Kautilya Colloquy ’25
September 13, 2025 | Hyderabad, India
Navigating Through a VUCA World
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The Kautilya Colloquy 2025 is KSPP’s flagship academic conference, designed to foster rigorous policy discourse through dynamic, interactive formats. This year’s event focuses on two cross-disciplinary themes to explore contemporary policy challenges in depth.
The event will feature three core components:
Panel Discussions
High-level dialogues featuring experts from academia, government, industry, and civil society, offering diverse perspectives on complex policy issues. Discussions will be structured to encourage critical debate and audience engagement.
Paper Presentations
A platform for researchers to present methodologically robust and policy-relevant studies. Selected through a rigorous review process, these papers will contribute to scholarly discourse and may be considered for publication.
Policy Sprint
The Policy Sprint, conducted over three hybrid rounds, offers participants a dynamic platform to refine their policy formulation and communication skills. Designed as a competitive, solution-oriented exercise, this initiative enables teams to engage with real-world policy challenges through structured problem statements. Participants will benefit from consultations with key stakeholders and mentorship from leading policy experts, equipping them with strategic and analytical competencies essential for policymaking.
Navigating Through a VUCA World
In a world shaped by Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity (VUCA), traditional policy playbooks are no longer enough. Kautilya Colloquy 2025 brings together changemakers to rethink governance in this fast-shifting global landscape.
This year’s theme invites policymakers, scholars, practitioners, and students to engage with the urgent realities of our time: technological disruption, geopolitical flux, climate instability, and public health crises.
As challenges grow more interconnected, so must our responses. From agile institutions and inclusive engagement to systems-based thinking, the Colloquy calls for policy approaches that are resilient, adaptive, and future-ready.
Go beyond the theoretical. Step into the real work of shaping policy that keeps pace with a world in motion.
Panel Discussions
At the heart of Kautilya Colloquy 2025 are dynamic panel discussions that explore how to navigate the complexities of a VUCA world. These conversations bring together influential voices from government, industry, academia, and civil society, offering participants a rare opportunity to gain insights from those shaping public policy on the frontlines.
Designed to go beyond theory, each session encourages real-time reflection, dialogue, and actionable takeaways. Whether you're a student, practitioner, or policymaker, the panels offer a front-row seat to thought leadership and collaborative problem-solving.
Colloquy 2024 Panel
Paper Presentation
The paper presentation is a key segment of Kautilya Colloquy, aimed at encouraging scholarly contributions from students, academicians, and research scholars. It provides a platform for critical discourse and policy recommendations on diverse themes relevant to contemporary governance and policy making.
Timeline
- Abstract Submission Deadline – 20th August 2025
- Full Paper Submission Deadline – 5th September 2025
- Paper Presentation Event – 13th September 2025
Note: All submissions will be checked via Turnitin to ensure originality and academic integrity.
Submission Guidelines (Detailed)
- Abstract: Maximum 300 words
- Paper Length: Between 2,500 to 4,000 words (excluding references)
- Citation Style: APA 7th Edition
- Authorship: Submissions are welcome from individual authors as well as teams of co-authors
- Accepted Submission Types: Full papers, Work-in-progress papers, Extended abstracts
- Allocated Time per Presenter: 7 minutes for presentation + 2 minutes for Q&A
- Presenters are expected to adhere strictly to time limits to allow fair participation and maintain session flow.
Themes & Sub-Themes
- Policy Innovations for Sustainable Growth
- Financial Inclusion and Digital Payments
- Global Trade Policies and India's Position
- Future of Work and Labor Market Reforms
- Corporate Responsibility and Sustainable Business Practices
- Green Financing and Climate Policy
- Role of ESG in Public Policy and Governance
- Resilient Healthcare Systems for a Sustainable Future
- AI For Good Governance
- Digital Public Infrastructure for Inclusive Development
- Challenges of AI Technology Regulations
- India’s Foreign Policy in a Multipolar World
- Trade Wars and Economic Diplomacy
- Regional Security and Strategic Alliances
- Technology and National Security Policies
- Women’s Political Participation and Leadership
- Public Safety and Gender-Sensitive Urban Planning
- Intersectionality in Governance
Publication & Recognition
All papers will undergo a thorough review by the Editorial Board for academic rigour, originality, and relevance.
Top submissions will receive the following recognitions:
- The top papers will be considered for publication in the upcoming Kautilya Working Paper Series. Select authors may also be offered the option to expand their submissions into full-length working papers (minimum 6,500 words), based on the quality and policy relevance of their original work.
- Top 2 papers will receive cash prizes:
1st Prize: ₹25,000
2nd Prize: ₹20,000
Policy Sprint
The Policy Sprint invites students to craft innovative public policy solutions tailored to the realities of a VUCA world. This dynamic competition encourages interdisciplinary teamwork, grounded research, and the creative application of tools like geospatial data and AI.
Objective: Develop evidence-based, scalable policy proposals focused on sustainability, urban governance, and tech disruption.
Participants will gain access to mentorship, expert feedback, and exposure to key stakeholders and public policy practitioners.
- Guest Relations - Aastha Giria
- Logistics - Raavi Sujith Reddy
- Finance - Manan Khanduri
- Paper Presentation - Amal Shukla
- Policy Sprint - Sejal Gavali
- Social Media and Marketing - Aishwariya Kaaveri and Vidhula Seetharaman
- Co-heads being Abhijeet Raut and Anoushka Sharan
Rudraram, Patancheru Mandal
Hyderabad, Telangana 502329