LG Sinha inaugurates SMF 2025 and Basohli Painting Exhibition at IIM Jammu, showcasing strategic vision and cultural heritage towards viksit Bharat 2047

JAMMU: The Indian Institute of Management Jammu hosted the Strategic Management Forum (SMF) 2025 – Policy Making and Strategic Planning for Achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047 from December 17 to 19, 2025, at the Mandapam Auditorium, Jagti Campus. The conference was jointly organised with the Strategic Management Forum (SMF), NITI Aayog, and the Government of Jammu & Kashmir, with valuable support from State Bank of India and J&K Bank.

The conference was inaugurated by Shri Manoj Sinha Ji, Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, as the Chief Guest, in the presence of Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu and Conference Patron. The inaugural ceremony was also attended by Shri R. K. Chaudhary, Chairman, Electricity Regulatory Commission of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh; Shri Subhash Chandra Meena, Economic Adviser, NITI Aayog; Shri Ramesh Kumar, IAS, Divisional Commissioner, Government of Jammu & Kashmir; Prof. Arunaditya Sahay, Founding Chairman, SMF; Ms. Shruti Awasthi, Regional Director, IGNCA; Prof. Shyam Narayan Lal, Chairperson, Ānandam and Media and Publication Division, IIM Jammu; and Prof. Ravij Seth, Professor of Practice, IIM Jammu.

The inaugural ceremony was also graced by Prof. Jabir Ali, Dean, Faculty and Research, Cmdr. (R) Kesavan Baskkaran, CAO, IIM Jammu along with other faculty, officers, staff and students at the Institute.The inaugural ceremony commenced with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp, followed by Saraswati Vandana by students of IIM Jammu.On this momentous occasion, the documentary of the Basohli Painting Workshop, organised by IIM Jammu under Ānandam – The Center for Happiness and the Arts Club, in collaboration with IGNCA, was also unveiled.

Alongside SMF 2025, the Indian Institute of Management Jammu, under the aegis of Ānandam – The Center for Happiness, in collaboration with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), Jammu, organised the Painting Exhibition and Valedictory Function of the One-Week Basohli Painting Workshop (08–14 December 2025) at its Jagti Campus.The Basohli Painting Exhibition, inaugurated by Shri Manoj Sinha Ji, Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, marked a moment of pride and cultural celebration. The event celebrated the rich artistic legacy of Basohli painting, a distinctive and historically significant art form of the region, while reaffirming IIM Jammu’s commitment to preserving and promoting India’s intangible cultural heritage. On this momentous occasion, all the Basohli artists were felicitated by the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Shri Manoj Sinha Ji, in recognition of their contribution to preserving the region’s rich artistic heritage.

The Basoholi painting exhibition showcased select artworks created during the intensive week-long workshop, reflecting the dedication, creativity, and traditional mastery imbibed by the participants under expert guidance. The exhibition highlighted the vibrancy, narrative depth, and aesthetic richness that define the Basohli school of painting.

Inaugurating and addressing the Strategic Management Forum (SMF) 2025 Conference on “Policy Making and Strategic Planning for Achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047”, the Chief Guest, Shri Manoj Sinha Ji, Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, highlighted the evolving global challenges faced by nations in trade relations and bilateral engagements. He emphasised that India is growing faster than ever before, having emerged as the world’s fourth-largest economy, firmly positioned on the path of sustained progress through strategic investments in manufacturing, infrastructure development, and MSME-led growth, resulting in widespread prosperity.

He underlined that this transformation has been driven by the visionary leadership of Shri Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, with a focus on poverty alleviation, inclusive and equitable growth, innovation, enhanced foreign direct investment, export expansion, healthcare development, startup promotion, social welfare initiatives, and the advancement of industry and agriculture. Rooted in India’s civilizational ethos and strengthened by transparent and effective governance, he expressed confidence that the nation will achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, aspiring towards double-digit economic growth, corruption-free systems, and the rapid elimination of terrorism.

Speaking on regional development, the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor stressed the importance of enhancing Jammu & Kashmir’s revenue generation through focused growth in sectors such as tourism, mining, and hydropower. He also highlighted the critical role of technology in enabling evidence-based policymaking and strategic governance. The Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor extended heartfelt appreciation to IIM Jammu and IGNCA for organizing the Basohli Painting Workshop, noting that artists communicate powerful narratives through colours on canvas.

He observed that exposure to art provides management students with a unique experiential learning opportunity beyond the classroom, fostering creativity, sensitivity, and holistic thinking. He commended the initiative as an integral part of SMF 2025’s broader vision to integrate culture, strategic planning, and leadership in the journey towards achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047.He further emphasized that macroeconomic stability, high investment in education and healthcare, digital tools, participatory governance, transparency, accountability, speedy project implementation, and effective public services for the growing population will be key drivers of all-round development.

Guest of Honor, Shri Subhash Chandra Meena, Economic Adviser, NITI Aayog, highlighted the pivotal role of NITI Aayog in the Strategic Management Forum (SMF) 2025, emphasizing its focus on reform-oriented, evidence-based policymaking. He underscored how NITI Aayog contributes to effective strategic planning, policy formulation, and implementation by leveraging data-driven insights, institutional collaboration, and long-term developmental frameworks. He further emphasized that such platforms play a crucial role in aligning policy initiatives with national priorities, fostering innovation, and supporting India’s journey towards sustainable growth and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Guest of Honor Shri R. K. Chaudhary, Chairman Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission for UT of J&K and UT of Ladakh(JERC), outlined the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, stressing infrastructure-led growth as the foundation of sustainable development. He highlighted railwaymodernization as a catalyst for economic integration and examined global tariff trends and their implications for energy planning. Emphasizing electricity as a cornerstone of national progress, he noted that India has achieved 50% non-fossil fuel installed capacity, around 242.8 GW, nearly five years ahead of its 2030 target. He called for sustained policy support and increased investment in sustainable infrastructure to achieve India’s long-term development objectives.

Prof. Arunaditya Sahay, Founding Chairman, Strategic Management Forum (SMF), highlighted the importance of strategic management in building sustainable and competitive institutions. Referring to the MSMED Act, 2006, he underscored the need for enabling policies and effective strategies to work together for long-term impact, aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. He noted the active involvement of all IIMs and NITI Aayog in advancing this national initiative and emphasized that strong outcomes ultimately depend on human capital, leadership, and institutional capability.

Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, shared that the institute is currently hosting two flagship initiatives: SMF 2025 and the Basohli Painting Exhibition. He highlighted that the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Shri Manoj Sinha Ji, has always envisioned IIM Jammu as a world-class institution. In line with the clarion call of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji for Viksit Bharat 2047, he emphasized the need to bring glory to India’s culture and heritage while acknowledging the unwavering support and guidance of Hon’ble LG Shri Manoj Sinha Ji to IIM Jammu at all levels. He underscored Basohli painting as the cultural heritage of Jammu & Kashmir and noted the Hon’ble Lt. Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Shri Manoj Sinha Ji's significant role in reviving this art form and securing its GI tag, along with his wholehearted commitment.

With students actively engaged, the Basohli painting workshop will serve as a creative stress buster, focused on supporting culture and artists. With overwhelming participation, SMF 2025 was organized in collaboration with the Government of Jammu & Kashmir and NITI Aayog, with valued support from SBI and J&K Bank. The conference showcased how art and youth can play a pivotal role in driving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Ms. Shruti Awasthi, Regional Director, IGNCA, highlighted in her address that the Basohli Painting Workshop represents a significant step in reviving the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, as envisioned by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji. She emphasized the potential of art and culture to serve as a source of livelihood and be made employment oriented. She noted that a Viksit Bharat 2047 can be achieved when the artists are truly empowered and expressed confidence that such initiatives will be provided strong platforms in the future, enabling artists and cultural practitioners to flourish.

The vote of thanks was proposed by Prof. Shyam Narayan Lal, Chairperson, Media and Publication and Anandam, IIM Jammu. The inaugural ceremony culminated with the National Anthem.

The first panel discussion at SMF 2025, titled Viksit Bharat by 2047 with Special Reference to Jammu & Kashmir featured eminent dignitaries as Guests of Honor: Shri Subhash Chandra Meena, Economic Adviser, NITI Aayog; Shri R.K. Chaudhary, Chairman  Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission for UT of J&K and UT of Ladakh (JERC),; Dr. Owais Ahmed, IAS, Special Secretary to the Government, Planning, Development and Monitoring Department and Director, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs; Prof. Srinivasan R. Iyengar, Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS);and moderated by Prof. Rajesh Sikka, Professor of Practice, IIM Jammu. The panel focused on pathways and strategies for achieving a developed Bharat by 2047, with a special emphasis on Jammu & Kashmir.

By seamlessly integrating strategic policy discourse with the celebration of India’s living cultural traditions, IIM Jammu reaffirmed its role as a national institution committed to shaping an enlightened, inclusive, and culturally rooted vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.