Overview

The Indian Foundation for Quality Management (IFQM), an industry‑led movement instituted in September 2023, will host the third edition of its annual two‑day IFQM Symposium in New Delhi on October 5‑6 2026. The event is framed around the central theme “Quality, Innovation and Excellence as India’s Force Multiplier” and is positioned as a catalyst for the nation’s “Viksit Bharat” ambition, seeking to embed quality and innovation across Indian enterprises to enhance global competitiveness and export capability.

Event Details

The symposium will feature more than 25 sessions and over 50 distinguished speakers, with an expected attendance of 300+ CEOs and CXOs. It builds on the inaugural 2024 symposium, which covered automotive, engineering, aerospace, defence, electronics and digital engineering R&D, and the 2025 edition that introduced the “Needle Movement” concept. The 2026 edition adds a dedicated Pharma and Life Sciences track and expands the Infrastructure focus, marking the first time these sectors are integrated into a structured national quality dialogue.

Themes & Tracks

  • Pharma & Life Sciences: Panels will explore moving beyond generic medicines toward innovative drug development, aiming to position India as a hub for cutting‑edge therapeutics.
  • Infrastructure: Discussions will reimagine India’s infrastructure landscape to achieve global leadership, addressing scale, excellence, and sustainability.
  • Quality as a Force Multiplier: Sessions will examine how quality standards can amplify productivity across sectors.
  • Electronics Hub: A track will address transforming India into a trusted global electronics manufacturing hub.
  • AI for Manufacturing & Services: Dedicated sessions will showcase the deployment of artificial intelligence to enhance manufacturing efficiency and service delivery.
  • Cross‑Sector Collaboration: Panels will highlight boardroom vision translating into shop‑floor excellence, emphasizing industry‑academia partnerships.

Keynote Speakers

The symposium opens with a keynote titled “Enabling Viksit Bharat: Quality as National Force Multiplier” delivered jointly by Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister, and Mr. N. Chandrasekaran, Executive Chairman of Tata Sons. A second keynote, “Powering Viksit Bharat – ‘Scale without boundaries’,” will be presented by Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of Communications and Development of North‑Eastern Region, alongside Mr. Venu Srinivasan, Chairman of IFQM. Day 2 will commence with “Wings of Viksit Bharat: Transforming India into a Global Aviation Hub,” spoken by Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Minister of Civil Aviation, and Mr. T.V. Narendran, CEO & MD of Tata Steel.

Distinguished Participants

The governing council and board members attending include:

  • Mr. N. Chandrasekaran (Chairman, Tata Sons)
  • Mr. Dilip Shanghvi (MD, Sun Pharmaceuticals)
  • Ms. Kiran Mazumdar‑Shaw (Executive Chairperson, Biocon Biologics)
  • Mr. TV Narendran (CEO & MD, Tata Steel)
  • Mr. K.N. Radhakrishnan (Director & CEO, TVS Motor)
  • Dr. Randhir Thakur (CEO & MD, Tata Electronics)
  • Mr. Salil Gupte (President, Boeing India & South Asia)
  • Mr. S.N. Subrahmanyan (Chairman & MD, Larsen & Toubro)
  • Mr. Venu Srinivasan (Chairman Emeritus, TVS Motor & Chairman, IFQM)

Additional international speakers include executives from Hyundai Motor Group, EARTHBRAIN Ltd, DMG MORI, Robert Bosch GmbH, Kaizen Saudi Arabia, and JUSE.

Objectives & Expected Outcomes

The symposium aims to identify measurable milestones and practical pathways for Indian organisations to achieve higher impact through quality and innovation. It seeks to accelerate economic growth by leveraging quality as a twin engine of resilience and credibility, fostering stronger industry‑government‑academia linkages, and enhancing access to finance, technology, skilling, and simplified compliance for MSMEs. The event also intends to set a roadmap toward the 2030 ambition of a self‑reliant, inclusive, and globally respected nation.

Quote from IFQM CEO

Mr. Soumitra Bhattacharya, CEO & Director of IFQM, stated that “India’s aspiration of Viksit Bharat demands that quality and innovation become national force multipliers. The Symposium is a call to action for industry, government, and academia to embed excellence into every process, product, and partnership.” He emphasized the need for measurable milestones, broader participation, and accelerated economic growth through quality‑driven initiatives.

Prior Year Takeaways

The 2025 symposium highlighted the critical role of MSMEs in India’s growth, underscoring the necessity of strengthening their quality culture via better access to finance, technology, skilling, infrastructure, and simplified compliance. Despite challenges such as low R&D investment and limited digitalisation, MSMEs were recognised for their strong potential across emerging sectors and global value chains, with their capability deemed essential for improving competitiveness, exports, and sustainable growth.

Conclusion

Over two days, the IFQM Symposium 2026 will convene more than 300 senior leaders across 25+ sessions, delivering insights on quality, innovation, and sector‑specific excellence. The event is designed to translate boardroom vision into tangible shop‑floor improvements, thereby driving India’s journey toward a developed nation status by 2047.