ICPPM

In federal countries such as India, unequal regional development is a major hurdle in the pursuit of sustainable and inclusive development for all. Current trends in India indicate that while at the national level, the country is likely to achieve some of the development targets, the same level of progress is not reflected at all regional levels. The states with low levels of health and education are also at the bottom of the hierarchy of human development. The prime case being Bihar, where nearly one third of its population still lives in abject poverty. Bihar, the third largest state in population in India and a resource-rich state has historically faced governance challenges. These challenges have perpetuated socio-economic disparities and inhibited the realization of the state's full potential. Despite these obstacles, there have been notable efforts in recent years to address these issues through various policy initiatives, administrative innovations, grassroots movements, and academic research. On the supply side, where there are several welfare schemes, however, their effectiveness remained understudied. On the demand side, the lack of awareness persists which is further compounded by the limited opportunity to choose better options to escape poverty. This mismatch calls for the immediate attention of policymakers, implementing agencies, and think tanks. In practice, identifying policy coherence between and within the multiple challenges of development is a monumental task but also a necessary action for all important stakeholders related to public policy and governance.

The 2nd International Conference on s Public Policy and Management (ICPPM), being organized under the aegis of the Centre for Public Policy, Chandragupt Institute of Management, aims to bring together scholars, implementing agencies, and policymakers from India and abroad to discuss the latest scholarship and innovative practice related to public policy research and good governance. It will have a particular focus on how insights from this discussion, as well as ongoing collaboration among the participants, can contribute to economic and social development in Bihar.