India Economic Summit 2012

Backed by strong domestic demand and prudent financial-sector regulation, the Indian economy has sailed through the global economic downturn in stride and is expected to grow at a respectable rate at or above 7% in 2012. However, new challenges have emerged in parallel, such as spiralling inflation, a devalued rupee, delays in critical reforms and the attendant waning investor confidence. And, as India’s “summer of discontent” last year demonstrated, anti-corruption sentiment reached unprecedented levels, leading to one of the largest civil society movements since Indian independence. Accordingly, elections in five states could signal further changes to come in the national political landscape.

After an intense year of national debate, the 2012 India Economic Summit will therefore be an opportunity to outline a blueprint for a post-crisis India that can be a new model of pragmatic, practical and effective governance, and that rebuilds trust in both the region and society to link leadership with livelihood.

• How can India rapidly deploy technological innovations to improve governance practices and institutions to address obstacles to future growth such as corruption and bureaucratic inefficiency?

• How can leaders balance the environmental impact of expanding consumption with sustainable solutions?

• How can India better leverage its demographic dividend to empower the next generation of leaders both within India and in South Asia?

The World Economic Forum’s India Economic Summit 2012 will take place November 6-8 in New Delhi.