Delhi Economics Conclave to focus on government's flagship schemes

Prime Minister to inaugurate it next month

Delhi Economics Conclave (DEC), the finance ministry's annual gathering of policymakers, economists and experts from various fields, might undergo a complete overhaul this year, making it bigger and more focused in its overlying themes, Business Standard has learnt.

In terms of scope, while previous DEC gatherings dealt with forward-looking, but ambiguous topics such as 'structural reforms and growth' and 'India's agenda for the next five years', this year's likely theme - Jan-Dhan Aadhaar Mobile (JAM) - could focus on the government's achievements in financial inclusion, universal social security, e-governance, and other services.

What will make it bigger is that, unlike in previous years when the finance minister and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor were the most high-profile names, Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself will inaugurate the event.

Usually, DEC is held around mid-December in one of the city's five-star hotels. This time, to accommodate Modi, it will be held on November six at Vigyan Bhavan, which is the central government's main convention centre in Delhi.

"The theme this year is likely to be JAM and what the government has done for India's citizens though schemes like Jan-Dhan, the pension schemes, e-governance, and also what it plans to further do with further use of Aadhaar and mobile governance," said an official aware of the preparations for DEC.

The official said preparations were in full swing. The organising team of the event is headed by Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian.

Other big names likely to attend DEC this year could include Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha, NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya and senior bureaucrats from the finance ministry and other government departments.

The previous editions of the DEC also saw attendance of ministers and bureaucrats from G20, Saarc or African nations, and Indian or foreign economists from prestigious foreign institutes. This year, the flavour might be more distinctly swadeshi, primarily due to the schedule of the event.

CENTRE'S 'JAM' SESSION

• In terms of scope, while previous Delhi Economics Conclave (DEC) gatherings dealt with forward-looking, but ambiguous topics, this year's likely theme - Jan-Dhan Aadhaar Mobile (JAM) - could focus on the government's achievements in financial inclusion, universal social security, e-governance, and other services
  

 

This time, to accommodate Modi, DEC will be held in early November at Vigyan Bhavan, which is the central government's main convention centre in Delhi