About the Speakers

1. Hon'ble Justice J. Chelameswar |Keynote Speaker|
   Justice J. Chelameswar, a former Supreme Court of India judge, held the position of the second most senior Supreme Court judge before his retirement. His illustrious career includes serving as Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court (2010-2011) and the Gauhati High Court (2007-2010). He is renowned for notable judgments, including the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) and the Information Technology Act 2000 verdict. Justice Chelameswar also played a pivotal role in upholding the validity of the Haryana Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Act, 2015, which introduced educational qualifications for panchayat election candidates. He was part of the Supreme Court bench that clarified that no Indian citizen without an Aadhaar card can be deprived of basic services and government subsidies.

2. Shubhashis Gangopadhyay |Moderator|
   Shubhashis Gangopadhyay, the Founding Dean of the Indian School of Public Policy and Founder-Research Director of IDF, is an accomplished economist. He earned his PhD in Economics from Cornell University, USA, and was honoured with a doctorate by the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. With a rich advisory background, he has counselled the Finance Minister of India and contributed to pivotal government research projects. His wide-ranging research interests encompass economics, finance, law, and patents, focusing on concurrent monitoring and evaluating non-market interventions. Dr Gangopadhyay is a prolific author and a recognised authority in policy matters. He has also served on several prestigious boards, including IDE-I (International Development Enterprises – India), IRBI (Industrial Reconstruction Bank of India), and CAF, ISB Hyderabad (Center for Analytical Finance, Indian School of Business Hyderabad), in addition to his high-profile policy advisory roles.

3. Harsh Vardhan Tripathi |Panellist|
   Harsh Vardhan Tripathi, is a Senior Journalist with 25 years of experience in print, TV, and web media, is an Adjunct Professor at MCRPU, Bhopal, and Visiting Faculty at IIMC, New Delhi, Allahabad University, ISPP, and others. He's a prolific columnist, blogger, and Social Media Influencer with 4.5 lakh+ YouTube subscribers and 1 lakh+ Twitter followers. His career spans renowned organisations like Web Dunia, Dainik Jagran, Amar Ujala, CNBC Awaaz, P7 News, and Consulting Editor at NCDEX, producing over 250 DD Kisan Agriculture Shows.

4. Jaivir Singh |Panellist|

Jaivir Singh is currently Professor at the Centre for the Study of Law and Governance, Jawaharlal Nehru University, having previously taught at the University of Delhi. Trained as an economist at the Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi, his research aims to explore the interaction between the law and the economy. He has published on diverse topics that include the Indian Constitution, Regulation, Labour Law, Competition Law, Corporate Law and International Investment Treaties.

5. Gopal Krishna Agarwal |Panellist|

Shri Gopal Krishna Agarwal is the National Spokesperson of Bharatiya Janata Party for Economic Affairs. He is a fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of India (ICAI) and an Economic thinker. He writes extensively for newspapers, financial journals, and delivers lectures at seminars & conferences. Along with being a Trustee and a Treasurer of the India Policy Foundation (IPF) and Dr Mookherjee Smriti Nyas, he is also an Independent Director on the Board of PSU, North Eastern Electric Power Co. (NEEPCO), and a Member of the Board of Governors at the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), a think tank of GoI. He was a member of the Task Force on MSME of the Ministry of Finance and Former Director on the Board of Bank of Baroda. He has initiated public welfare projects like the Jaladhikar Foundation, Nagrik Manch, Shree Ji Gausadan, Milk Cooperative Movement, etc.

6. Vinay Navare |Panellist|

Vinay Navare is a distinguished Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India. With a wealth of legal expertise, he has made substantial contributions to the field of law. His extensive experience and knowledge have established him as a respected authority within the Indian legal community.