Held on 6 October 2026, the TIOL Congress brought together policymakers, parliamentarians, judges, economists, administrators, industry leaders and public intellectuals to deliberate on the opportunities and challenges facing India amid rapid technological change, economic transformation and geopolitical uncertainty.
Parliamentarian served as the digital media partner. The event, held in New Delhi, provided a multidisciplinary platform for discussions on a wide range of issues, including the Temple Economy, artificial intelligence, trade competitiveness, tax administration, digital governance and the future of human engagement in an increasingly technology-driven world.
Despite significant traffic disruptions in the national capital resulting from political demonstrations, the event witnessed enthusiastic participation from delegates and speakers, many of whom navigated considerable logistical challenges to attend the proceedings. Once the sessions commenced, attention quickly shifted from the circumstances outside the venue to the substantive discussions within.
Reimagining Development Through India’s Civilisational Resources
One of the most thought-provoking addresses was delivered by Dr. Sudhanshu Trivedi, Member of Parliament, who spoke on the theme of the Temple Economy and India’s development model. He argued that discussions on economic development have often overlooked the transformative role played by religious and cultural institutions in generating livelihoods, supporting local enterprise and strengthening social capital.
Referring to the transformation of Ayodhya following substantial investments in religious and civic infrastructure, Dr. Trivedi observed that pilgrimage centres can serve as significant drivers of economic activity. He cited Varanasi and major religious gatherings such as the Kumbh Mela as further examples of how economic activity extends beyond religious participation to support tourism, transport, hospitality and small businesses.
Dr. Trivedi also highlighted the historical role of temples and gurudwaras in providing community kitchens, charitable services and other welfare initiatives. He argued that India’s development model should balance economic growth with social responsibility, ensuring that prosperity contributes to broader human well-being rather than focusing solely on material accumulation.
Innovation, Entrepreneurship and the Next Economic Frontier
Addressing India’s innovation ecosystem, Deepak Bagla, Mission Director of the Atal Innovation Mission, highlighted the expansion of entrepreneurship across the country over the past decade. Referring to initiatives such as Startup India and the Atal Innovation Mission, he noted that innovation is no longer confined to metropolitan centres but is increasingly emerging from schools, small towns and rural communities.
Particular emphasis was placed on the growing role of innovation laboratories in educational institutions, which enable students to engage with technology and problem-solving at an early stage. The emergence of these platforms, he argued, reflects a broader expansion of opportunity and aspiration across India. Bagla further suggested that future wealth creation could increasingly come from sectors such as sports, tourism, entertainment and wellness, in which India possesses significant demographic and cultural strengths.
Artificial Intelligence and the Challenge of Democratic Governance
Dr. Palanivel Thiagarajan, former Tamil Nadu Finance and IT Minister, examined the implications of artificial intelligence for financial markets, democratic institutions and public policymaking. He cautioned that technological innovation is advancing faster than regulatory systems can adapt, creating significant governance challenges.
Referring to the growing sophistication of synthetic media, he warned that AI-generated content could undermine trust in public discourse and make information increasingly difficult to verify. He also raised concerns about financial valuations in parts of the global technology sector, arguing that policymakers and regulators must remain alert to systemic risks arising from speculative enthusiasm surrounding emerging technologies.
A related aspect of India’s future economy was explored by Aubrey Aloysius, Co-founder and CEO of Lorraine Music Academy, who highlighted the growth of the country’s creative economy. He argued that creative industries should be viewed as strategic economic assets capable of generating employment, exports and cultural influence. To unlock their potential, he advocated a policy framework centred on education, intellectual property protection, enterprise development, market access and evidence-based policymaking.
Trade Competitiveness Beyond Market Access
Global trade and manufacturing competitiveness featured prominently in the deliberations. Om Prakash Hisaria of Reliance Industries provided a pragmatic assessment of India’s export ambitions in the context of recent and proposed Free Trade Agreements.
While welcoming greater market access, he argued that tariff reductions alone are insufficient to transform export performance. Sustainable competitiveness requires complementary reforms in regulatory alignment, investment protection, logistics efficiency and customs administration. The challenge, he suggested, is to convert nominal access to foreign markets into genuine commercial opportunity for Indian producers.
His remarks underscored the wider consensus emerging from the Congress that trade agreements can only yield substantive benefits when supported by domestic institutional and regulatory reforms.
Towards a More Trust-Based Tax Administration
Tax administration and governance formed another major theme of the Congress. Pushpinder Puniha, Chairperson of the Consultative Group on Tax Policy at NITI Aayog, discussed the growing use of technology and behavioural insights in improving voluntary compliance and simplifying taxpayer interactions.
He outlined how advances in data processing and digital infrastructure could enable increasingly accurate pre-filled tax returns, reducing both compliance burdens and opportunities for dispute. Drawing upon insights from behavioural economics, he argued that trust, transparency and facilitation often achieve better long-term outcomes than purely enforcement-oriented approaches.
The discussion was complemented by observations from industry representatives regarding the changing consumption patterns of India’s younger population. Surinder Rajput of Turms Intelligent Apparel highlighted how digital payments, social media influence and premiumisation are reshaping consumer behaviour, creating new challenges and opportunities for businesses seeking to engage with emerging generations of consumers.
Digital Governance and Social Inclusion
The opportunities and risks associated with digital public infrastructure were explored by Prof. Ashwani Kumar. While recognising the transformative impact of technology-enabled welfare delivery systems, he cautioned against viewing digital platforms as a universal solution to governance challenges.
He noted that concerns relating to exclusion, algorithmic decision-making, data concentration and surveillance require careful consideration. The success of digital governance initiatives, he argued, depends not merely on technological efficiency but also on transparency, accountability and inclusion.
The Companion Economy and Human Connection
Media entrepreneur Tapas Sen, co-founder of Radio Mirchi, offered a distinctive perspective on contemporary social change. He observed that societies across the world are increasingly confronting problems of loneliness and social isolation despite unprecedented levels of digital connectivity.
According to Sen, future economic and social value may increasingly emerge from what he described as the “Companion Economy”, where empathy, trust and meaningful engagement become valuable public resources. In this context, he emphasised the continuing relevance of traditional media platforms that foster human connection rather than merely competing for attention.
Constitutional Institutions and the Rule of Law
A significant feature of the Congress was the participation of distinguished members of the judiciary whose observations reinforced the centrality of constitutional values to governance and economic development. Former Supreme Court judges Justice A.K. Patnaik and Justice S.K. Singh provided an important reminder that India’s development story is not solely an economic narrative but also one rooted in institutional strength and constitutional governance.
Public Policy Dialogue and Knowledge Platforms
The Congress also reflected the growing importance of informed policy dialogue in a rapidly changing world. Shailendra Kumar, Founder Editor of TIOL, emphasised the value of sustained engagement among policymakers, administrators, legal experts, businesses and academics.
He highlighted the role played by independent knowledge platforms in fostering evidence-based discussions on taxation, trade, regulation and governance. Such forums, he observed, help bridge disciplinary silos and contribute to better public policy outcomes by encouraging constructive exchange among diverse stakeholders.
Honouring Distinguished Contributors to Economic Governance
One of the highlights of TIOL Congress 2026 was the conferment of the TIOL Fiscal Heritage Awards upon three distinguished figures whose contributions have had a lasting impact on economic governance and public policy.
The awardees were Jean-Claude Trichet, former President of the European Central Bank; Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, eminent economist and former Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission; and Dr. Rakesh Mohan, noted economist and former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.
In his acceptance remarks, Trichet reflected on the complex challenges facing central banks amid inflationary pressures, geopolitical uncertainty, climate transition requirements and technological change. He stressed the continuing importance of monetary stability in an increasingly volatile world.
Dr. Ahluwalia examined the changing character of globalisation and emphasised the importance of regulatory harmonisation in an interconnected international economy. He urged policy professionals to engage more actively with international best practices while shaping India’s future economic framework.
Dr. Mohan drew attention to the relationship between economic growth, public expenditure and social development. He underlined the importance of strengthening investments in health and education and reflected on the shifting centre of global economic activity towards the Indo-Pacific region.
Conclusion
TIOL Congress 2026 demonstrated the value of bringing together leaders from government, Parliament, the judiciary, academia, industry and civil society for substantive dialogue on the issues shaping India’s future. The discussions ranged across economics, technology, governance, trade, taxation, culture and constitutional institutions, yet were united by a common concern: how India can achieve rapid growth while preserving social cohesion, democratic values and institutional integrity.
The Congress underscored that India’s future development trajectory will depend not merely on economic expansion, but on its ability to balance innovation with inclusion, competitiveness with equity, and technological progress with human welfare. In that sense, the deliberations offered valuable insights into the evolving contours of India’s public policy discourse and its aspirations for the decades ahead.