Ecofluence 3.0, an international conference on economics and public policy, commenced at the Indus Business Academy (IBA) on 20th February 2026. The event, jointly organised by IBA in association with the Indian Economic Association (IEA) and the Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS), and supported by AMDISA, brings together global scholars, policymakers, and industry experts for discussions on economic development, policy design, and sustainability.
The inaugural session began with a welcome address by Dr. Easwar Krishna Iyer, Director of IBA, who emphasised the importance of collaborative research in shaping economic policies. Dr. Subhash Sharma, Chief Mentor and Chairman of IBA’s Governing Council, addressed the gathering, highlighting the academy’s commitment to fostering innovative thinking in economics and public policy. Conference Co-Chairs, Prof. Prashant Kulkarni and Dr. Mansi Bansal, provided an introduction to the objectives and structure of Ecofluence 3.0.
The Chief Guest for the event, Dr. S. Mahendra Dev, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council (PM-EAC), delivered the inaugural address, underlining the role of research in guiding economic reforms. Dr. Charan Singh, Founder and CEO of the EGROW Foundation and former IIM Bangalore Professor, spoke as the Guest of Honour, offering insights on emerging trends in Indian economic governance.
Other dignitaries included Dr. R.S. Deshpande, Chair of the Advisory Committee, and Dr. Ravindra Brahme, General Secretary of the Indian Economics Association, who both addressed the audience during the opening session. A key highlight of the inauguration was the release of the book “Micro-Motives and Macro-Behaviour of Modinomics” by Prof. Prashant Kulkarni and Dr. Mansi Bansal, which explores the nuances of contemporary economic policymaking in India.
The day’s programme featured special lectures, including “The Digital and the Regenerative” by Dr. Shishir Jha and “Decoding Government Policies” by Dr. Pravakar Sahoo. A panel discussion on “Karnataka, India and the Digital Economy” brought together experts Dr. Neelakanta NT, Dr. Mahesha M, Dr. Shivasubramanian, Dr. B.M. Nasir Khan, and Dr. K.S. Rajshekara to discuss opportunities and challenges in India’s digital transformation.
Sessions throughout the day focused on development economics, sustainability, and public policy, featuring scholars including Dr. MH Suryanarayana, Dr. Ashok Dalwai, Dr. Lallan Prasad, Dr. Vinayak Deshpande, Dr. Elumalai Kannan, Dr. N. Sivakumar, Dr. Navitha Thimmaiah, and Dr. Pushkarni Panchamukhi. Preliminary rounds of the Debate and Research Championship added a competitive academic dimension to the conference.
The inaugural ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks, setting the stage for continued knowledge sharing and collaboration over the remaining days of Ecofluence 3.0.
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