TELANGANA AIMS TO EMERGE AS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO INDIA’S FUTURE ECONOMIC GROWTH : Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, Special Chief Secretary
Strengthening Collaborations with Business Organizations and Industries : Prof. Ghanta Chakrapani, Vice-Chancellor, BRAOU
Hyderabad : Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU), Faculty of Commerce and Business Management organizing two inaugurated days National Conference on “Business Transformation for Sustainable Development” on 13th and 14th March 2026 at the campus on Friday. Prof. V. Balakista Reddy, Chairman, Telangana Council of Higher Education attended as chief guest for the program. Prof. Balakista Reddy highlighted the rapid transformation occurring in the global economy.
The technological developments such as e-commerce, mobile commerce and digital platforms are re shaping business practices and consumer behavior across the world. Liberalization, privatization, and globalization have now been complemented by digitization and the transformative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a new era of economic change. The major challenge, today is balancing economic development with environmental sustainability. Higher education institutions, must provide quality, inclusive, and globally relevant education to prepare students for this changing landscape. The several skill-based and employability-oriented courses have been introduced in universities across the state to enhance students’ career opportunities.
Also Read-
Sri Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, Special Chief Secretary to the Government of Telangana attended as Distinguished Guest, spoke about the state’s vision for economic growth and sustainability. Referring to the national vision of Narendra Modi for building a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047. The Telangana aims to emerge as a major contributor to India’s future economic growth, the state is working towards achieving a three-trillion-dollar economy, while India is expected to reach a thirty-trillion-dollar economy by 2047. He highlighted the rapid development of Hyderabad as a major economic and innovation hub and referred to initiatives such as the night-time economy, the Outer Ring Road (ORR) and the proposed Regional Ring Road (RRR), which are strengthening infrastructure and connectivity. Innovative development initiatives including CURE, PURE, and RARE programs, which aim to improve infrastructure and economic opportunities in both urban and rural areas.
Telangana is among the leading states in terms of per capita income and is working towards doubling farmers incomes. The government is also focusing on empowering women economically with the goal of enabling one crore women to become “crorepatis.” Addressing youth employment challenges, he observed that there is often a mismatch between academic qualifications and industry requirements. He encouraged universities to introduce more industry-aligned courses and digital learning programs to enhance employability. On sustainability, the state is committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2047, promoting green initiatives such as electric buses in TGSRTC, renewable energy adoption, and improved environmental management.
Prof. Ghanta Chakrapani, Vice-Chancellor, BRAOU presided over the program. Prof. Ghanta Chakrapani emphasized that the university is guided by the mission of “education for all.” He noted that the university enrols nearly 1.2 lakh students every year, reflecting its commitment to providing accessible higher education to diverse sections of society. Prof. Chakrapani stated that the university is strengthening collaborations with business organizations and industries to ensure that academic programs meet the evolving needs of the business environment. According to him, employability-oriented curriculum design and skill development initiatives are among the top priorities of the university.
He highlighted the intellectual legacy of B. R. Ambedkar, describing him as not only a social reformer but also an eminent economist who envisioned an inclusive and equitable economic system. The Vice-Chancellor further noted that BRAOU is re thinking its academic strategies to respond to technological transformation and emerging economic opportunities. He announced that the university will organize Digital Empowerment Day on April 14, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. Initiatives such as entrepreneurship promotion and the ‘Samatha’ programs are also being strengthened to empower students and promote social equity. He remarked that the university is playing a significant role in supporting business growth and knowledge development in Telangana.
Prof. Sudershan Kuntluru, Dean (Executive Education), Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode was the keynote speaker for the program. He discussed the growing importance of technological innovation in the modern economy. He explained that businesses today must adopt sustainability-driven transformation strategies to remain competitive and socially responsible. He highlighted several emerging trends, including Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR), and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks. He also discussed the role of green energy, hydrogen technology, artificial intelligence, and digital platforms in promoting sustainable development and reducing carbon emissions. Prof. Kuntluru stressed that universities must become centers of inter disciplinary research and innovation, working closely with industry and government institutions to address complex sustainability challenges.
Prof. I. Anand Pawar, Conference Director & Dean, Faculty of Commerce and Business Management stated the conference aims to examine emerging challenges and opportunities in aligning business growth with sustainable development goals, welcomed the participants and outlined the objectives of the conference. He noted that the event received 190 research abstracts, out of which 143 full papers were accepted for presentation after review. He said the conference provides an important platform for scholars, industry experts, and policymakers to exchange ideas on business innovation, sustainable development, digital transformation, and economic growth. The two-day conference will feature panel discussions, technical sessions, research papers presentations, and discussions focusing on strategies for achieving sustainable business transformation in the rapidly changing global economy.
Prof. D. Rabindranath Solomon, Conference Co-Director welcomed the gathering and explain about importance of the 2-day Conference and its proceedings. Prof. G. Pushpa Chakrapani, Director Academic, Prof. Y. S. Kiranmayi, Conference Co-Director; Dr. P. Radha Krishna, Conference Secretary; Dr. Srinivas Barla, Conference Convenor; and Prof. V. Srinivasa Rao, Prof. Pallavi Kabde, Prof. Chandrakala, Prof. Mary Sunanda and various Universities officials, Deans, research scholars also participated.
The Panel Discussion and technical sessions that followed were attended by K V Rao, former Vice-Chancellor of Acharya Nagarjuna University; Prof Anirban Ghosh, faculty member of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Open University, (Kolkata); Prof. B. Sindhu from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University; Prashant Kumar Das from Pai International; David Raju Manne from the Department of Healthcare and Life Sciences; Kishore Nutalapati from Bekam Infra Projects Private Limited were participated.
