Vice-President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan delivered the inaugural address at the 5th Kautilya Economic Conclave in New Delhi on October 3, 2026, organized on the theme 'Resilience in an Age of Flux'. The event was attended by policymakers, economists, academics, business leaders and other distinguished participants.
The Vice-President emphasized that economic resilience cannot be separated from social resilience, stating that 'inclusion is the foundation of resilience in an age of flux' and that 'true resilience lies in ensuring no citizen, enterprise or region is left behind'. He highlighted India's demonstration that democracy and development can advance together, with economic growth and inclusive progress achieved within a democratic framework.
Specific economic achievements cited include the transformative role of the JAM trinity, Direct Benefit Transfer and GST in strengthening financial inclusion, transparency and formalization. More than 590 million Jan Dhan accounts had been opened as of August 2026, while GST registrations had risen significantly from approximately 6.65 million in 2017 to 16.5 million in May 2026.
The Vice-President emphasized that inclusion must enable people to create value, generate income and become entrepreneurs, highlighting the contribution of around 9.2 million Self-Help Groups covering more than 100 million rural women, and the emergence of over 34.6 million Lakhpati Didis. He noted that more than 250 million Indians have moved out of extreme poverty, describing this as a historic achievement.
The address also referenced institutional partnerships, welcoming collaborations among the University of Delhi, Delhi School of Economics, London School of Economics and the Institute of Economic Growth (established in 1952 under Professor V. K. R. V. Rao). The Vice-President expressed confidence that the conclave deliberations would contribute to the national endeavor of building a developed India (Viksit Bharat) by 2047.