Patna: The Third International Conference on Public Policy and Management (ICPPM 2025) opened on Wednesday at the Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna (CIMP), bringing together academics, policymakers, and international experts to explore the intersection of local governance and sustainable development.
The conference was inaugurated by Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister, Vijay Kumar Sinha, who welcomed delegates from across India and abroad, including a team from the Georgia Institute of Technology, USA. In his address, Sinha lauded the conference theme — “Building Resilient Communities: Local Governance as a Catalyst to Sustainable Development” — and underscored the importance of strong institutions in achieving Viksit Bihar@2047 and the national goal of Viksit Bharat@2047.
The two-day event began with a welcome from CIMP Director Prof. (Dr.) Rana Singh, who highlighted the institute’s contribution to public policy in Bihar and the urgency of aligning local governance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Conference convenor Prof. Debabrata Samanta offered an overview of the event’s agenda, which includes technical sessions, policy roundtables, and keynote addresses.
Delivering the keynote, Prof. Anjali Thomas from Georgia Tech presented research from a field experiment in North India, shedding light on how political affiliations influence citizens’ enrolment in welfare programmes. Her findings challenged conventional wisdom, suggesting that politicians’ perceived ability to deliver access through personal networks mattered more than trust or expertise.
The inaugural session concluded with remarks from Kumod Kumar, Chief Administrative Officer of CIMP, who thanked attendees and reiterated the importance of academic-policy engagement.
The day featured two technical sessions, with 15 research papers presented on localising the SDGs and natural resource management. Scholars from IITs, IIMs, central universities and policy institutions participated in wide-ranging discussions aimed at translating academic insights into actionable policy.
A standout post-lunch session included a roundtable on land policy titled “Reporting of SDG Land Indicators in India and the Role of Local Governments and Institutions.” Moderated by former IAS officer Deepak Sanan, the panel featured experts from Landesa, IIM Ahmedabad, the University of Burdwan, and Landstack. Discussions focused on the integration of land data into local development planning through Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) to improve SDG tracking and outcomes.
The day ended with a special address by Prof. Charles Hankala of Georgia State University, who reflected on the day’s deliberations and emphasised the global relevance of Bihar’s policy challenges and innovations.
ICPPM 2025 continues on Thursday with further technical sessions, policy dialogues and international academic engagement, reinforcing Bihar’s growing role in shaping inclusive development discourse.
