#IICA #EconomicSecurity #FinancialSecurity #EconomicResilience #FinancialCrime #Governance #PublicPolicy #ThoughtLeadership #EconomicSecurityInsights #newsletter#Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM)

Delivering the convocation address, Justice Ashok Bhushan, Chairperson of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), said the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code has evolved significantly over the past decade, with major legal and operational issues now settled through landmark judicial pronouncements. He described the period from 2016 to 2021 as the “era of establishment” and the current phase as the “era of refinement,” noting that the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Amendment Act, 2026, reflects the legislation’s continued evolution. Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal, President of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), in his keynote address, emphasized the need for stronger judicial and institutional coordination to ensure timely insolvency resolutions and advocated the adoption of the UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency to enhance India’s attractiveness as a global restructuring destination.

Addressing the conference, Ministry of Corporate Affairs Secretary Deepti Gaur Mukerjee described the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code as a transformative reform that has reshaped India’s financial and corporate ecosystem. She highlighted that nearly ₹4 lakh crore has been recovered through resolution processes, with creditors realizing around 170 percent of liquidation value, while more than 32,000 cases were settled before formal admission, preserving credit worth nearly ₹14 lakh crore. Referring to the recently enacted Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Amendment Act, 2026, she said the reform would further strengthen the insolvency framework and support the national vision of building a developed India under Viksit Bharat.

During his address, Mr. Thakur emphasized the remarkable scale and evolution of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), citing initiatives like Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker, BharatNet, Co-WIN, UMANG, MeghRaj Cloud, and GIS-based platforms of BISAG-N. He explained how these innovations have revolutionized governance, public service delivery, and citizen empowerment, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary Digital India movement. Thakur underscored that Digital India is more than a program; it is a transformational movement aimed at ensuring universal access to services, bridging urban-rural divides, and positioning India as a global digital leader. He also highlighted the importance of cybersecurity frameworks amid rising cyber threats, advocating for indigenous solutions and the adoption of post-quantum cryptography to safeguard the nation’s digital ecosystem.

The session saw active participation from faculty members and students, who engaged in a lively Q&A session exploring topics such as digital governance, data protection, cloud security, and emerging technological trends. The event concluded with a vote of thanks, acknowledging Mr. Thakur’s visionary insights and emphasizing the importance of such interactions in shaping the future leaders of India. The session served as a valuable platform for inspiring innovation and strengthening the understanding of digital transformation in the country.

Highlighting the critical role of Company Secretaries, Shri Singh noted their position as governance catalysts in integrating circular economy principles into corporate practices. He reaffirmed IICA’s commitment to strengthening ESG frameworks through research and capacity-building initiatives, emphasizing the need for responsible governance to drive sustainable growth in a rapidly changing business environment.

#IICA #ICSI #ESG #ResponsibleBusinessConduct #CorporateGovernance #CompanySecretaries #Leadership #Compliance #Sustainability #CapacityBuilding #KochiConvention #GarimaDadhich

In his address, Shri Ravi provided an in-depth analysis of the evolving global economic landscape, emphasizing India’s growing influence amid shifting geopolitical trends. He outlined the nation’s vision of achieving $2 trillion in exports by 2030 and expanding its global trade share to 10% by 2047. The lecture also explored key issues such as FDI growth, South-South Cooperation, critical mineral supply chains, and strategic connectivity initiatives like the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Trilateral Highway. The session concluded with an interactive Q&A, engaging faculty and students from the PGIP and LLM programmes in a rich exchange of ideas and perspectives.

During the event, Shri Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh, Director-General & CEO of IICA, extended a warm welcome to distinguished guests including Dr. Rajiv Mani, Secretary of the Legislative Department, Ministry of Law & Justice, and Prof P K Malhotra, Former Law Secretary. Singh emphasized the need for standardization within India’s arbitration landscape through institutional arbitration and discussed ongoing issues related to the enforceability of arbitral awards. Prof Malhotra acknowledged the immense potential of Indian arbitration professionals but expressed concerns over the current supporting ecosystem, advocating for the establishment of the Arbitration Council of India to facilitate more effective functioning.

In his address, Dr. Rajiv Mani highlighted the significance of arbitration in India’s dispute resolution framework, referencing its preference by the constitution makers during the country’s transitional constitutional period. He stressed the importance of shifting mindsets and approaches towards embracing arbitration as an alternative to traditional court litigation. Concluding the event, Prof (Dr) Naveen Sirohi, Head of CEADR, expressed gratitude to all dignitaries, delegates, and organizers for their support and insights, reaffirming IICA’s commitment to advancing arbitration and dispute resolution in India.

Chanchal Kumar emphasized the importance of diversity, inclusion, and small yet impactful CSR projects that deliver measurable benefits across society. He highlighted the North East region’s potential for increased investment, improved infrastructure, and effective project implementation, encouraging CSR efforts to focus on equitable development. Shri Kumar also stressed the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in improving efficiency, creating jobs, and addressing social inequalities, particularly in tribal and rural areas. He urged CSR initiatives to prioritize education, skills development, and economic empowerment as critical enablers for sustainable national growth and a self-reliant workforce by 2047.

Delivering the welcome address, Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh, DG & CEO of IICA, highlighted the transformation of India’s CSR landscape toward community-driven, impact-oriented programs. He noted that CSR spending has surpassed the mandated 2% threshold, reflecting a growing commitment to social welfare. Shri Singh emphasized that CSR should go beyond financial contributions to include technology transfer, management support, and knowledge sharing, particularly in tribal communities. He also underlined the urgent need for capacity building within implementing agencies and reaffirmed IICA’s role in enabling corporates and partners to deliver sustainable, measurable, and long-term social impact aligned with the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

The event, organized by the Deloitte team led by Amit Tandon, brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including corporates, implementation agencies, researchers, and academics.

In his address, Dr. Chatterjee engaged participants in a thoughtful dialogue on key aspects of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), focusing on how CSR spending can be better aligned across sectors and geographies to ensure equitable impact and reach underserved regions. Discussions also examined the influence of evolving CSR regulations on organizational priorities, strategies for effective compliance, and ways to overcome challenges in planning, implementation, and monitoring.

The deliberations further explored enablers for future growth, including the role of consortiums and collaborative models in advancing high-impact CSR initiatives aligned with national priorities. Participants also discussed capacity building for NPOs, donors, and CSR teams, as well as leveraging technology for end-to-end program management and governance.

The session underscored the growing importance of synergy and collaboration in harnessing CSR as a powerful tool for inclusive and sustainable development.

The Director General of IICA, Sh. Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh warmly welcomed and introduced Prof. Singh while reflecting on his remarkable career spanning decades of institution-building and academic leadership. In his thought-provoking lecture on “New Imperatives in Indian Commercial Law: Data Protection, ESG Integration, Supply Chain Resilience, and Regulatory Agility,” Prof. Singh explored how India’s commercial law is rapidly evolving to meet the demands of a globalized economy.