The Kautilya Economic Conclave (KEC) is an annual flagship initiative jointly convened by the Institute of Economic Growth (IEG) and the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, to foster dialogue across and between countries to promote better understanding on contemporary national and global challenges.

Established in 1958, the IEG is recognised as a Centre of Excellence in economic and social research, and serves as the designated training institute for officers of the Indian Economic Service (IES). IES Officers are recruited through a rigorous and competitive selection process, and constitute the basic architecture of serving as economic advisers to various government departments, public sector entities and organisations.

Since its inception in 2022, the Conclave has evolved into a vital forum for evidence-based dialogue on India’s economic trajectory and global policy challenges.

The three successful editions of the Conclave were convened under the following themes:

The Inaugural Edition in 2022, with the theme of “Redefining the Future”, was held against the backdrop of a still-recovering world economy. It examined the long-term implications of the pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and fiscal policy recalibration, offering fresh ideas on growth, inclusion, and India’s positioning in the evolving global order.

The Second Edition in 2023, themed “Navigating a World on Fire”, reflected the growing disorder in the international landscape. With geopolitical tensions escalating, inflation peaking in developed economies, and multilateralism under strain, the Conclave focused on the implications of fragmentation for emerging markets and the recalibration of global governance.

The Third Edition in 2024, titled “The Indian Era”, celebrated India’s emergence as a pivotal voice for the Global South and examined its aspirations toward becoming a developed nation by 2047. It explored the reform of multilateral development banks, pathways to finance the green transition, strategic industrial policy, and the governance of AI in the public interest.

We have been privileged and honoured by the Prime Minister’s Special Valedictory Address, where participants were given an overview of his vision for a developed India, the great strides it has made, the opportunities that lie ahead, and how they are being addressed purposefully.

The Finance Minister has been generous in supporting this endeavour, delivering the Inaugural Address at successive editions of the Conclave.

Equally, India’s Minister of External Affairs has presided over the Closing Plenary, giving a reflective overview of three days of rich deliberations and global economic engagement.

Based on its success, the Fourth Kautilya Economic Conclave (KEC 2025) is centred around the theme of “Seeking Prosperity in Turbulent Times.”

This theme recognises the complex and contemporary geopolitical and economic configurations that have emerged in recent times and which provide new challenges to the global economy. It will also discuss the design and purpose of global financial and multilateral institutions to better reflect 21st-century realities.

India, having achieved sustained high growth rates and now ranked as the world’s fastest-growing major economy, is already the fifth largest globally, well on track to becoming the third largest, and aspires to attain developed economy status by 2047.

KEC 2025 will, inter alia, address a wide range of interconnected questions:

  • What does prosperity mean in a fractured global order?
  • How can Global South nations, many still striving to end multidimensional poverty and achieve shared prosperity, adapt to this new landscape of uncertainty and transition?
  • What strategies can India and the Global South adopt to safeguard strategic autonomy and remain globally competitive in an era of rising protectionism and geo- economic fragmentation, which poses unique challenges for developing countries?
  • How can the mandates of multilateral institutions be rethought and reoriented to more effectively address issues of growth, climate resilience, debt sustainability, and access to concessional finance for developing countries?
  • How can institutions of global financial governance evolve to better serve countries of the Global South?
  • What role can Asian economies play in reshaping the global economic order, and how can their experiences and insights inform broader strategies for prosperity?
  • In what ways can Asia contribute to global discussions on inclusive growth and sustainable development, and what lessons can be drawn from its own economic transformations?
  • Will Asia continue to exhibit its healthy economic progress in the rest of the century?
  • What are the implications of artificial intelligence for employment, productivity, and inequality, and how should public policy respond to ensure inclusive outcomes?
  • Can climate transitions be just, affordable, and aligned with national development priorities?
  • What financing models and institutional innovations are needed to close the climate finance gap while maintaining debt sustainability in vulnerable economies?
  • What reforms in skilling, infrastructure, and institutional capacity are essential for India to realise its aspiration of becoming a developed economy by 2047?

In the past, the Conclave has benefitted from the participation of over 50 eminent international economists and policymakers from more than 25 countries, representing a wide spectrum of expertise across economics, public policy, and social sciences. Notable participants have included Gita Gopinath (First Deputy Managing Director, International Monetary Fund), Anne Krueger (former First Deputy Managing Director, IMF), Nicholas Stern (IG Patel Professor of Economics, London School of Economics), Eswar Prasad (Professor at Cornell University and former Chief of the IMF’s China Division), and Martin Raiser (Regional Vice President for South Asia, World Bank).