About the Conference
As the state of Jharkhand is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its formation, it is a milestone moment this year to reflect on its development trajectory and envision future aspirations. On this occasion, we are pleased to announce an International Conference “Towards a Prosperous Jharkhand: Vision and Strategies for Inclusive Growth and Development” during 11-13 December 2025 in Ranchi, which is organised by the Institute for Human Development – Eastern Regional Centre (IHD-ERC), Ranchi in collaboration with the Shri Krishna Institute of Public Administration (SKIPA), Government of Jharkhand.
Jharkhand @25
Despite its abundant natural resources, cultural richness, and resilient communities, Jharkhand continues to grapple with persistent challenges such as poverty, social exclusion, and the underutilisation of its demographic and ecological wealth.
In recent years, the Government of Jharkhand has demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering inclusive and sustainable development. Landmark initiatives such as the Maiyya Samman Yojana cash transfer scheme for women aiming to promote social protection and human development, on the one hand, and climate-resilient strategies in mining, forestry,
and agriculture, on the other, signify a progressive transformation. Improvements in governance and infrastructure also signal a positive ecosystem for business investment and economic growth.
The 25th anniversary provides a unique opportunity to take stock of development and harness collective insights from academia, policymakers, development practitioners, and civil society to co-create a strategic roadmap that positions Jharkhand as a model state for inclusive growth, equity, and innovation.
To carry out this endeavour, this International Conference focussed on the vision and strategies for inclusive growth and development of the state has been envisioned.
The conference will serve as a dynamic platform for various stakeholders to evaluate Jharkhand's progress and develop forward-looking strategies for the state's sustainable and inclusive development.
The format of the Conference is structured to deliberate comprehensively on various themes of development, which features:
- Keynote lectures
- Thematic plenary sessions
- Parallel panel discussions
- Policy roundtables
Conference Objectives
This International Conference adopts a twofold objective of (i) evaluating the status and challenges in human and economic development of Jharkhand and ii) deliberating on the vision and devising strategies for a flourishing future by the state. Specifically, the Conference aims to:
- Assess Jharkhand's socio-economic and institutional development over the past 25 years
- Identify challenges and emerging opportunities for equitable, inclusive, and climate-resilient growth
- Foster interdisciplinary dialogue and stakeholder collaboration for integrated development
- Generate a set of actionable policy recommendations aligned with Jharkhand's development priorities
- Build a network of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers for sustained engagement in the state's development
Each theme will be led by a Working Group comprising domain experts and senior government officials to ensure contextual relevance and actionable outputs.
Expected Outputs
The Conference is designed to produce a range of substantive and policy-relevant outputs that will contribute meaningfully to Jharkhand's development discourse and planning.
- A comprehensive Conference Report will synthesise the key deliberations, insights, and recommendations emerging from the sessions.
- Several Policy Briefs in English and Hindi will present focused strategies and actionable recommendations for key themes.
- An Edited Volume incorporating revised papers presented in the Conference by leading experts, will document Jharkhand's development journey, highlight ongoing challenges, and propose future pathways.
- Beyond documentation, the Conference will foster the creation of a multi-stakeholder knowledge and policy network, comprising researchers, policymakers, civil society leaders, and development practitioners committed to Jharkhand's inclusive and sustainable growth.