5th Kautilya Economic Conclave: Resilience in an Age of Flux
The 5th Kautilya Economic Conclave will be held in New Delhi from 3 to 5 October 2026 on the theme Resilience in an Age of Flux, said the Finance Ministry.
Why in News
The Ministry of Finance announced on 1 October 2026 that the 5th Kautilya Economic Conclave will be held in New Delhi from 3 to 5 October 2026 under the theme Resilience in an Age of Flux.
The fifth Kautilya Economic Conclave, known in short as KEC 2026, will be held in New Delhi from 3 to 5 October 2026 on the theme "Resilience in an Age of Flux". The Ministry of Finance announced the programme on 1 October 2026. The three-day meeting is by invitation only and will seat policymakers, economists, academics, financial experts and thought leaders from abroad.
Who organises it
The Conclave is an initiative of the Institute of Economic Growth (IEG), held in partnership with the Ministry of Finance. The Institute was founded by Professor V.K.R.V. Rao in 1952. Shri N. K. Singh is President of its Board of Trustees, Dr Michael Debabrata Patra chairs its Board of Governors and Professor Sabyasachi Kar is its Director.
How many are coming
More than 180 policymakers, economists, academics and financial experts will join the plenary sessions, interactive discussions and closed-door roundtables, among them over 80 international participants drawn from about 30 countries. The announcement put the total number of Indian and foreign participants at over 200.
The main addresses
Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan will deliver the inaugural address on 3 October 2026. Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will speak at the special plenary on India's economic priorities, with Amelie de Montchalin, President of the Cour des Comptes of France, as discussant. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will give the concluding address on "India and the World: Adaptive by Design", moderated by N. K. Singh, with former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo as discussant. Communications and North Eastern Region Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia is the keynote speaker on the digital economy plenary, and Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will speak on culture as capital.
Central banking and other sessions
Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra will deliver the special address at the plenary "Central Banking in an Age of Flux", chaired by Jean-Claude Trichet, a former President of the European Central Bank. Shaktikanta Das, Principal Secretary-2 to the Prime Minister and a former Governor of the Reserve Bank, is keynote speaker on lessons for emerging markets, and P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, delivers the keynote at the opening plenary chaired by Lord Nicholas Stern. Other sessions cover fiscal federalism, industrial policy, capital markets, trade fragmentation, artificial intelligence, agriculture, demography and Asia-Africa partnerships.
Earlier editions and their themes
| 2022 | Redefining the Future |
| 2023 | Navigating a World on Fire |
| 2024 | The Indian Era |
| 2025 | Seeking Prosperity in Turbulent Times |
| 2026 | Resilience in an Age of Flux |
The Conclave was first convened in 2022 and has since become a yearly forum on economic and policy questions of the day.
Important Facts
| Event | 5th Kautilya Economic Conclave (KEC 2026) |
|---|---|
| Dates and venue | 3 to 5 October 2026, New Delhi |
| Theme | Resilience in an Age of Flux |
| Organiser | Institute of Economic Growth, with the Ministry of Finance |
| IEG founder | Professor V.K.R.V. Rao, in 1952 |
| Inaugural address | Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan |
| Concluding address | External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar |
| RBI Governor | Sanjay Malhotra, special address on central banking |
| Participants | More than 180, including over 80 from about 30 countries |
| First edition | 2022, theme Redefining the Future |
Exam Point of View
Remember the event (Kautilya Economic Conclave), the edition (5th), the dates (3 to 5 October 2026), the venue (New Delhi), the theme (Resilience in an Age of Flux), the organiser (Institute of Economic Growth, founded by V.K.R.V. Rao in 1952, with the Ministry of Finance), who gives the inaugural address (Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan) and the RBI Governor who speaks on central banking (Sanjay Malhotra). The first edition was held in 2022.
Practice Questions
What is the theme of the 5th Kautilya Economic Conclave being held in New Delhi?
- A.The Indian Era
- B.Resilience in an Age of Flux
- C.Seeking Prosperity in Turbulent Times
- D.Navigating a World on Fire
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Resilience in an Age of Flux
Explanation
The correct answer is Resilience in an Age of Flux, the theme announced by the Ministry of Finance for the fifth edition of the Conclave, to be held in New Delhi from 3 to 5 October 2026. The other three options are all genuine themes of the Conclave, but from earlier years, which is exactly why they make good distractors. Option A, The Indian Era, was the theme of the 2024 edition. Option C, Seeking Prosperity in Turbulent Times, belonged to the 2025 edition. Option D, Navigating a World on Fire, was the theme in 2023, while the very first edition in 2022 was held under the theme Redefining the Future. A clean way to carry this into the examination hall is to remember the five themes in order of year, since a question may ask for any one of them. The Conclave is an initiative of the Institute of Economic Growth, held in partnership with the Ministry of Finance.
Which institution organises the Kautilya Economic Conclave in partnership with the Ministry of Finance?
- A.NITI Aayog
- B.Institute of Economic Growth
- C.National Council of Applied Economic Research
- D.Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Institute of Economic Growth
Explanation
The correct answer is the Institute of Economic Growth, usually written as IEG, which runs the Conclave together with the Ministry of Finance. The Institute was founded by Professor V.K.R.V. Rao in 1952; N. K. Singh is President of its Board of Trustees, Dr Michael Debabrata Patra is Chairman of its Board of Governors and Professor Sabyasachi Kar is its Director. Option A is wrong because the government think tank, while central to policy work, is not the organiser of this Conclave. Options C and D name well-known economic research bodies of the country and are plausible for that reason alone, but neither convenes this event. Note the year of the Institute’s founding and the name of its founder together, because questions often pair an event with the body behind it and the body with the person who set it up.
Who will deliver the inaugural address at the 5th Kautilya Economic Conclave?
- A.The President of India
- B.The Vice President of India
- C.The Union Finance Minister
- D.The Governor of the Reserve Bank of India
Show answer
Correct answer: B. The Vice President of India
Explanation
The correct answer is the Vice President of India, C. P. Radhakrishnan, who will deliver the inaugural address on the opening day of the Conclave. The inaugural session will examine how economic policy can build resilience without giving up growth, openness or the credibility of institutions. Option A is wrong, as the President is not listed among the speakers. Option C is the most tempting wrong choice, because Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman does speak at the Conclave, but her address comes at the special plenary on India’s economic priorities rather than at the inauguration. Option D is also a real participant but in a different role: Reserve Bank Governor Sanjay Malhotra delivers the special address at the plenary on central banking, chaired by a former President of the European Central Bank. Remember the role attached to each name, not just the names.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the theme of the Kautilya Economic Conclave 2026?
Resilience in an Age of Flux. The fifth edition is being held in New Delhi from 3 to 5 October 2026 by the Institute of Economic Growth with the Ministry of Finance.
Who organises the Kautilya Economic Conclave?
The Institute of Economic Growth, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance. The Institute was founded by Professor V.K.R.V. Rao in 1952 and N. K. Singh is President of its Board of Trustees.
Who will deliver the inaugural address at KEC 2026?
Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan, on 3 October 2026. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will give the concluding address and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will speak on India’s economic priorities.
Sources
- https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2317567 (opens in a new tab) — Press Information Bureau
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