About the Event
The Kautilya School of Public Policy at GITAM (Deemed to be University), Hyderabad, proudly presents the 4th Edition of Kautilya Colloquy 2026, our flagship academic conference, bringing together scholars, researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and students to examine the most pressing challenges in governance and public policy.
Building on the success of its previous editions, the Colloquy has become a premier platform for interdisciplinary dialogue, policy innovation, and research exchange. The conference has engaged 500+ participants, featured 50+ eminent speakers, attracted 150+ research submissions, and showcased 40+ peer-reviewed paper presentations, creating meaningful connections between academia, government, industry, and civil society.
The 2026 edition, themed "Policy Pathways: From Roots to Routes", explores how public policy evolves across time, shaped by historical legacies, present-day choices, and future possibilities. Through keynote addresses, panel discussions, paper presentations, and interactive policy engagements, the conference invites participants to reflect on the roots of contemporary governance while charting new pathways for resilient, inclusive, and evidence-based policymaking.
Colloquy Events
Paper Presentations
Paper presentations are a central component of Colloquy, where selected participants submit a full-length research paper and present their work during the conference.
Niti-in-Quest
Niti-in-Quest is a fast-paced quiz that challenges teams to spot clues, crack connections, and think on their feet.
Policy Play
The Policy Play is a competition that brings storytelling into the world of public policy.
Why Participate?
Intellectual Exchange
Engage with scholars, researchers and policymakers in rigorous debates on governance and public policy.
Dynamic Experiences
Participate in events that recognize analytical depth and innovative thinking.
Build Your Network
Connect with peers and experts across disciplines and foster meaningful collaborations.
Present & Publish
Showcase your work on a national platform and explore publication opportunities.
Open to Students, Researchers and Professionals
Share your vision, showcase your work and engage with ideas that matter most in governance today.
All Participants will receive:
✓ Certificate of Participation
✓ Policy Networking Sessions
Paper Presentations
Paper presentations are a central component of Colloquy, where selected participants submit a full-length research paper and present their work during the conference. Each research presentation is delivered, followed by a Q&A session, allowing for academic discussion, feedback and engagement with scholars, practitioners and peers.
The theme Policy Pathways: From Roots to Routes encourages research that traces these trajectories to understand how certain futures become possible while others are foreclosed. Colloquy seeks submissions that critically engage with the past, interrogate the present, and imagine alternative policy futures.
Approaches to the Theme
Inherited Futures
The Weight of Yesterday
Examines how early policy choices and institutional legacies continue to shape modern governance and constrain present possibilities.
Scrying Futures
The Lock-Ins of Today
Explores how current policy decisions create long-term trajectories and self-reinforcing systems that may limit future freedoms.
Looking Glass
The Spectre of Untaken Paths
Revisits moments where alternative policy pathways were possible, challenging the inevitability of history and opening new futures.
Areas of Research
Institutions and Administration
Land Administration and Acquisition Frameworks
Preventive Law and Emergency Governance
Administrative Language Systems and Access to Public Services
Geopolitical Structures & Strategic Memory
Borders, Migration and Regional Security Dynamics
Trade Networks, Resource Geopolitics and Strategic Dependencies
Identity, Memory and National Narratives in Foreign Policy
Social Systems & Ecological Transformation
Infrastructure Models and Public Mobility
Waste Management and Urban Climate
Labour Informality and Social Protection
Economic Structures & Financial Governance
Currency and Public Trust
Agriculture Security Frameworks
Tax Structures and Digital Compliance
Economic Institutions: Enablers or Extensions of Red-Tapism
Technological Governance & Institutional Futures
Digital Identity, Data Governance and State Infrastructures
Cybersecurity, Regulation and Technological Governance
Emerging Technologies such as Artificial Intelligence for Governance
✦ Interdisciplinary topics are encouraged.
Publication & Recognition
All papers will undergo a thorough review for academic rigour, originality and relevance.
Top submissions will receive:
Publication Opportunity
The selected best paper will be considered for publication in the Kautilya Working Paper Series, subject to revisions.
Cash Prizes
The best two papers will receive cash prizes and special recognition.
Paper Presentations
₹500
*Exclusive of all taxes
For Individual Presenters & Team
Registration fee is to be paid only after the abstract selection.
Need help? Contact us at paper_kspp2026@kspp.edu.in
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens after my abstract is accepted?
You will be invited to submit a full paper and later present during the conference.
Is the use of AI tools allowed?
AI usage must be declared. Submissions with more than 20% AI-generated content will not be accepted.
What is the allowed similarity limit?
Similarity is allowed up to 15%. Ensure that all sources are properly cited and referenced.
Who can submit a paper?
Students, researchers, practitioners and policy enthusiasts are welcome to submit. Submissions may be individual or co-authored.
Do we need to be researchers or academicians to participate?
No, even first-time researchers are encouraged to take part in the event.
How will I know if my abstract is selected?
Selected participants will be notified via email with further instructions for full paper submission.
Niti-in-Quest
A QR code. A pothole. A ration card. A protest slogan. A meme. Everyday India is full of clues. Niti-in-Quest asks one question: Can you spot the policy hiding in plain sight?
From politics to pop culture, from courtrooms to classrooms, from cinema to civic life, this event transforms everyday India into a puzzle. It combines the excitement of a quiz with the intelligence of public policy.
Event Format
Live Qualifier
All registered teams will participate in a fast-paced qualifying round. Participants will be tested on:
- Quick Recall
- Observation Skills
- Current Affairs
- Policy Basics
- Ability to connect the dots
Finale
Shortlisted teams move to the main stage where they encounter:
- Rapid Questions
- Visual and Audio Clues
- Pop Culture Connections
- Policy Puzzles
- Audience Engagement
Debate-Based Final Rounds
The final two rounds are designed to test how teams think through policy dilemmas, understand trade-offs, represent stakeholder concerns and respond to real-world crisis situations.
What To
Expect
The event will include a mix of quick questions, image and sound-based clues, pop culture references, current affairs, numbers, symbols and real-world situations.
Some questions will test recall, some will test observation, and some will test how well teams can connect different ideas.
This is not just about knowing the right answer. It is about speed, instinct, teamwork, judgement and the ability to think on your feet.
Registration Details
₹500
*Exclusive of all taxes
Per Team
2
Members Per Team
Rules
Each team must have 2 members.
Use of phones or internet during quiz rounds will not be allowed.
Quizmaster's decision will be final for factual rounds.
Judged rounds will be evaluated on clarity, reasoning, teamwork and policy judgement.
Any form of malpractice may lead to disqualification.
Need help? Contact us at kcnitiinquest@kspp.edu.in
Frequently Asked Questions
I am not from a public policy background. Can I still participate?
Yes. Niti-in-Quest is not designed only for public policy students. If you follow current affairs, enjoy pop culture, notice things around you, or like connecting ideas, you can participate.
What kind of questions should we expect?
Expect a mix of everyday India, politics, governance, law, economy, society, cinema, media, public issues, data, symbols, slogans and current affairs. Some questions will be direct, some visual or audio-based, and some will ask you to connect seemingly unrelated things.
Will the quiz be very technical?
No. The quiz will be policy-led, but not academic or overly technical. The idea is to make public policy accessible, engaging and fun.
What are the debate-based rounds?
The final two rounds include debate-style elements, but they are not formal debates. Teams may be asked to take a position on a policy dilemma or respond to a real-world situation. The focus is on clear thinking, trade-offs and reasoning rather than debating experience.
Can team members be from different courses or disciplines?
Yes, In fact, mixed-discipline teams may have an advantage because the quiz draws from multiple areas.
Policy Play
Every policy creates a story. A village adapting to water scarcity. A small business navigating regulation. A community responding to climate change. A citizen experiencing the effects of digital governance.
Public policy is not only written in documents and debates. It is lived through people, places, decisions and experiences.
The Policy Play is a competition that brings storytelling into the world of public policy and invites participants to explore how policies are understood, implemented, experienced and challenged in everyday life.
This is not just about making a video. It is about finding stories that matter, asking meaningful questions and bringing public policy to life through storytelling.
Themes and Storyline
Participants may choose to focus on one or more of the following storylines:
Leadership, Governance and Institutions
Stories shaped by leadership, governance systems, public administration, institutions, civic participation, accountability and decision-making.
Economy, Markets and Development
Stories shaped by economic policy, trade, entrepreneurship, markets, livelihoods and development.
Sustainability and Environmental Futures
Stories shaped by climate action, sustainability, SDGs, resilience and environmental governance.
Geopolitics, Security and Global Affairs
Stories shaped by diplomacy, strategy, security, culture and identity.
Technology and Digital Society
Stories shaped by AI, cybersecurity, digital governance and innovation.
Single-Round Online Competition
Participants will submit completed vlogs through the designated submission portal. All entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges assigned to the relevant storyline categories.
Open to all participants
Registration & Important Dates
Registration Fee
₹200
*Exclusive of all taxes
Per Entry
Participation
Individual / Team
Up to 3 Members
Important Dates
July 2026
Registration Deadline
July 2026
Submission Deadline
Need help?
Contact us at kcpolicyinplay@kspp.edu.in
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a public policy background to participate?
No. The Policy Play is open to students from all disciplines. What matters most is your ability to identify meaningful stories and communicate them effectively.
Is this an online event?
Yes. Participants can submit their vlogs online, and results will be declared virtually. However, we also welcome all participants to join us in person at the Kautilya School of Public Policy campus.
Can we combine multiple storylines in one vlog?
Yes. Participants are encouraged to adopt interdisciplinary approaches if their story naturally connects multiple themes.
Can AI tools be used?
Fully AI-generated videos are not allowed. However, limited AI-assisted editing tools may be used, provided their use is properly disclosed during submission.
What will judges evaluate?
Judges will assess entries based on storytelling quality, reporting effort, originality, policy relevance, communication skills, and overall impact.
Can we submit a video that has already been uploaded online?
No. Only original and unpublished content created specifically for The Policy Play will be accepted.
Rudraram, Patancheru Mandal
Hyderabad, Telangana 502329