th Kautilya Economic Conclave — ANI via Lokmat Times
A heavyweight inaugural day
Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan will deliver the inaugural address. The inaugural session will examine how economic policy can build resilience without sacrificing growth, openness or institutional credibility in an environment marked by recurrent global shocks and uncertainty, the ministry said.
A special plenary on "Resilience in an Age of Flux: India's Economic Priorities" will focus on how India can sustain growth, preserve macroeconomic stability and expand investment amid global fragmentation, technological disruption and recurrent shocks. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will deliver the special address, with Amelie de Montchalin — President of France's Cour des Comptes and former Minister of Public Action and Accounts — as discussant.
Risk, central banks and the digital economy
The opening plenary, "A World Priced for Risk", will examine how energy shocks, supply-chain disruptions and the weaponisation of trade and economic access are creating renewed challenges for macroeconomic management, investment and resilience. It will be chaired by Lord Nicholas Stern, with the Prime Minister's Principal Secretary P. K. Mishra delivering the keynote and Professor Michael Greenstone of the University of Chicago as discussant.
The role of central banks in a more volatile global environment will be a key focus: in the plenary "Central Banking in an Age of Flux", RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra will deliver the special address.
Technology and the digital economy form another major strand. Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia will deliver the keynote at the plenary "From Connectivity to AI: The New Architecture of the Digital Economy", examining how digital infrastructure, AI and new communications networks can raise productivity while preserving competition and trust.
The concluding arc
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will deliver a keynote on "Culture as Capital: From Heritage to Horizons" on the penultimate day.
The concluding session, "India and the World: Adaptive by Design", will be moderated by N. K. Singh, President of the Institute of Economic Growth's Board of Trustees. External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar will deliver the special concluding address, with former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo as discussant, examining how India can remain adaptive, preserve strategic autonomy and widen partnerships in a more contested global order.
The agenda also spans fiscal federalism, industrial policy, capital-market development, regulatory oversight and development finance.
Sources: 5th Kautilya Economic Conclave to be held in Delhi from Oct 3 to 5 — IANS, 5th Kautilya Economic Conclave — ANI via Lokmat Times
