IIM Jammu hosts Member NITI Aayog for keynote address on Nation Building and Viksit Bharat 2047
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu had the honour of hosting Dr. Vinod K. Paul, Member, NITI Aayog, who delivered a keynote address on the eve of the Strategic Management Forum (SMF) 2025, marking a significant milestone in the Institute’s journey of academic excellence and national engagement.
Dr. Vinod K. Paul was received by Prof. B. S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu. During his visit, he viewed the Basohli Painting Exhibition showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir, planted a Rudraksh sapling symbolising sustainability, and toured key campus facilities including the Nalanda Library and Smart Classrooms. The visit reflected IIM Jammu’s commitment to blending cultural roots with modern academic infrastructure.
Welcoming the distinguished guest, Prof. Sahay described the interaction as a privilege and highlighted Dr. Paul’s stature as an eminent physician and visionary policymaker. He underlined IIM Jammu’s strategic collaborations with AIIMS Jammu and IIT Jammu, including the MBA in Healthcare Management programme, and noted growing interest from global institutions in these initiatives.
In his keynote address, Dr. Vinod K. Paul commended the founding leadership of IIM Jammu for building an institution rooted in national service and excellence. Calling IIM Jammu “a crown in the jewel,” he emphasized the decisive role of founding leadership in shaping institutional culture and long-term excellence. He urged students and faculty to push intellectual and innovative frontiers while maintaining uncompromising standards.
Elaborating on the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, Dr. Paul stressed the need for holistic national development encompassing education, healthcare, equity, ethical governance, and innovation. He outlined key healthcare priorities including strengthening primary healthcare, reducing preventable mortality, expanding Ayushman Bharat, leveraging digital health and telemedicine, and reducing out-of-pocket expenditure. He also highlighted India’s aspirations to improve life expectancy and healthy life years, along with opportunities in AYUSH, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and biosciences.
Dr. Paul emphasized the transformative role of artificial intelligence and digital technologies in healthcare and education, the importance of professional health management, and the need to address challenges of an ageing population through focused elderly care and the silver economy.
Prof. Jabir Ali, Dean Faculty and Research, highlighted IIM Jammu’s engagement in startup incubation, PPP initiatives, and collaboration with the Ministry of Skill Development. Day 2 of SMF 2025 featured high-impact technical sessions on ethical AI, sustainability, entrepreneurship, public policy, and decentralized governance, reinforcing IIM Jammu’s commitment to nation building and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
