KEC 2025: Sitharaman urges 8% growth for 2047 Viksit Bharat

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday inaugurated the fourth Kautilya Economic Conclave (KEC 2025) in New Delhi, setting the agenda for three days of high-level deliberations under the theme “Seeking Prosperity in Turbulent Times.”.Speaking at the opening session, Sitharaman stressed the need for sustained high growth to achieve the government’s long-term vision. “If the twin track is ready for us, with 8% GDP, it will give us the path and speed to reach our 2047 destination of Viksit Bharat,” she said, adding that the platform reassures her that Indian policymaking is “guided by good churn at the conclave.”The Finance Minister described the current global context as one of “structural transformation rather than temporary disruption,” urging policymakers to reflect on what the new equilibrium will look like and who will shape it.

VIDEO | Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman), addressing the inauguration of Kautilya Economic Conclave's 4th edition, said:

"A country like India aspires to take a twin-track approach to achieving prosperity, which has long been denied—not by anyone… pic.twitter.com/5M2OLm8Sne

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 3, 2025

Highlighting Asia’s evolving trajectory, Sitharaman said, “For decades, many Asian nations absorbed the material gains of globalisation without adopting some political values. Today, they are served alternative models of growth and governance.”On India’s economic resilience, she noted that domestic demand and strong fundamentals continue to anchor growth. “India's growth is firmly anchored in its domestic factors, which minimise the impact of external shocks on overall growth. As a result, the Indian economy is resilient, continues to grow sustainably,” she added.Addressing emerging challenges, the Finance Minister emphasised the complexities of energy transition and energy security for developing nations. She also cautioned that technological innovations such as stablecoins are “transforming the landscape of money and capital influence,” warning that countries may face binary choices—adapting to new monetary systems or risking exclusion.“We cannot afford to be passive spectators in a world where decisions elsewhere determine our destinies,” Sitharaman said, urging proactive engagement in global decision-making.
Economist and former Rajya Sabha MP N. K. Singh, who initiated the KEC in 2022 under the aegis of the Institute of Economic Growth (IEG), backed Sitharaman’s call for accelerated growth. “Even in the recalibrated estimates of GDP growth, RBI said that we shall grow at 6.8%. As per the power of compounding, per capita income shall double in the next 10 years. We need to bump up our economic growth to 8% which shall enable the realisation of a developed India,” he said.Singh further outlined priorities for structural reforms, including improving capital efficiency, maintaining macroeconomic stability, harnessing trade as an engine of growth, and creating jobs. He also urged institutional frameworks to leverage talent returning to India, describing them as contributors to innovation rather than burdens.Since its inception, the Kautilya Economic Conclave has emerged as a premier platform for dialogue between policymakers, industry leaders, and economists. Past editions have examined themes such as redefining the future (2022), navigating global turbulence (2023), and India’s rising global role (2024). The 2025 edition continues this trajectory with a focus on solution-driven exchanges for building economic resilience.

(Business Correspondent)