Strengthening Indian Socio-Economic Transformation for 2047” in collaboration with ICSSR, Ministry of Education

 

JMI’s Department of Commerce & Business Studies holds First-Ever Two Days National Conference on “GST Reforms for Viksit Bharat: Strengthening Indian Socio-Economic Transformation for 2047” in collaboration with ICSSR, Ministry of Education

The Department of Commerce & Business Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia (Central University), marked a significant milestone in its academic journey by hosting its first-ever two days National Conference, on “GST Reforms for Viksit Bharat: Strengthening Indian Socio-Economic Transformation for 2047” bringing together 70 research papers, scholars from across seven states and four Vice-Chancellors of Central Universities for a wider dialogue on GST, higher education and Viksit Bharat 2047.

 

Held on 19th–20th August 2026 at the Jamia Millia Islamia campus in New Delhi and organised in collaboration with the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi, the two-day conference emerged as a major academic platform for examining the role of Goods and Services Tax in India’s economic transformation. What distinguished the conference, however, was that its conversations extended beyond taxation to larger questions of governance, inclusion, digital transformation, higher education, research and nation-building.

 

The conference received 69 research papers through 160 individual registrations involving 108 scholars, including several multi-author submissions. The papers came from more than 25 universities and institutions across seven states and the National Capital Territory of Delhi, with participation from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Telangana and Odisha.

 

The breadth of participation reflected the growing academic interest in GST as an instrument of economic governance and development. Faculty members, research scholars, postgraduate and undergraduate students, and industry professionals contributed to the conference, with representation from institutions including Jamia Millia Islamia, Aligarh Muslim University, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Jamia Hamdard, the University of Delhi and its constituent colleges, IGNOU, Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies, IILM University, Shobhit University, Kumaun University, Amrapali University, Sharda University, Amity University, Banaras Hindu University, Khalsa University, Khalsa College of Law, Utkal University and several other institutions.

The conference opened on 19th August 2026 at the Faculty of Engineering & Technology (FET) Auditorium with the recitation of holy verses and the Jamia Taraana, followed by the welcome address and introduction to the conference theme by Prof. Debarshi Mukherjee, Convener. The inaugural session featured addresses by Prof. Naseeb Ahmad, Head, Department of Commerce & Business Studies, and Prof. Zubair Meenai, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia.

 

The academic character of the inaugural session was further strengthened by the launch of the Abstract Proceedings, “GST, Growth & Governance: Pathways to Viksit Bharat,” and the book “AI Literacy: Rethinking Intelligence, Learning, and Human Potential in the Age of Intelligent Machines.” The two publications reflected the conference’s wider engagement with questions of economic governance, technological change, education and India’s development trajectory.

 

The inaugural session featured the keynote address by Dr Amir Ullah Khan, Member, Telangana Public Service Commission, followed by the presidential address of Prof. Mazhar Asif, Vice-Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia and Chief Patron of the conference. The session concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr Vivek, Co-Convener, followed by the National Anthem.

 

The conference was organised under the guidance of Prof. Zubair Meenai and Prof. Naseeb Ahmad as Co-Patrons, with Prof. Debarshi Mukherjee as Convener and Dr Vivek and Dr Izhar Ahmad as Co-Conveners, supported by the conference coordination team comprising Zaineb Ali, Sajada, Areeba, Iqra Tabassum, Fahad Makhdoomi, Eram Khan, Karuna Bhatla, Faiz Qamar, Ayesha Khan, Abhishek Pratap Singh and Mirza Hannan Bashar.

 

The academic core of the conference comprised eight technical sessions across eight thematic areas, bringing together research perspectives on the diverse economic, social and institutional dimensions of GST.The discussions began with GST and the Vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, chaired by Dr Kshitij Awasthi of IIM Lucknow, with Dr Mohd Atif, JMI, as Co-Chair and Dr Tauseef Uddin Siddiqui, JMI, as Discussant. The session examined GST within the broader framework of India’s long-term development aspirations.

 

The second session, GST and Sectoral Impact, was chaired by Prof. Krishn Awatar Goyal of Jai Narain Vyas University, with Mr. S. Shaamikh Ahsan, JMI, as Co-Chair and Dr Md Zakaria Siddiqui, JMI, as Discussant. The third, GST, Inclusion, and Sustainable Development, was led by Prof. Sheema Aleem, JMI, with Dr Sameer Babu, JMI, as Co-Chair and Prof. Asheref Illiyan, JMI, as Discussant.

 

The fourth session, Challenges, Reforms, and Future Roadmap, was chaired by Prof. Mohd Yameen of Aligarh Muslim University, with Dr Saifur Rehman Farooqi, JMI, as Co-Chair and Prof. Naseeb Ahmad, JMI, as Discussant. The fifth, GST and Ease of Doing Business, featured Prof. Bhavesh Prakash Joshi of Manav Rachna University as Session Chair, Dr Yasmeen Shamsi Rizvi, JMI, as Co-Chair and Prof. Mohammed Kamalun Nabi, JMI, as Discussant.

 

The sixth session, GST and Socio-Economic Transformation, was chaired by Dr Pallavi Tyagi of Amity University, with Lt. (Dr.) Anwara Hashmi, JMI, as Co-Chair and Prof. Rahela Farooqi, JMI, as Discussant. The seventh, GST, Cooperative Federalism, and Fiscal Governance, was led by Prof. Shruti Tripathi, Dean, Faculty of Business, Finance & Managerial Skills, Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University, with Dr Vasim Akram, JMI, as Co-Chair and Prof. Moonis Shakeel, JMI, as Discussant.

 

The final technical session, GST and the Digital Economy, was chaired by Dr Deepjyoti Choudhury of Assam University, with Dr Mohammad Kashif Khan, JMI, as Co-Chair and Prof. Rihan Khan Suri, JMI, as Discussant.

 

A distinctive feature of the conference was the Conference Leadership Dialogue on “Universities for Viksit Bharat 2047: Reimagining Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Inclusive Nation Building.”. In a rare academic gathering, four Vice-Chancellors of Central Universities came together on one platform to discuss the future of Indian higher education and the role universities must play in shaping a developed India by 2047. Moderated by Prof. Debarshi Mukherjee, the dialogue brought together Prof. Mazhar Asif, Vice-Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia; Prof. Rajive Mohan Pant, Vice-Chancellor, Assam University; Prof. Dibakar Chandra Deka, Vice-Chancellor, Mizoram University; and Prof. Debbrata Das, Vice-Chancellor, Tripura University.

 

The conversation moved beyond institutional perspectives to address some of the larger questions facing Indian education: the relevance of Indian knowledge traditions, multilingual education, interdisciplinary learning, research and innovation, sustainability, institutional responsibility and the role of universities in inclusive nation-building.

 

The second day of the conference, 20th August 2026, also featured a Policy Research Dialogue with Dr Kshitij Awasthi of IIM Lucknow, providing an opportunity to connect academic inquiry with contemporary policy concerns.

 

The dialogue complemented the technical sessions by encouraging participants to consider how research on taxation and economic governance can contribute to policy formulation and implementation. The day also witnessed the launch of the book “Many Minds, One Nation,” adding another important intellectual dimension to the conference. The combination of research presentations, policy dialogue, academic publications and institutional leadership gave the second day a wider character, bringing together different dimensions of the conference’s underlying theme: the role of knowledge, institutions and informed public policy in India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047.

 

The conference concluded with a Valedictory Ceremony bringing together senior university officials, Deans, Heads, Directors, academic leaders and delegates.

 

The ceremony was addressed by Prof. Naseeb Ahmad, Prof. Zubair Meenai, Prof. Md. Kamalun Nabi, Finance Officer, JMI, and Prof. Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi, Registrar, JMI. The Guest of Honour, Prof. Gobardhan Das, Member, NITI Aayog, addressed the gathering, followed by the presidential address of Prof. Mazhar Asif, Vice-Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia.

 

The ceremony also featured the Best Paper Award and Certificate Distribution, recognising notable research contributions presented during the conference, the Overall Best Conference Paper Award was conferred on Dr. Bilal Khan and Dr. Kaifi Azam of IILM University, Greater Noida, for their paper titled “Impact of GST on Banking Sector Development: Evidence from State-Level Panel Data in India”.

 

The Second Best Paper Award was presented to Suhaib Basheer and Dr. Mohd. Atif of Jamia Millia Islamia for their paper, “From Specific Coal Cess to Ad Valorem GST: Examining India’s Implicit Carbon-Price Signal and Firm-Level Emission Intensity”.

 

The Third Best Paper Award was presented to Shahbaz Ahmad Khan, Nadeem Khan, and Dr. Mohd. Saeem Khan of Aligarh Muslim University for their paper, “GST and the Digital Economy: Examining Youth Digital Startup Intentions in India through Digital Readiness, Financial Literacy, and Entrepreneurial Motivation”.

 

The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr Izhar Ahmad, Co-Convener, followed by the National Anthem.