The annual India Conference at Harvard is a student-led initiative that delves into India’s dynamic diversity and its growing influence on the world stage. For over 22 years, students from across Harvard’s schools have brought together thought leaders from business, economics, education, and culture to provide a comprehensive view of India’s present and future trajectory.
This year’s conference, held on February 15 and 16, attracted over 1,000 participants to more than 30 panel discussions featuring 90 distinguished speakers. Conversations spanned critical global challenges—technology, climate action, economic growth, democracy, diplomacy, and cultural exchange—underscoring India’s expanding role in shaping international discourse.
With the theme “From India to the World,” the conference celebrated India’s global contributions and examined how its innovations, ideas, and voices are driving collective progress and prosperity.
“The India Conference felt like the best way to contribute to dialogue around India at one of the most globally respected academic spaces. It’s about engaging with leaders to create sustainable partnerships as a means of exchange between India and the world,” says co-chair Ayush Shukla (Harvard Kennedy School ’25) in this American Bazaar interview with co-chairs Arpit Garg (Harvard Business School ’25), Sanchie Shroff (Harvard Business School ’25), and Kartik Sahni (Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School ’25). Read the American Bazaar interview here.
“The India Conference felt like the best way to contribute to dialogue around India at one of the most globally respected academic spaces. It’s about engaging with leaders to create sustainable partnerships as a means of exchange between India and the world.”
NDTV World chronicled the India Conference in a post-event writeup, saying that in addition to standout panel sessions, the conference featured two major highlights: a policy hackathon and a start-up pitch competition, led by emerging founders from Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School, respectively. Both events showcased how technology can transform challenges into opportunities, offering fresh perspectives on innovation and problem-solving. Read the NDTV World coverage here.
Panel Discussions
Samdish Bhatia, Hitesh Hathi, and Saurabh Dwivedi
Hitesh Hathi, Executive Director of the Mittal Institute, moderated a day one panel, “Breaking News: Reimagining Indian Journalism,” featuring Samdish Bhatia, Founder of Unfiltered by Samdish, and Saurabh Dwivedi, Editor of The Lallantop. Their discussion explored how digital storytelling is reshaping journalism in India, redefining audience engagement, and broadening the role of journalists in society. Watch a snippet on Instagram here.
On the second day of the conference, Tarun Khanna, Faculty Director of the Mittal Institute and Jorge Paulo Lemann Professor at Harvard Business School, delivered the opening address before leading a discussion with Dan Tennebaum, Managing Principal of India Capital LLC. Reflecting on 25 years of investing in India, Tennebaum shared insights on the country’s evolving market landscape, unexpected shifts, and the opportunities shaping its economic future. Their conversation examined India’s trajectory as a global economic powerhouse and the lessons learned along the way.
The conference concluded with an exclusive fireside chat featuring Nita Ambani, Chairperson of Reliance Foundation, in conversation with Nitin Nohria, former Dean of Harvard Business School. The discussion reflected on India’s evolving global influence and its leadership in innovation, peace, and sustainable development. Watch the fireside chat here.
