IFQM Symposium 2026 – Day 1 Overview
The third edition of the Indian Foundation for Quality Management (IFQM) Symposium was held on Day 1 in New Delhi, bringing together senior industry leaders, policymakers, global quality experts, CEOs, CXOs and academia to discuss how India can leverage its scale, technology and human capital to build globally competitive institutions and enterprises.
Keynote Addresses
Union Minister for Communications and Development of the North‑Eastern Region, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, delivered the keynote address titled “Powering Viksit Bharat – Scale without Boundaries to Advance Development through Technology, Digital Innovation and Inclusive Connectivity.” He asserted that the world will soon look to India to learn about quality, innovation and self‑reliance, highlighting the role of IFQM in advancing the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision and strengthening the country’s journey towards Atmanirbharta.
Mr N. Chandrasekaran, Executive Chairman of Tata Sons, spoke on India’s progress in building sustainable, world‑class infrastructure and institutions, noting that the economy has exceeded expectations despite global uncertainty, thanks to infrastructure growth, precision manufacturing and investment in education and skill development.
Mr S.N. Subrahmanyan, Chairman & Managing Director of Larsen & Toubro, emphasized that quality must become a culture across organisations, especially in infrastructure projects, and that every employee’s involvement is essential for translating quality into innovation.
Recognition of Excellence
Mr Venu Srinivasan, Chairman of IFQM and Chairman Emeritus of TVS Motor Company, was honoured with the International Academy for Quality (IAQ) Marcos E.J. Bertin Quality in Governance Medal for his contributions to sound governance through quality principles. The medal was presented by Mr Sunil Sinha, Trustee of IAQ, and Mr Raúl Molteni, President of IAQ, who underscored IAQ’s vision of moving beyond traditional quality management toward “quality for humanity” and highlighted India’s growing importance in this agenda.
Industry‑Academia Collaboration MoU
IFQM’s CEO and Director, Mr Soumitra Bhattacharya, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Prof. Dr‑Ing. Gisela Lanza of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in the presence of Mr Venu Srinivasan. The MoU aims to strengthen cooperation in quality and innovation, linking academic research with the evolving needs of Indian industry and deepening industry‑academia collaboration.
Panel Discussions and Sectoral Insights
Six panel discussions examined challenges and opportunities across sectors, demonstrating how quality and innovation can generate measurable impact. The sessions covered:
1. “Pharma & Life Sciences: Moving Beyond Generics – Pioneering Global Leadership in Innovative Medicine.”
2. “From Scale to Excellence: Reimagining Infrastructure for India’s Global Leadership.”
3. “IFQM as Force Multiplier – Measurable Impact Across Sectors.”
4. “Humble Beginnings to Global Standards – The Force Multiplier Playbook.”
5. “Transforming India into a Trusted Global Electronics Hub.”
6. An exclusive CEO session titled “Creating Force Multipliers for the Industry‑led Movement – Boardroom Vision to Shop Floor Excellence,” which explored how leadership commitment, employee participation, quality culture and innovation can translate boardroom vision into shop‑floor excellence.
IFQM Governing Council
The IFQM Governing Council comprises leading industry figures: Mr N. Chandrasekaran (Chairman, Tata Sons), Mr Dilip Sanghvi (MD, Sun Pharmaceuticals), Ms Kiran Mazumdar‑Shaw (Executive Chairperson, Biocon Biologics), Mr TV Narendran (CEO & MD, Tata Steel Limited), Mr K.N. Radhakrishnan (Director & CEO, TVS Motor Co), Dr Randhir Thakur (CEO & MD, Tata Electronics Pvt. Ltd), Mr Salil Gupte (President, Boeing India & South Asia), Mr S.N. Subrahmanyan (Chairman & MD, Larsen & Toubro), and Mr Venu Srinivasan (Chairman Emeritus, TVS Motor Co & Chairman, IFQM).
About IFQM
Instituted in 2023, IFQM is an industry‑led movement committed to catalysing Indian organisations to become globally competitive and export‑capable through quality, innovation and excellence. Its initiatives aim to strengthen capabilities of Indian industry, including MSMEs, by promoting continuous improvement of products and services, thereby elevating the perception of Brand India and supporting the nation’s goal of becoming a developed country by 2047.