As Jharkhand completes 25 years of statehood, an international conference titled “Towards a Prosperous Jharkhand: Vision and Strategies for Inclusive Growth and Development” will be held in Ranchi from December 11 to 13, 2025. The event, organized jointly by the Institute for Human Development – Eastern Regional Centre (IHD-ERC), Ranchi, and the Shri Krishna Institute of Public Administration (SKIPA), Government of Jharkhand, will bring together over 250 participants from India and abroad.
Reflecting on Jharkhand @25
The conference aims to review the state’s development journey and chart a roadmap for inclusive and sustainable growth. Despite its vast natural wealth and resilient communities, Jharkhand continues to face challenges of poverty, inequality, and underutilization of resources. Over the years, however, the state government has initiated several welfare and governance reforms, such as the Maiyya Samman Yojana for women and new climate-resilient policies in mining, forestry, and agriculture.
According to the organisers, the 25th anniversary is an opportune moment to assess Jharkhand’s socio-economic progress and co-create a vision that balances economic expansion with social justice and environmental sustainability.
Themes and Objectives
The three-day conference will include keynote lectures, plenary sessions, panel discussions, and policy roundtables. It has two core objectives:
- To evaluate the progress and challenges in human and economic development over the past 25 years.
- To deliberate on strategies for equitable, climate-resilient, and innovation-driven growth.
The sessions will cover 14 major themes, including:
- Economic growth and human development
- Agriculture diversification and forest-based livelihoods
- Education and digital learning
- Urbanization and infrastructure
- Regional and social equity
- Employment and demographic dividend
- Health, nutrition, and food security
- Tribal empowerment and cultural heritage
- Climate action and green growth
Each theme will be led by a working group of experts and government officials to ensure actionable policy outcomes.
Call for Papers and Participation
The organisers have issued a Call for Papers for researchers, professionals, and scholars working on issues related to Jharkhand. Extended abstracts (300–500 words) must be submitted online at ihdindia.org/Jharkhand@25Conference by October 17, 2025. Accepted papers must be submitted by November 25, 2025.
The participation contribution has been kept nominal to encourage wider involvement, with special provisions for students and delegates from within the state. Accommodation will be arranged at SKIPA and nearby guest houses.
Expected Outcomes
The conference will produce several outputs, including:
- A comprehensive conference report summarizing discussions and recommendations.
- Policy briefs in English and Hindi focusing on key developmental issues.
- An edited volume of research papers documenting Jharkhand’s progress and challenges.
- A multi-stakeholder knowledge network of researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to continue engagement beyond the event.
Organisers and Key People
The conference is led by Prof. Alakh N. Sharma, Director of IHD, New Delhi, and Dr. Manish Ranjan, IAS, Director General of SKIPA. Senior fellows Rakesh Ranjan, IPS (Retd.), Kumar Rana, and Dr. Bhim Reddy serve as coordinators. The communication and management team includes faculty and professionals from IHD’s Ranchi centre.
Venue and Contact
The event will take place at SKIPA, Mears Road, Ranchi, from 9:30 am on December 11 to 1:30 pm on December 13, 2025. Delegates are encouraged to reach a day early and may join a local sightseeing tour after the conference.
