Explained: This article explains the political background, key decisions, and possible outcomes related to Explained : Policy, Tech, and Geopolitics Take Centre Stage at Pune Public Policy Festival 2026 and Its Impact and why it matters right now.
Pune, 2nd January, 2026 : The Pune Public Policy Festival (PPPF) returns for its third edition on January 9–10, 2026, at the historic Gokhale Institute of Politics & Economics, bringing together some of India’s most influential voices in governance, technology, industry, and academia. Designed to advance India’s policy conversation through rigorous, evidence-driven dialogue, PPPF 2026 will centre on the theme “Decoding Technology and Society”, reflecting the country’s evolving technological landscape and its implications for its citizens and global competitiveness.
The two-day festival will delve into critical issues shaping India’s policy future including AI governance, financial innovation, cultural IP, mental health in the AI age, and the resilience of India’s institutional architecture. With its focus on actionable ideas and cross-sector collaboration, PPPF continues to position itself as a key platform for shaping policy thinking for a rapidly transforming nation. This year’s speaker line-up brings together senior policymakers, technologists, investors, and industry leaders for two days of focused, policy-oriented discussions.
Day 1 will explore the transformative impact of technology across key national and societal domains. Sessions will examine the current landscape and future trajectory of science and technology policy in India; the use of technology in strengthening mental health systems; and the implications of technological change for higher education. It will feature a fireside chat with Sanjiv Bajaj, Chairman and Managing Director of Bajaj Finserv, offering insights into how technology is reshaping financial services, consumer finance, and institutional capability at scale. The day will conclude with a fireside conversation with General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff, focusing on technology and national security.
Day 2 will focus on the rapid evolution of India’s AI start-up ecosystem, the emerging global technology and AI competition and its implications for India, and the integration of artificial intelligence across government and industry. The discussions will also feature a high-level dialogue on strengthening state capacity in the digital era. The festival will conclude with a fireside conversation with Baba Kalyani, Chairman and Managing Director, Bharat Forge Limited, offering industry-led perspectives on India’s manufacturing, innovation, and technology-driven growth trajectory.
Among the prominent voices at PPPF 2026 are Abhay Karandikar (Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India), Shashank Mani Tripathi (MP, Lok Sabha), Ashish Dhawan (CEO, The Convergence Foundation), Kaustubh Dhavse (Chief Advisor to CM, Government of Maharashtra), Vijay Gokhale (Former Foreign Secretary of India), Mayur Datar (VP of Applied Sciences, Microsoft), Pranay Kotasthane (Deputy Director, Takshashila Institution), Sunil Abraham (Public Policy Director – Data Economy and Emerging Tech, Meta India), Dr. Aniruddha Malpani (Founder, Malpani Ventures), Rishi Bal (Head, BharatGen), Ninad Chhaya (Senior VP of Corporate Development, Reliance Games), and Anchal Jajodia (Co-Founder, Cybrilla).
The programme features distinctive segments such as “Building India’s Cultural IP through Gaming,” “Global Tech Wars and Implications for India,” and “Using Tech to Improve State Capacity,” underlining the festival’s role in shaping forward-looking debates at the intersection of technology, governance, and society. For students, practitioners, and researchers, PPPF offers a rare opportunity to engage directly with leaders addressing India’s most complex policy challenges.
The programme will also feature workshops, including ‘The Importance of Public Data Systems in Strengthening India’s State Capacity’ in collaboration with CEGIS, and a workshop on History, Science Policy & Research in India led by Anu Raghunathan from CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory.
The festival is supported by a strong network of partners, including key donors Parimal and Pramod Chaudhari Foundation, Poona Couplings, Forbes Marshal, Hertie School, Nayanta University, and Praj. Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics returns as Venue Partner, while Nation First Policy Research Center and StratNews Global join as Knowledge Partners, with Co-Creators and Company as Co-working Partner, reflecting the festival’s expanding ecosystem of academic, philanthropic, and industry collaborators.