Envisioning India
India’s economic transformation is reshaping debates on development, trade, technology, climate, inequality, and global governance. As one of the world’s largest economies and the world’s largest democracy, India plays a central role in the future of the global economy and in the evolving U.S.–India relationship.
At IIEP, India is an important area of focus for public programming, faculty research, and policy dialogue. Through conferences, events, visiting scholars, and related faculty work, IIEP brings together scholars, policymakers, business leaders, students, and practitioners to examine India’s development challenges, economic reforms, global partnerships, and strategic role in the world economy.
Areas of Focus. IIEP programming and research related to India have explored issues including growth and job creation, poverty reduction, inequality, infrastructure, urbanization, climate and energy transition, market reform, trade, competitiveness, and U.S.–India economic relations.
GW India Conference. The GW India conference is IIEP's signature program focused on India. The conference convenes leading scholars, policymakers, private sector executives, and students to examine key issues in economic development and bilateral relations.
Past speakers have included V. Anantha Nageswaran, 18th Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India; Indermit Gill, Chief Economist of the World Bank; Vivek Lall, Chief Executive of General Atomics Global; Arun Kumar, former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service; and Arvind Subramanian, 16th Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India. Explore the GW India Conference Series.
Envisioning India Series. During the pandemic, IIEP hosted the virtual Envisioning India series, featuring leading thinkers on India’s economy, politics, development, and global role. Recordings from the series are available on IIEP’s YouTube channel.
Faculty Research and Public Scholarship. IIEP faculty and affiliated scholars, including Distinguished Visiting Scholar Ajay Chhibber, regularly publish articles, op-eds, books, and working papers focused on India’s economy and U.S.-India economic relations. Dr. Chhibber published Unshackling India: Hard Truths and Clear Choices for Economic Revival (2021) with Salman Anees Soz. Unshackling India was featured in an Elliott School Book Launch Series and was selected by the Financial times as one of the best books of 2022 - Economics.
April 16, 2026 - 8:30 AM
6th GW India Conference
April 24, 2025 - 8:30 AM
5th GW India Conference on India’s Economic Development and U.S.-India Economic Relations
April 16, 2024 - 9:00 AM
4th GW India Conference on India’s Economic Development and U.S.-India Economic Relations
April 20, 2023 - 5:00 PM
U.S. India Cooperation in a Changing Global Economy and India’s Pathways to Success
March 2, 2023 - 9:00 AM
Ashoka Mody on “India Is Broken: A People Betrayed, Independence to Today”