The Swadesh Conclave 2024 kicked off today at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The theme this year is “Brand Bharat: Connecting People, Building the Future”.

Swadesh Conclave 2024 is dedicated to makers of India, says Rajshri Rai, Editor-in-Chief, APN News.

Swadesh Conclave 2024 began with former Chief Justice of India Justice NV Ramana, veteran singer Usha Uthup, and Mankind Pharma MD Rajiv Juneja inaugurating the event.

Supreme Court Senior Advocate Pradeep Rai, also the ILRF Chairman, speaks at the inaugural session of the Swadesh Conclave 2024. He says Justice Ramana as CJI appointed 250 HC judges, and 9 SC judges.

As CJI, Justice Ramana appointed 3 women judges to the Supreme Court, says ILRF chairman Pradeep Rai. He reviewed PMLA verdict, pushed for mediation, got new chambers for lawyers.

Mankind Pharma MD Rajeev Juneja established a Rs 75,000-crore company single-handedly, says ILRF Chairman Sr Adv Pradeep Rai.

Former CJI NV Ramana commends Swadesh Conclave 2024 and says such events are necessary. He notes the idea of justice is intrinsic to Indian culture.

Former CJI Justice Ramana notes the importance of legal aid in taking justice to the people and the efforts of NALSA in this direction.

Justice Ramana says, “The structure of justice is not a shield for those in power. Constitutional courts have played an important role.”

It’s the duty of the State to provide the judiciary with proper infrastructure. Earlier governments ignored this. Even the ratio of judges is not enough for the country, says Justice Ramana

Justice Ramana says he is glad that the current justice delivery system is doing its best.

Mankind Pharma MD Rajeev Juneja, who was awarded the Swadesh Samman, says medicines made in India promote the country’s branding. India’s contribution to pharmaceuticals worldwide is immense.

Mankind Pharma MD Rajeev Juneja: Research is important for pharma, takes 5-10 years to develop a medicine. We have skills, but we need investment and research.

Mankind Pharma MD Rajeev Juneja: If we want to make India a worldwide brand India, then time and labour restraint is required.

Former CJI NV Ramana says people still have faith in the judiciary.

Explaining the Brand India theme, Rajshri Rai said, “What is India really? What makes India the India, Brand Bharat is the name of the search for all this.”

The second Session begins with the 15th Finance Commission Chairman NK Singh speech.

The 15th Finance Commission Chairman NK Singh addresses the session on India’s economic growth. Says the GDP has been growing at about 8 per cent. India used to contribute 25 per cent of world GDP.

15th Finance Commission Chairman NK Singh says this government is focused on economic growth, capital expenditure to foster private investment.

15th Finance Commission Chairman NK Singh says climate change challenges have pushed for restructuring agriculture.

15th Finance Commission Chairman NK Singh’s services and manufacturing need to be promoted equally for Viksit Bharat by 2047. More labour-intensive industries are needed for this.

Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari says India is the fastest-growing economy in the world. It can become the third-largest economy with some effort.

Gadkari says India’s rural, agricultural, and tribal economies have not got the attention they deserve, thus forcing migration to urban areas.

Nitin Gadkari says agricultural stubble, which causes pollution in Delhi, will now be used to make bio-ethanol, and bio-CNG.

Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari says if biofuel can be used to reduce India’s fuel import bill, it can be used instead to improve agriculture.

Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari says plastic waste from Ghazipur landfill has been used in laying NHAI road projects underway, including Delhi-Mumbai Expressway.

Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari the prices of petrol, diesel and electric vehicles will become equal in the future.

Eminent personalities addressing the Conclave include Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Hardeep Singh Puri, Chirag Paswan, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, former Chief Justice of India Justice NV Ramana, BJP MP Anurag Thakur, 15th Finance Commission chairman NK Singh and Supreme Court Senior Advocate Pradeep Rai among others.

In the inaugural session, Gadkari, Ramana, and Pradeep Rai will discuss the future of India’s infrastructure, legal reforms, and sustainable development and the convergence of governance, law, and policy in shaping the nation’s progress.

The next session will deliberate on social justice, health policy, and law enforcement in maintaining social harmony and public safety along with India’s diplomatic strategies. Speakers for this session include MoS Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale, MoS Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying SP Singh Baghel, MoS Mines and Coal Shri Satish Chandra Dubey, spiritual guru Sadguru Shri Dayal, MEA Joint Secretary Mahavir Singhvi and India Australia Strategic Alliance chairman Dr Jagvinder Singh Virk.

Chirag Paswan, NK Singh, Jindal Steel and Power chairman and MP Naveen Jindal, Mankind Pharma Ltd MD Rajeev Juneja, and financial educator and content creator Rachna Ranade will address the session on the interplay between economic policy, corporate leadership, and financial literacy in India.

Samajwadi Party chief and MP Akhilesh Yadav, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, Supreme Court Senior Advocate Pradeep Rai and entrepreneur and philanthropist Vinay Rai will discuss political leadership and its impact on regional and national development, apart from current political trends and governance challenges.

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, Endemol Shine founder Abhishek Banerjee, ad guru Prahlad Kakkar, Prasar Bharati chairman Navneet Sehgal and All India Radio DG Maushami Chakraborty will speak on the intersection of media, branding, and public relations in the digital age.

The valedictory session will focus on the celebration of India’s cultural diversity and its impact on national identity and the role of arts in social change. Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, MP Anurag Thakur, Manoj Tiwari, playback singers Usha Uthup, Kailash Kher and LGBTQIA+ activist and performer Sushant Divgikar will be at the session.

Swadesh Conclave, the premier vision fest of India, is being organised by the Balaji Foundation in collaboration with APN News. The idea behind the conclave is to host policymakers, experts, leaders across sectors, and luminaries from various fields to address challenges and foster direct engagement.