IIM Udaipur Hosts DFuture – India Digital Conclave 2026
HYDERABAD, India, Feb. 2, 2026 – The Indian Institute of Management, Udaipur (IIMU), successfully hosted the third edition of the D’Future: India Digital Conclave at the T-Hub, Hyderabad. This flagship platform brought together leaders from government, academia, industry, start-ups, and sports to deliberate on the role of digital technologies in shaping India’s future.
Focus of the Conclave
The Conclave emphasized building an inclusive nation through technology-enabled systems and resilient growth. The discussions were rooted in meaningful dialogue, research insights, and real-world success stories shared among delegates and speakers.
Inaugural Remarks
The Conclave opened with inaugural remarks by Prof. Ashok Banerjee, Director of IIM Udaipur. He highlighted the contemporary industry’s expectation for professionals to be proficient in artificial intelligence and advanced technologies. Prof. Banerjee pointed out IIM Udaipur’s response to these evolving demands through the introduction of specialized MBA programs in technology and the alignment of faculty research and teaching with the rapidly changing global landscape.
Keynote Address
The keynote address was delivered by Shri Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary of the Government of Telangana. He reflected on the decade-long journey of the Digital India initiative and the aspiration to create better opportunities through technology-led growth. Mr. Ranjan discussed the strategic decision-making exercises undertaken at leading institutions and noted that Telangana’s rapid progress, strong institutional ecosystem, and governance reforms were outcomes of a sustained focus on technology and efficiency.
Highlights from the Keynote
- Commitment to digitizing governance and public services.
- Examples of technology addressing inefficiencies in agriculture and rural development.
- Support for deep tech, startups, academic institutions, and women entrepreneurs.
- The necessity of collaboration between government and independent entities for technology-led development.
Insights from Experts
Prof. Ramayya Krishnan, Dean Emeritus at Carnegie Mellon University, emphasized the importance of generating value from artificial intelligence (AI) for both business and society. He highlighted AI’s role in enabling conversational fluidity across languages and discussed initiatives such as AI-driven learning platforms developed in partnership with the Gates Foundation.
Key Points from Prof. Krishnan’s Address
- AI’s potential to contribute to economic growth.
- The need for people and processes to evolve alongside technology.
- AI governance and operationalizing AI through robust evaluation mechanisms.
- The significance of workforce adaptation and upskilling in an AI-driven future.
Research Track
The Indian research track was led by Probal Mojumder, Chairperson (PhD) at IIM Udaipur. He discussed building societal resilience through technology-enabled crisis response, drawing on research conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. His findings indicated that online engagement patterns significantly increased the likelihood of receiving help during crises.
Research Findings
- Analysis of SOS communications on social media, particularly related to oxygen cylinder requests.
- Potential of large language models to augment disaster response.
- Human–AI collaboration in healthcare resource allocation during crises.
Panel Discussion
A panel discussion on “Resilient & Inclusive Nation Building” featured leaders from various sectors, including Lalitha Indrakanti, Mukund Rajan, Phani Mitra B, Sanket Atal, and Sujith Nair. Moderated by Shyam Srinivasan, the discussion linked the vision of Viksit Bharat with the need for resilience, inclusion, and long-term societal impact.
Panel Insights
- Embedding responsibility within businesses.
- Expanding access to education and healthcare.
- Democratizing technology and unlocking enterprise data.
- Leveraging India’s digital public infrastructure to enhance inclusion and quality of life.
Corporate Success Story
The Corporate Success Story segment featured Kamlesh Gosai, Executive Director – Traffic Commercial (General) at the Ministry of Railways. He shared insights into the GatiShakti program and the Tech Vision 2035 roadmap, which includes:
- Integrated infrastructure planning.
- Ambitious connectivity goals.
- AI-enabled optimization of freight and passenger movement.
- Reduced logistics costs through digital planning tools.
Student Innovations
The Conclave also showcased student-led innovations from IIM Udaipur’s 1-Year MBA (GSCM) program. Notable presentations included:
- Sriharan Natarajan’s conversational agent for inventory management.
- Bhagawath K U’s AI-powered demand forecasting chatbot.
Fireside Chat
The Conclave concluded with a fireside chat featuring Viren Rasquinha, CEO of Olympic Gold Quest and former India hockey captain, alongside Rahul Nagar, Co-founder of str8bat. They discussed the growing role of data and technology in sports performance, emphasizing the need to democratize access to sports technology for grassroots athletes across India.
Key Takeaways from the Fireside Chat
- Use of technology in strategizing players’ positions in hockey.
- Enhancing team performance through data analytics.
- Training needs in India that require development.
Note: The D’Future India Digital Conclave 2026 served as a vital platform for discussing the intersection of technology and societal growth, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among various sectors to foster an inclusive and resilient future.
