On August 21–22, 2025, the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), Hyderabad, in collaboration with the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Government of India, organized a prestigious Two-Day International Conference on “State Capacity in India: Strengthening Individual and Institutional Capacities.” Prof. Rumki Basu was honored to chair a significant session on the first day of this event. The conference, which was inaugurated by Mr. Srinivas R. Katikithala, IAS, Secretary, DARPG, benefited from the meticulous coordination of Prof. Nirmalya Bagchi, Dean of ASCI, and Ms. Ramya C., Senior Research Fellow, whose collective efforts ensured a seamless and successful program.
The technical session chaired by Prof. Rumki Basu featured a distinguished panel of presenters, including Dr. Rajiv Sharma, IAS (Retd.), Former Chief Secretary of the Government of Telangana; Mr. Kamal Kumar, IPS (Retd.), Former Director of the National Police Academy (NPA); and Prof. C. Sheela Reddy, Head of the Department of Political Science at the Central University of Andhra Pradesh. The dialogue was further energized by the active engagement of students and the broader academic community, which added a layer of dynamism and depth to the institutional perspectives shared.
On the second day of the conference, Prof. Rumki Basu delivered a presentation titled “Rawlsian Pursuit of Institutional Capacity in India: A Normative-Empirical Approach.” This address sparked robust discussions regarding the definitions and parameters required to enhance state capacity in alignment with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, specifically utilizing a Rawlsian framework and drawing strategic inspiration from the Japanese Model of Development. Additionally, Prof. Rumki Basu participated in the Q&A sessions following thought-provoking presentations by global experts Prof. Lant Pritchett and Prof. Alasdair Roberts, and engaged with the insights provided by notable speakers such as Mr. Hemang Jani, Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan, Dr. Stuti Khemani, and Prof. Prajapati Trivedi.
The conference concluded with a rich tapestry of insights derived from the intersection of academia, civil service, and industry expertise. The valedictory address was delivered by Mr. K. Padmanabhaiah, Chairman of the Court of Governors at ASCI, while Dr. Tushaba Shinde, IRPS, Director at DARPG, provided a comprehensive summary of the event’s key takeaways. The event concluded with the Vote of Thanks delivered by Dr. Nirmalya Bagchi.
