Diplomat Correspondent
Jammu: The Strategic Management Forum (SMF) 2025 at the Indian Institute of Management Jammu concluded on a grand note here today with the final day marked by insightful deliberations underscoring the Institute’s strong commitment to academic excellence, policy engagement, and nation-building.
The day began with a Panel Discussion on Strategy and Governance for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Innovation, Inclusion and Impact brought together eminent academic leaders Prof. Bhimaraya Metri, Director, IIM Nagpur; Prof. Vinita S. Sahay, Director, IIM Bodh Gaya; Prof. Pragati Kumar, Vice Chancellor, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra; and Prof. B. S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu.
The session was expertly moderated by Prof. Shyam Narayan Lal, Chairperson, Ānandam and Media and Publication Division, IIM Jammu, who guided the discussion with sharp insights, wit, and clarity, making complex concepts both accessible and engaging.
The panel collectively emphasized that sustainability must move beyond certifications and rankings to become a lived institutional culture rooted in innovation, inclusion, minimalism, and measurable societal impact.
Drawing from diverse experiences, the speakers highlighted climate-responsive campuses, minimalist and responsible resource use, well-ness-centric education, India-centric policy frameworks such as NEP 2020, responsible digitization, renewable energy adoption, and strong academia government collaboration as key enablers of the SDGs.
Emphasizing that India has practiced the essence of the SDGs for over a thousand years through its civilizational values, traditions, and way of life, the panel, anchored in this wisdom and strengthened by modern governance and technology, envisioned higher education institutions as living laboratories for sustainable development, inclusive growth, and nation-building, reinforcing India’s journey towards becoming a “Vishwaguru”, with IIM Jammu exemplifying this integrated, action-oriented approach.
The Valedictory Session was graced by Santosh D Vaidya, IAS, Principal Secretary, Finance Department, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, as the chief guest, who was warmly welcomed by Prof. B. S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu.
In his address, Santosh Vaidya, IAS, Principal Secretary, Finance Department, Government of Jammu and Kashmir highlighted India’s critical inflection point toward becoming a developed economy by 2047, emphasizing the need to enhance per capita income, ensure inclusive regional growth, and build globally competitive manufacturing ecosystems.
He lauded IIM Jammu’s nationally relevant role and its strong collaboration with the Government of J&K, particularly in capacity building and policy-driven development.
The chief guest Santosh D Vaidya, IAS, Principal Secretary, Finance, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, delivered the keynote address at the valedictory ceremony hosted by the Indian Institute of Management Jammu for SMF 2025.
He shared insightful perspectives on India’s economic transformation and the road ahead, congratulating Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, and the organizing team for creating a nationally relevant platform that brought together academia, policymakers, officers, and researchers.
He lauded the robust collaboration between the Government of J&K and IIM Jammu, highlighting that the Institute has already trained over 500 officers from the Finance and Planning Departments, in addition to the capacity-building contributions of CiTAG, the Government’s think tank.
He observed that India stands at a critical inflection point, where the next 25 years will determine its transition to a developed economy by 2047. While overall growth has been robust, he stressed the need to enhance per capita income and ensure inclusive regional development.
Highlighting manufacturing as India’s unfinished agenda, he called for building globally competitive manufacturing ecosystems, citing positive trends in capital market activity and rising venture capital participation.
He emphasized the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, with global investments projected at USD 1.6 trillion, urging India to strategically position itself early.
He also highlighted sustainability and the circular economy as strategic opportunities rather than constraints, reinforcing India’s leadership in digital public infrastructure through Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, Mobile, and UPI frameworks, setting a global benchmark for inclusive, low-cost innovation.
On human capital, he stressed bridging the digital divide and aligning education with employability. He cited entrepreneurial innovations such as Zomato and Swiggy as solutions to complex logistical challenges, underscoring the importance of sustainable and profitable innovation.
He further highlighted the need for strong corporate governance, transparent markets, and decentralized, participatory decision-making to reflect India’s diversity and prevent crony capitalism.
The concluding his address, he affirmed that the conference themes captured India’s most pressing challenges and opportunities, congratulating the officers, faculty, researchers, and students contributing to a more progressive and inclusive India by 2047.
Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, in his valedictory address warmly welcomed Santosh Vaidya, IAS, Principal Secretary, Finance, Government of Jammu and Kashmir (UT), for gracing the IIM Jammu campus for the first time in person.
He fondly recalled the long-standing and meaningful association between him and the Institute, lauding his unwavering support, strategic guidance, and active engagement, which have significantly contributed to IIM Jammu’s academic vision, institutional growth, and outreach initiatives.
He emphasized that such collaborations between academia and governance are vital for fostering sustainable development, policy-driven learning, and impactful nation-building.
He also reiterated on the Institute’s collaboration with the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, through CITAG, the think tank for transformative governance, the upcoming state-of-the-art Srinagar campus in a prime location, and ambitious initiatives like Mission YUVA, aimed at creating 4.25 lakh jobs in partnership with J&K Bank, reflecting its commitment to nation-building and social impact.
With dual international accreditations, EFMD for MBA and BGA for the Institute, IIM Jammu is on track for AACSB accreditation, becoming one of the few second-and third-generation IIMs to achieve such rare recognition in a short span.
The valedictory ceremony was presided over by Prof. B. S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, and was attended by Prof. Arunaditya Sahay, Founder Chairman, SMF; Prof. Vinita S. Sahay, Director, IIM Bodh Gaya; and Prof. Pragati Kumar, Vice Chancellor, SMVDU, Katra.
Also present were Prof. Ravij Seth, Conference Chair; Conference Co-Chairs Dr. Niti Shekar, Dr. Naveen Goyal, and Dr. Sourav Mondal.
Following the panel discussion, participants and awardees were felicitated by the Conference Patron, with the SMF Lifetime Achievement Award and SMF Alumni Award presented by Prof. Arunaditya Sahay, Founder Chairman, SMF, along with the dignitaries present at the valedictory ceremony, recognizing distinguished contributions to academia and leadership. The forum featured three sub-technical tracks, encompassing a total of nine technical sessions. For each session, two awards, the Best Paper Award and the Outstanding Paper Award, were announced, totalling 18 awards across all sessions. With the distribution of awards and recognition of outstanding research, the forum concluded on a celebratory and academically enriching note.
Prof. Arunaditya Sahay, Founder Chairman, SMF noted that SMF has evolved into a robust platform shaping strategic thinking across institutions and sectors, while Prof. Ravij Seth, Conference Chair, SMF 2025, IIM Jammu, presented the SMF 2025 detailed report highlighting the rich and diverse scholarly deliberations held over the three-day forum.
The conference concluded with a formal vote of thanks by the Conference Co-Chairs Dr. Naveen Goyal and Dr. Sourav Mondal, followed by the National Anthem, marking the grand culmination of SMF 2025 at IIM Jammu. Finally, the SMF Baton for the next edition was formally passed on to IIM Ranchi, marking a smooth transition and setting the stage for the continued legacy of the Strategic Management Forum.
The Strategic Management Forum (SMF) 2025 at IIM Jammu concluded on a high note, leaving a lasting impact through rich scholarly deliberations, visionary discussions on strategy, governance, and SDGs, and reinforcing the Institute’s role as a hub for thought leadership, sustainable development, and nation-building.DD
