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      India stands at an important moment in its development journey. As the country advances towards its long-term aspirations of becoming a developed nation, sustained progress will depend on the strength of the systems, institutions and partnerships that enable growth at scale.

      Agrasar Bharat Manch is KPMG in India's flagship Public Sector Excellence initiative, that brings together senior leaders from government, industry, academia, development institutions and the innovation ecosystem to exchange perspectives, share implementation experience and explore practical pathways for strengthening India's growth systems.

      The challenges and opportunities shaping India's future cannot be addressed in isolation. They demand collaboration across sectors, institutions and disciplines.


      The conversations shaping India's future begin in

      Friday, 23 October 2026

      Venue: Taj Mahal Hotel, Number One Mansingh Road, New Delhi

      *Attendance by invite only

      • 200+ Delegates

      • 40+ Speakers

      • Government leaders

      • Industry changemakers


      Agrasar Bharat Manch brings together policy leadership, implementation experience and global perspectives:
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      Advance new perspectives

      Bringing diverse voices together to explore the opportunities and challenges shaping India's future

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      Connect global and Indian insights

      Enabling the exchange of ideas, experiences and lessons from across sectors and geographies

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      Strengthen institutions

      Exploring approaches that can enhance capability, resilience and effectiveness across public systems

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      Foster meaningful collaboration

      Encouraging partnerships across government, industry, academia and the development ecosystem

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      Inspire action

      Highlighting practical pathways, innovations and ideas that can support long-term progress

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      Build a community of leaders

      Creating a platform for continued engagement on India's growth, competitiveness and development priorities



      The Agrasar Bharat vision

      Agrasar means ‘to move forward’.


      India's journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047 will be shaped by sustained progress across governance, industry, technology, infrastructure and human capital.

      Agrasar Bharat represents the journey towards Viksit Bharat. It is about building upon existing achievements and accelerating progress through agility, ability and accountability – turning national ambition into measurable outcomes. Agrasar Bharat calls for the agility to navigate evolving geopolitical and economic realities, the ability to foster resilience and innovation at scale, and the accountability to deliver meaningful impact for all stakeholders. 

      At its core, Agrasar Bharat is about expanding human potential, strengthening institutional and technological capabilities, and creating an ecosystem that enables India not only to adapt to a rapidly changing world, but also to shape and lead it. By fostering innovation, enhancing competitiveness, and building long-term resilience, India can accelerate its growth trajectory and establish itself as a driving force in the global economy and the digital age.

      The imperatives for Agrasar Bharat 


      The forces shaping this decade are profound and transformative. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is redefining how economies operate, institutions function and people create value. As AI becomes increasingly embedded in every aspect of society, there is an equally pressing need to ensure its responsible, ethical, and accountable use.

      At the same time, geopolitical shifts are reshaping strategic priorities, trade relationships and global supply chains. In this environment, nations must strengthen self-reliance while remaining agile enough to respond to rapidly evolving global dynamics. Emerging technologies are creating unprecedented opportunities across industries, enabling new models of growth, productivity and innovation. Rising citizen expectations are also placing greater demands on institutions to deliver responsive governance, better services, transparency, and trust.

      This is the context in which Agrasar Bharat becomes both relevant and necessary. It calls for building the capabilities that drive competitiveness, the preparedness that strengthens strategic resilience, and the innovation that delivers meaningful impact at scale. It emphasises inclusion that expands opportunity and participation that unlocks collective excellence. Equally important, it underscores the need to foster trust, accountability, and responsible stewardship across institutions, ensuring that progress is sustainable, equitable, and enduring.

      Ultimately, Agrasar Bharat is about equipping India to navigate constant change with confidence and purpose – transforming challenges into opportunities and converting national aspirations into tangible outcomes for its people and the world.

      The Agrasar Bharat journey can therefore be understood through six interconnected shifts: from capability to competitiveness, preparedness to resilience, innovation to impact, inclusion to opportunity, participation to excellence – while building trust and accountability across the systems that underpin India’s development. Together, these shifts describe the capabilities India needs to build, the outcomes it seeks to achieve, and the institutional foundations required to sustain progress towards Viksit Bharat 2047.

      India’s economic opportunity lies in building capabilities at scale and translating them into sustainable global competitiveness. A future-ready workforce, equipped with the skills required for a digital and technology-driven economy, will be central to unlocking productivity and growth.

      Strengthening manufacturing capabilities and fostering a vibrant MSME ecosystem can further expand economic opportunity, drive innovation, and generate quality employment across sectors.

      At the same time, investments in next-generation infrastructure, digital connectivity, logistics, and resilient supply chains can enhance efficiency and strengthen India’s integration with global value chains. Deeper trade partnerships and greater participation in international markets can enable Indian enterprises to compete and succeed globally, strengthening India’s position as a trusted economic partner.

      Equally important is the effective deployment of public and private capital. Improving public finance management, accelerating investment execution, and directing resources towards productive assets, can help convert financial capital into long-term economic capacity and shared prosperity. Together, these efforts will create a foundation for sustained growth, higher competitiveness, and greater economic resilience.

      Agrasar Bharat envisions a nation where capability is not merely built, but continuously translated into innovation, productivity, competitiveness, and global leadership, ensuring that India’s growth story remains inclusive, resilient, and future-ready.

      India’s growth aspirations and global leadership ambitions must be anchored in the ability to anticipate risks, adapt to disruption, and safeguard national interests in an increasingly complex world. Strategic resilience is no longer confined to responding to crises; it is about building the foresight, capabilities, and partnerships needed to navigate uncertainty while sustaining progress.

      A strong and future-ready defence ecosystem, supported by indigenous innovation and advanced manufacturing, will be critical to strengthening national security and strategic autonomy. Investments in frontier technologies, research and development, and domestic industrial capabilities can reduce vulnerabilities while enhancing India’s capacity to respond to emerging challenges. At the same time, deepening strategic partnerships and international cooperation can strengthen collective security, expand access to critical resources, and reinforce India’s role as a trusted global partner.

      For Agrasar Bharat, resilience is not merely a protective measure; it is a catalyst for sustained progress. By building the capacity to anticipate, absorb, adapt, and emerge stronger from challenges, India can strengthen its foundation for long-term national advancement and pursue its development goals with greater confidence.

      Technology is redefining what India can build, create, and achieve. Emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), semiconductors, quantum, space technologies, drones, green hydrogen, rare earths, biotechnology, and advanced digital infrastructure are creating unprecedented opportunities for economic growth, societal progress, and global leadership. The challenge and opportunity for India lie not merely in adopting these technologies, but in developing the capabilities, enterprises, and ecosystems that can transform technological potential into large-scale impact.

      Artificial Intelligence will be a pivotal force in this transformation, reshaping productivity, decision-making, service delivery, and innovation across sectors. From manufacturing and healthcare to agriculture, education, and governance, AI has the potential to enhance human capabilities, unlock new sources of value, and accelerate economic development. Realising this potential, however, will require a strategic focus on talent, research, compute infrastructure, data ecosystems, and responsible governance frameworks that ensure AI is deployed ethically, securely, and inclusively.

      For Agrasar Bharat, innovation must ultimately be measured by its impact. The goal is not only to develop breakthrough technologies, but also to ensure that they improve productivity, create jobs, address societal challenges, strengthen public services, and enhance the quality of life for all citizens. By translating innovation into tangible outcomes at scale, India can establish itself as a leading global innovation hub and a catalyst for inclusive and sustainable development.

      A prosperous India must ensure that growth translates into opportunity for every citizen, across geographies, communities, and socio-economic groups. Inclusive development is not only a social imperative but also an economic necessity, enabling broader participation in growth and unlocking the full potential of the nation’s people. Expanding women’s participation in the workforce, stronger farmer livelihoods, higher household earnings and better access to health and essential services can deepen the foundations of shared prosperity.

      The rise of Tier II and Tier III cities presents a unique opportunity to broaden the geography of growth. Supported by modern infrastructure, digital connectivity, strong local institutions, and simpler, more responsive governance, these emerging urban centres can become engines of entrepreneurship, investment, employment, and innovation. By creating new hubs of economic activity beyond major metropolitan areas, India can drive more balanced and sustainable regional development.

      For Agrasar Bharat, inclusion is about expanding access to opportunity and enabling every individual to contribute to and benefit from the nation's progress. It is about ensuring that growth is broad-based, equitable, and empowering, creating pathways for aspiration, participation, and prosperity. By investing in people and strengthening the ecosystems that support their success, India can transform inclusion into a powerful driver of economic growth, social cohesion, and national advancement.

      India’s young population represents one of its greatest strategic advantages. Harnessing this demographic potential requires creating pathways that enable every individual to participate, develop skills and strive for excellence. By investing in education, skilling, mentorship, and lifelong learning, India can transform its demographic strength into a powerful driver of economic growth, social progress, and national competitiveness.

      Sports and creative pursuits can play a transformative role in inspiring aspiration, building confidence, and creating new avenues for livelihoods and economic value. A strong ecosystem for athletics, entertainment, design, media, and cultural industries can not only generate employment and innovation but also strengthen India's soft power and global influence. By celebrating achievement and fostering a culture of merit, excellence can become a shared national aspiration.

      For Agrasar Bharat, participation is the foundation upon which excellence is built. The goal is to ensure that every citizen has the opportunity to contribute, compete, and succeed, regardless of background or location. By unlocking talent at scale and creating pathways for achievement across every domain, India can cultivate a society that is confident, innovative, and globally competitive, transforming its demographic dividend into a lasting source of national strength and leadership.

      As India advances in technology, innovation, and digital transformation, building trust and accountability in governance and public systems becomes increasingly critical. Trust is the foundation upon which citizens, institutions, and businesses embrace change, adopt new technologies, and participate confidently in the nation's growth journey. Achieving this requires moving beyond compliance-based approaches towards governance frameworks that are transparent, responsible, and resilient by design.

      For Agrasar Bharat, trust and accountability are not merely governance objectives; they are strategic enablers of progress. By building systems that are transparent, secure, explainable, and citizen-centric, India can harness the full potential of technological innovation while upholding democratic values and public confidence. A nation that inspires trust in its institutions and accountability in its actions is better positioned to accelerate growth, foster inclusion, strengthen resilience, and lead confidently in a rapidly evolving world.



      Building trusted systems of growth for Viksit Bharat 2047


      The inaugural edition will translate this broader vision into four interconnected themes that represent important priorities for India's next phase of growth and transformation: 


      Defence: Strengthening Strategic Resilience and National Capability

      As geopolitical dynamics continue to evolve, strengthening India’s defence capabilities will remain central to securing national interests and sustaining long-term growth. The Manch will examine how technology, indigenous innovation, advanced manufacturing, and strategic partnerships can enhance defence preparedness, strengthen self-reliance, and create globally competitive capabilities. Discussions will explore the role of emerging technologies, defence industrial ecosystems, and public-private collaboration in building a resilient and future-ready security architecture that supports both national resilience and global leadership

      Sports economy: Unlocking growth beyond the playing field

      Sports is emerging as a powerful catalyst for economic and social development. The Manch will explore how India's sporting ambitions can drive economic growth, create jobs, stimulate tourism, accelerate urban development, and foster innovation across sectors. Discussions will also examine the pathways needed to nurture talent, strengthen sports infrastructure, build sports-related industries, and position India as a leading destination for global sporting events. Beyond athletic achievement, the sports economy represents an opportunity to enhance India's global visibility, soft power, and international standing

      Food & Agriculture: Transforming the agri-food ecosystem

      India's agricultural sector remains fundamental to livelihoods, food security, and economic development. The Manch will explore how technology, innovation, digital platforms, and stronger value chains can transform the agri-food ecosystem, improve productivity, enhance farmer incomes, and strengthen sustainability. Discussions will focus on opportunities across precision agriculture, agri-tech innovation, food processing, supply chain modernisation, climate resilience, and export competitiveness, with the objective of creating a more prosperous, resilient, and globally competitive agriculture sector

      Artificial Intelligence as a cross-cutting enabler

      The Agrasar Bharat Manch will position AI as a foundational enabler across all thematic discussions. From defence and national security to sports development, agriculture, governance, and public service delivery, AI is increasingly shaping how institutions operate, decisions are made, and value is created

      A flagship leadership dialogue on ‘Governing in the Age of AI’ will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, technologists, and academics to explore critical questions around AI sovereignty, Responsible AI in Government, digital public infrastructure, trust and accountability, data governance, and the future of public institutions. The dialogue will examine how India can harness AI to accelerate innovation, productivity, and citizen outcomes while ensuring transparency, security, fairness, and public trust

      Defence: Strengthening Strategic Resilience and National Capability

      As geopolitical dynamics continue to evolve, strengthening India’s defence capabilities will remain central to securing national interests and sustaining long-term growth. The Manch will examine how technology, indigenous innovation, advanced manufacturing, and strategic partnerships can enhance defence preparedness, strengthen self-reliance, and create globally competitive capabilities. Discussions will explore the role of emerging technologies, defence industrial ecosystems, and public-private collaboration in building a resilient and future-ready security architecture that supports both national resilience and global leadership

      Sports economy: Unlocking growth beyond the playing field

      Sports is emerging as a powerful catalyst for economic and social development. The Manch will explore how India's sporting ambitions can drive economic growth, create jobs, stimulate tourism, accelerate urban development, and foster innovation across sectors. Discussions will also examine the pathways needed to nurture talent, strengthen sports infrastructure, build sports-related industries, and position India as a leading destination for global sporting events. Beyond athletic achievement, the sports economy represents an opportunity to enhance India's global visibility, soft power, and international standing

      Food & Agriculture: Transforming the agri-food ecosystem

      India's agricultural sector remains fundamental to livelihoods, food security, and economic development. The Manch will explore how technology, innovation, digital platforms, and stronger value chains can transform the agri-food ecosystem, improve productivity, enhance farmer incomes, and strengthen sustainability. Discussions will focus on opportunities across precision agriculture, agri-tech innovation, food processing, supply chain modernisation, climate resilience, and export competitiveness, with the objective of creating a more prosperous, resilient, and globally competitive agriculture sector

      Artificial Intelligence as a cross-cutting enabler

      The Agrasar Bharat Manch will position AI as a foundational enabler across all thematic discussions. From defence and national security to sports development, agriculture, governance, and public service delivery, AI is increasingly shaping how institutions operate, decisions are made, and value is created

      A flagship leadership dialogue on ‘Governing in the Age of AI’ will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, technologists, and academics to explore critical questions around AI sovereignty, Responsible AI in Government, digital public infrastructure, trust and accountability, data governance, and the future of public institutions. The dialogue will examine how India can harness AI to accelerate innovation, productivity, and citizen outcomes while ensuring transparency, security, fairness, and public trust


      While each theme addresses a distinct national priority, their significance also lies in the connections between them. Defence strengthens resilience. Sports expands participation and excellence. Food & Agriculture strengthens livelihoods, inclusion and competitiveness. AI provides a cross-cutting enabler for innovation and transformation across sectors.

      Together, these themes provide the inaugural platform through which the broader Agrasar Bharat vision can be examined - connecting national priorities with the capabilities and outcomes required for India's next phase of development.


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      Continuing on the journey of smart technology transformation

      AI in government audit and expenditure control is moving from pilots to impact, scaling capability, speed, transparency, and risk‑aware deployment

      Exploring the challenges and resilience in food production and the collaboration needed across various sectors to enhance food security

      Operationalising space based services to drive innovation, governance, enhance resilience and foster growth in India’s evolving space economy

      A view of India’s sports ecosystem, covering infra, policy, tech, manufacturing, and media, driving growth and global influence

      Explore actionable insights and clear takeaways to better understand the challenges and identify the opportunities in the A&D sector

      India's defence vision 2047 outlines 'Atmanirbhar, Agrani, and Atulya Bharat 2047' to emerge as a global power in defence manufacturing

      Solutions for achieving zero hunger and ensuring food and nutritional security, addressing gaps in access, distribution, and sustainability

      Analyse industry in global context, Indian regulatory landscape, market dynamics & KPMG in India value chain framework to aid startups/MSMEs' market entry.

      The leisure sector is slowly bouncing back from the challenges of COVID-19, high inflation and economic uncertainty. Yet many challenges persist.

      Five keys to public sector digital transformation success

      Real stories of transformation from across Bharat

      Enabling faster, more accurate, and inclusive public service delivery

      Making legal information simpler, more accessible, and citizen-centric

      Using AI to translate speech and text into multiple native Indian languages to increase digital inclusion

      Turning agricultural potential into sustainable economic growth

      Enabling data-driven delivery and monitoring to advance India’s nutrition goals

      Enabling scale and sustainability in public infrastructure

      Powering entrepreneurship across India

      Strengthening last-mile delivery for farmers

      Key Contact

      Nilachal Mishra

      Partner and Head, Government & Public Services (G&PS), National Leader - Government and Infrastructure

      KPMG in India

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